In most cases, exercise won't hurt you if you have acute diverticulitis. In fact, exercising regularly may even help to prevent or treat diverticulitis. The effect and safety of exercise on diverticulitis depends on your unique health situation, however. Before you begin a new exercise routine, talk to your doctor about the exercises that you can perform safely with acute diverticulitis.
Description
Diverticulitis is a condition caused by infection or inflammation of your diverticula, which are small abnormal pouches in your gastrointestinal tract. Diverticula can form in your esophagus, stomach, small intestine or large intestine. Diverticula formations are categorized as the condition called diverticulosis, while diverticulitis occurs when the diverticula become infected or inflamed. Diverticulosis is somewhat common in adults 40 years of age and older, but the complication of diverticulitis is not as common.
Causes
Although researchers aren't sure exactly what causes diverticulitis and diverticulosis, exercise and diet could play a key role, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating a diet that's low in fiber could promote diverticular disease by causing hard stools or constipation, which could increase the pressure in your colon. Diverticula pouches may form in weak spots in your large intestine due to this added pressure. Lack of exercise could also contribute to diverticula formation, because exercise tends to reduce the pressure inside your large intestine.
Treatments
In addition to causing diverticulitis, exercise may also play an important role in helping to treat acute diverticulitis and diverticulosis. Regular exercise could help in treating diverticulitis by normalizing your bowel function, especially when you exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week, the Mayo Clinic says. Drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding delaying bowel movements can also help in both treating and preventing diverticular disease.
Considerations
Exercise usually isn't recommended if you have a case of severe acute diverticulitis, involving extreme pain or complications, the NIDDK says. In fact, severe cases may require hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, fasting, surgery and bed rest. Also, be aware that exercise alone won't effectively treat diverticulitis or diverticulosis. Typical treatments include following a liquid diet for a few days to rest your colon, taking antibiotics and pain relievers, eating at least 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day or taking a fiber supplement, and possibly surgery. Your doctor could recommend that you have part of your colon surgically removed if the affected section of your large intestine develops an abscess, perforation or fistula.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Diverticulitis
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Diverticulitis -- All Information
- University of Michigan Health System: Diverticulitis
- University of Michigan Health System: Diverticulitis -- Home Treatment
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
