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Risk Factors For Diverticulitis and Simple Steps To Prevention

As in any disease, knowing what the risk factors for the disease are can help individuals to be aware of the potential for the disease occurring so that they may seek medical advise and prevention if it is possible. There are some risk factors that are associated with the occurrence of diverticulitis.

Medical personnel have noticed that individuals who have a diet that is low in fiber seem to get diverticulitis more often than individuals who consume a diet high in fiber. Individuals in western cultures (United States, United Kingdom, and Australia) who have a more refined diet tend to get diverticulitis more often than individuals who live in cultures where roughage is a regular part of the diet (rural Indians and Africans).

The lack of fiber in the diet is a main contributor to the occurrence of diverticulitis. Fiber can be found in such foods as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Because the body cannot digest fiber, it stays in the colon and helps to make the stools soft and easy to pass. Fiber helps to prevent constipation. Constipation makes us strain and push hard to get the stool out. This pushing and straining is what causes inner pressure in the colon, which weakens the colon wall and causes pouches (diverticula) to form. Continued pressure leads to inflammation of the diverticula and infection.

Knowing what the risk factors for diverticulitis are can give individuals information about what to do to prevent diverticulitis from occurring. Knowing that a diet low in fiber is a risk factor, individual desiring to avoid diverticulitis will be sure to increase their dietary fiber content. Whenever you increase your fiber content in your diet you must also increase your water intake. Fiber absorbs water and if you do not increase your water consumption along with your increased fiber intake, you will become constipated which constipation is another risk factor for diverticulitis. So, to prevent diverticulitis an individual can eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and drink lots of water every day. The skins of the fruits and vegetables is where most of the fiber is so eat that apple with the skin on, do not peel away the fiber. It is also important to eat regular meals, and to chew your food slowly and thoroughly.

To keep the bowels moving and to prevent constipation, another risk factor for diverticulitis, one must get adequate amounts of exercise every day. Exercise helps to move the bowels along, keeping constipation away. Stay active and get at least 30 minutes of physical exercise each day.

Another step in preventing diverticulitis is to make sure that when your body indicates that it has to make a bowel movement that you listen to your body and not avoid having a bowel movement.