Chronic constipation can contribute to diverticulosis, a condition in which balloon-like pouches in the intestinal lining bulge through a weakened intestinal wall. Diverticulosis may affect as many as 50 percent of Americans between the ages of 60 and 80, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. After you've recovered from acute diverticulitis, taking a fiber laxative such as psyllium may help you avoid constipation and prevent further flare-ups of the disease, University of Maryland Medical Center states.
Cause
Diverticular disease is common in industrialized countries where many people eat a diet low in fiber, Johns Hopkins Medicine notes. Low-fiber diets result in frequent constipation and straining to pass stools, which puts pressure on the colon. Although the causes of diverticular disease are not fully understood, excessive pressure on the colon may play a significant role in the formation of the small sacs, or diverticula, that protrude through the intestinal walls, Johns Hopkins proposes. Diverticula form most frequently in the last segment of the colon, which stores and solidifies digestive wastes before they are eliminated from your body, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. When one of those sacs becomes infected or inflamed, possibly when a particle of waste lodges inside, the disease progresses to diverticulitis.
Significance
Acute diverticulitis may cause intense abdominal pain, especially in the left lower abdomen, UMMC indicates. Irregular bowel patterns, nausea, vomiting and fever may also occur. During this phase, your medical provider may recommend a clear liquid diet, says MayoClinic.com. A clear liquid diet, which may include water, tea, broth, clear juices and gelatin, allows your digestive tract to rest while healing and may help soften digestive wastes remaining in the colon. After your symptoms subside, your provider may recommend that you increase your dietary fiber and take a fiber laxative such as psyllium to avoid constipation.
Recommendations
Psyllium fiber comes from the husks of a shrub-like herb. You can take psyllium as a powdered laxative, as a liquid, or in capsules or granules. When mixed with water or juice, psyllium powder forms a gelatinous substance that may have a laxative effect. The soluble fiber in psyllium absorbs water in your large intestine and adds soft bulk to stools. Powdered psyllium should be mixed with water or juice and taken immediately, before the fiber thickens. Follow your medical provider's instructions for dose and frequency of psyllium, and do not take more than the recommended dose, advises MedlinePlus.
Prevention
Although you may need to avoid high-fiber foods during a diverticulitis attack to give your digestive tract time to heal, dietary fiber may protect the health of your colon after recovery, says MayoClinic.com. Foods rich in fiber, such as whole grains, wheat bran, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts help keep your intestinal walls intact by easing the transit of digestive waste and reducing pressure on your colon. And drinking at least eight glasses of water per day can keep your stools soft while you are increasing the fiber in your diet.
Precautions
MedlinePlus advises that you do not take psyllium for more than one week unless your medical provider recommends that you take it for a longer period of time. Psyllium may affect blood sugar levels and interact with other medications, including blood thinners, cardiac medications and diabetes medications. If you have an allergic reaction such as shortness of breath, wheezing or swelling while taking psyllium, seek medical attention immediately.
Member Comments