If you are experiencing intestinal distress and gastrointestinal problems, you may have a diverticular condition. One condition is called diverticulitis. Diverticulitis affects the area in and around your large intestine. While several methods are used to treat this condition, exercise is often recommended as a way to curb symptoms and keep the intestines in good health.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is generally caused by not having enough fiber in your diet. The pouches that are located deep within your intestine become inflamed and in some cases infected. When you don't have enough fiber in your diet, you may become constipated or have trouble passing a bowel movement -- this can cause pressure to build up in your intestine where diverticular pouches begin it form. Initially, you may notice unsettling gastrointestinal symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, fever and general malaise. These conditions may appear several minutes after eating and last several hours. Only your doctor can make an accurate diagnosis through a physical exam along with a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, barium enema and CT scan.
Exercise Benefits
Exercise is beneficial to diverticulitis and intestinal health because it helps keep your bowels moving freely. Exercise may also stimulate your intestinal walls, reducing the risk of buildup and the development of diverticular pouches. Over time, if these pouches get inflamed, they are more prone to infection. When you exercise, you also increase fluid intake --this is another essential component in keeping your intestines healthy and helps waste move through more easily.
Solutions
There are several solutions for getting help with your diverticulitis. In addition to regular exercise at least five days a week, you should also follow a healthy diet You can get your daily source of fiber when you choose foods from the five food groups, including the grains, vegetable and fruit group. Some foods with the highest fiber content include raspberries, pears, apples, peas, black beans, whole wheat spaghetti, barley, artichokes and broccoli.
Precautions
With diverticulitis, you need to be aware of the effects of the disease -- some of which are serious. If you experience any type of bleeding, you should report this symptom immediately to your doctor. The bleeding can be caused from a rupture in a blood vessel in and around a pouch. Any type of bleeding internally can lead to lowering iron levels and organ damage. If you are experiencing severe pain accompanied by a fever, you should not exercise and you should see your doctor to seek treatment and rule out a medical emergency.
