DIVERTICULOSIS & DIVERTICULITIS

bLOG lINK: DIVERTICULOSIS & DIVERTICULITIS – OVERVIEW, SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

WHAT IS DIVERTICULOSIS?

The large intestine or colon is a long tube like structure approx. 5-6 feet in length which stores and eliminates waste material that is left over after the food is digested in the small intestine. It is usually thought that the walls of the colon become thick with the age of a person which causes increased pressure required by colon to eliminate feces and even small, hard stools are difficult to pass and need increased pressure to pass. These repeated high pressures in the colon push the inner lining of the intestine outward through weak muscle areas in the shape of a small sac or bulging pocket. This small bulging sac pushing outward from colonic wall is called a Diverticulum, while more than one sac called as Diverticula. The Diverticula can form throughout the colon but they are most commonly form near the last portion of the intestine, which referred as Sigmoid Colon. The condition of having Diverticula in the lining of the colon is called Diverticulosis.

It is common in people living in Western countries while the condition is rare in Asia and Africa. The condition increases with the age of a person and it occurs 10% in people over the age of 40 and 50% in people over the age of 60. Complications, which can be severe and need treatment, are very rare as they occur in 20% of people having Diverticulosis.

WHAT IS DIVERTICULAR BLEEDING?

One of the complications of the Diverticular disease is Diverticular bleeding or rectal bleeding which occurs when small blood vessels situated next to Diverticula become injured. If you experience bleeding then immediately consult the doctor.