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Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

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Causes of Diverticular Disease

Although not proven, the dominant theory is that a low fiber diet is the main cause of diverticular (pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-lur) disease. The disease was first noticed in the United States in the early 1900s. At about the same time, processed foods were introduced into the American diet. Many processed foods contain refined, low fiber flour. Unlike whole wheat flour, refined flour has no wheat bran.

Diverticular disease is common in developed or industrialized countries, particularly the United States, England, and Australia where low fiber diets are common. The disease is rare in countries of Asia and Africa, where people eat high fiber vegetable diets.

Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables, and grains that the body cannot digest. Some fiber dissolves easily in water (soluble fiber). It takes on a soft, jelly like texture in the intestines. Some fiber passes almost unchanged through the intestines (insoluble fiber). Both kinds of fiber help make stools soft and easy to pass. Fiber also prevents constipation.

Constipation makes the muscles strain to move stool that is too hard. It is the main cause of increased pressure in the colon. This excess pressure might cause the weak spots in the colon to bulge out and become diverticula (pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-luh).

Diverticulitis (pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-LY-tiss) occurs when diverticula become infected or inflamed. Doctors are not certain what causes the infection. It may begin when stool or bacteria are caught in the diverticula. An attack of diverticulitis can develop suddenly and without warning.

The colon (large intestine) and an enlargement of it showing diverticula.

Each pouch is called a diverticulum, pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-lum.
Pouches (plural) are called diverticula, pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-luh.
The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis, pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-LOH-siss.
When the pouches become infected or inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis, pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-LY-tiss. This happens in 10 to 25 percent of people with diverticulosis.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are also called diverticular disease, pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-lur.

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References:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
NIH Publication No. 07-1163
October 2006
digestive.niddk.nih.gov

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