What is Diverticulitis ?

Diverticulae are pouches in the lining of the colon, known as the large bowel or large intestine. They are more common with age and do not always cause symptoms. If they cause symptoms such as diarrhoea or abdominal pain this may be then known as diverticular disease. Diverticulitis is a painful condition where the pouches become inflamed or infected, and can carry the risk of bowel perforation.

What are the symptoms of Diverticulitis ?

Symptoms of diverticular disease are lower stomach pain and bloating. Often pain is worse with eating, and can get better after a bowel movement. Sometimes bleeding can be a symptom, or a change in bowel movements. Symptoms of diverticulitis are severe lower stomach pain and fever. Sometimes painful urgency to pass urine, nausea or vomiting, constipation or bleeding.

What causes diverticular pouches (diverticulae) ?

A low fibre diet could be the cause of diverticulae.

Diverticular pouches are thought to be more likely to develop into diverticular disease if you smoke, are overweight, take non steroidal anti inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, have constipation or a sedentary lifestyle.

How can the symptoms of diverticulitis be improved?

High fibre diet
Stop smoking
Drink plenty of fluids
Medical treatment will usually suggest pain relief (avoiding ibuprofen, aspirin) and bulk forming laxatives

How can Innercore help?

A healthy well functioning colon could reduce the risk of these pouches developing, and colonic hydrotherapy (colonic irrigation) may be effective in this as well as easing symptoms. The muscular layer of the colon needs to push contents along, have effective action and good tone, to prevent constipation / hard pieces of constipated stool (poo) becoming lodged. The longer waste spends in the colon, the more bacteria will multiply, creating excess wind, toxins and the risk of any weak spot becoming irritated or infected.

Innercore can give individual dietary and lifestyle advice with the aim of improving not just colon health, but overall health and wellbeing.