Once you finally get into your exercise routine and make it a habit, you might not want to stop for fear of getting out of the habit again. However, sometimes you have to take a break because of a medical condition. Diverticulitis, an intestinal disease, could prevent you from exercising if your doctor deems rest a more appropriate treatment.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis stems from another condition called diverticulosis. This occurs when small depressions, usually referred to as sacs or pouches, form in the intestinal lining. Both a low-fiber diet and a lack of exercise tend to contribute to diverticulosis. The chance of developing diverticulosis increases as you get older, and you might not know if you have it because sometimes there are no outward symptoms. The pouches can become clogged and irritated, though, leading to diverticulitis. Symptoms include pain, bloody stools and nausea. Treatment for diverticulitis is usually dietary but may include surgery and intravenous antibiotics if the condition is bad enough.
Effects of Exercise
Whether you can exercise when you have diverticulitis is up to your doctor. The University of California, San Francisco, notes that bed rest is sometimes part of the treatment for diverticulitis, even if you are not in the hospital. Exercising if you have diverticulosis, however, is another story. UCSF says that, while the exact connection hasn't been determined, exercise appears to reduce the chance of more pouches forming, and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service advises getting exercise as a way to control diverticulosis.
Exercise Factor is Unknown
The mechanism behind this association -- that physical activity helps to keep your colon in good shape -- isn't known. Studies are showing, though, that it does have a beneficial effect on the colon, including prevention of diverticulitis. For example, a 2009 study in the "American Journal of Gastroenterology" followed 47,228 male subjects over 18 years and found that the greater the amount of physical activity, the lower the risk of diverticulitis. The study's authors noted, "Vigorous activity appears to account for this association."
Cautions
Treat diverticulitis immediately to avoid developing intestinal abcesses or perforations. Many cases of diverticulitis take only a few days to clear up and the majority don't need surgery, but the condition can recur. Your doctor will tell you what you need to do in your specific situation, but prevention will likely include reshaping your diet and beginning an exercise plan if you are not already active.
