Diverticular Disease 🩸
Updated: Jul 24
What is diverticulosis?
Many people have small pouches in their colon (large intestine) that bulge outward, creating a diverticulum. This condition is also known as "diverticulosis."
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Private Healthcare Navigation and Patient Advocacy when YOU need it mostAccording to Cleveland Clinic, 10% of the population in the Western world over age 40 has diverticulosis, which is seen in 50% of people over age 60.
About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have diverticulosis. The condition becomes more common with age.
Individuals over the age of 80 are more commonly affected.
About half of people over age 60 have diverticulosis.
What is diverticulitis?
When these pouches become infected or inflamed, it is called "diverticulitis," as anything that ends in "-itis" means inflammatory diseases. This condition happens in 10 to 25 percent of people with diverticulosis. You can read more in my other posts.
When the pouches (diverticulosis) become infected or inflamed it is called diverticulitis.Is inflammation (swelling) and infection in one or more diverticula.
Does "diverticulitis" cause lower gastrointestinal bleeding?
This condition, known as "diverticulosis," causes bleeding. Not when these pouches become infected or inflamed. That is called "diverticulitis."
How common is diverticular bleeding?
It is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
Diverticulosis) is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding
It is uncommon before 60 years of age. It is most common after age 70.
It is most common after age 70.
What are the risk factors for diverticular bleeding?
African-Americans
Overweight
Hypertension
Diabetes
Vascular disease
Regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs doubles the risk
Low fiber-diet
Not enough exercise
A diet high in fat and red meat
Male
Smoking
How is diverticular bleeding diagnosed?
A blood test may be performed that checks for signs of infection and high white blood cell count.
A stool sample may be taken for abnormal bacteria or parasites.
Your colon may be cleaned out of all stool and blood with a colonoscopy prep.
Your doctor may order a CT angiography or an embolization to stop the bleeding.
You may go on a clear diet, be placed on bed rest, and be under "observation."
Do I need a colonoscopy for diverticular bleeding from "diverticulosis"?
That depends if there was a colonoscopy completed in the recent past.
Also, the clinical presentation would determine if the lower gastrointestinal bleeding makes it a "high-risk" diverticular bleed.
Do I need a colonoscopy for "diverticulitis"?
High-risk patients are those most likely to have poor outcomes—such as those with "unstable vital signs, hematocrit below 35%, age over 60 years, and comorbidities." These high-risk patients should undergo colonoscopy within 24 hours.
The American Gastroenterological Association guidelines on diverticulitis recommend colonoscopy six to eight weeks after diagnosis.
Guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association on diverticulitis recommend colonoscopy six to eight weeks after diagnosis
This video briefly explains Diverticulosis vs. Diverticulitis and its effects.
Tips en Español
Que es diverticulosis?
Los divertículos son pequeñas bolsas que se abultan en el colon o en el intestino grueso. Si tiene estas bolsas, usted tiene una afección llamada diverticulosis.
Diverticulosis vs diverticulitis
El síntoma más común es el dolor abdominal, generalmente en el lado izquierdo. También puede sentir fiebre, náusea, vómitos, escalofríos, cólicos y estreñimiento. En los casos más graves, la diverticulitis puede causar sangrado, desgarres u obstrucciones.
Factores de Riesgo
Tienes mas de 40 años
Obesida o sobrepeso
Dieta baja en fibra
Medicamentos anti-inflamtorios esteroides o opioides.
Diabetes
Fumas
Hipertensión
Consume mucha grasa o carne roja.
Diagnostico
Examen rectal
Examen de sangre (examen fisico)
Colonscopia (consulte con su medico)
Tomografía computarizada
El 10% de la poblacion en los Estados Unidos sobre la edad de 40 sufre de divericulosis y el 50% sobre la gente de la edad de 60. Comun en la edad de 60 y 80 años de edad.
Summary
There is no magic formula for long-term, sustainable weight loss.
Balance. Portion control. Keep nutrition simple. Eat Smart. Eat Healthy. 🌱 🌾 🌿
Personally
I eat a high-fiber, mostly plant-based 🌱 diet, no red meat, drink 4 liters of water a day, exercise, and am focused on keeping nutrition simple. I am sharing what works for me and what I routinely recommend to my patients.
"Balance. Portion control. Keep nutrition simple. Eat Smart. Eat Healthy. 🌱 🌾 🌿"
Gut Health ➕ Patient Advocacy with Navigation ➕ Life Balance
If you were looking for information about Private Healthcare Navigation and Patient Advocacy from Executive Health NavigationClick here for Executive Health Navigation✴ Connect with Dr. Dooreck on LinkedIn, where he focuses his sharing on Health, Diet, Nutrition, Exercise, Lifestyle, and Balance.
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