Diverticular disease affects your colon -- the waste-removing portion of your large intestine. Diverticulosis occurs when diverticula, or small pouches, form in your colon. Doctors think the diverticula pouches may be formed when you strain to pass bowel movements due to eating a low-fiber diet. About half of the population over age 60 have diverticulosis, but it usually causes no symptoms. However, when the diverticula become inflamed or infected, due to food or fecal matter getting lodged in the diverticula, the condition becomes diverticulitis, a painful condition that may require hospitalization.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain, which may develop quickly and without warning, or may gradually build over the course of a few days. The pain is typically located in the lower left abdominal area but is sometimes in the center of the abdomen or on the right side. Other symptoms include cramping, loss of appetite, bloating, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, a change in bowel habits and abdominal tenderness to touch.
Treatment
Treatment for diverticulitis depends on the severity of symptoms but may include bed rest, oral antibiotics, liquid diet and pain medication. Severe cases of diverticulitis require hospitalization and possible surgery. If, after a few days, symptoms decrease, your doctor may gradually add high-fiber foods into your diet, but hold off from exercising until your condition is improved and you have clearance from your physician. Instead, use a heating pad and deep breathing techniques to help deal with pain.
Exercise
During a diverticulitis outbreak, you will most likely not want to exercise. It's best for your recovery not to work out during any type of infection, according to Gabe Mirkin, M.D. However, once your infection has cleared up and your doctor has cleared you for exercise, it should be not only safe to do so, but exercising may reduce your risk of future flare-ups, according to an 18-year study by Washington University, published in "American Journal of Gastroenterology" in 2009. The report showed a correlation between vigorous exercise and decreased diverticular issues. Additionaly, there seems to be a correlation between lack of exercise and increased risk of diverticular disease, but there is no scientific evidence suggesting exercise causes diverticular pain.
Complications
Diverticulitis does not resolve itself without treatment, making medical attention crucial when you are having an attack. Left untreated, diverticulitis can lead to rectal bleeding, tears in the colon, abscesses, fistulas, intestinal obstructions or peritonitis. Call your doctor immediately if your abdominal pain worsens with movement like exercise. Pain in one spot of your abdomen accompanied by stool made up mostly of blood, vomiting, unusual bowel habit changes, burning urination, vaginal discharge, fever, shoulder pain or stool passing through your urethra all warrant immediate medical attention as well.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis; July 2008
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Diverticular Disease; June 2007
- Cigna; Diverticulitis; July 26, 2010
- "American Journal of Gastroenterology"; Physical Activity Decreases Diverticular Complications; L.L. Strate, et al.; May 2009
- DrMirkin.com; Exercise When You Have an Infection?; Gabe Merkin, MD; March 1994
