Diverticulosis is the
precursor to
diverticulitis; that is,
diverticulitis is diverticulosis plus inflammation. Collectively, the two conditions are called "
diverticular disease."
Many people have small pouches in their
colons that bulge outward through weak spots, like an
inner tube that pokes through weak places in a tire. Each pouch is called a
diverticulum. Such 'pouches' are called
diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis. About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have diverticulosis. The condition becomes more common as people age. About half of all people over the age of 60 have diverticulosis.
When the pouches become infected or inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. This happens in 10 to 25 percent of people with diverticulosis.
The current dominant theory is that a low-fiber diet is the main cause of diverticular 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.
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.
An attack of diverticulitis can develop suddenly and without warning. Most people with diverticulosis do not have any discomfort or symptoms. However, symptoms may include mild cramps, bloating, and constipation. Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome/inflammatory bowel disease (IBS/IBD) and stomach ulcers cause similar problems, so these symptoms do not always mean a person has diverticulosis. You should visit your doctor if you have these troubling symptoms.
Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet may reduce symptoms of diverticulosis and prevent complications such as diverticulitis. Fiber keeps stool soft and lowers pressure inside the colon so that bowel contents can move through easily. The American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day.
The above is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a licensed medical doctor, which I am not. Much of the text above is taken from the National Institutes of Health web site, with some minor changes and additions of my own. All text (mine and NIH's, per their disclaimer) is in the public domain. From: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diverticulosis/#1