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A Guide to Diverticular Disease

Chances are, if someone asks you to name a condition that affects the large intestine or bowel, the first thing to come to mind might be cancer, or perhaps Crohn’s disease.

However, there’s a much more common, albeit less serious condition that affects an estimated half of Canadians aged 70 and up: diverticulosis. 

Diverticuli are small pockets or pouches that form within the lining of the colon. And they don’t necessarily announce themselves. However, roughly one in five people with diverticulosis will develop symptoms (such as abdominal discomfort) or complications.

One such problem is diverticulitis, which occurs when waste and bacteria become trapped in one of the small cul-de-sacs in the colon, causing an infection.

So what can you do to ease uncomfortable symptoms? And are there things you can do to reduce the odds of developing diverticulitis?

Find out in this health feature that appeared in Good Times back in September 2013: ‘A Guide to Diverticular Disease.’

If you’re hungry for information about probiotics after reading this story, check out this post, which links to a piece I wrote on that topic. 

A big thank-you to the interviewees who so kindly shared their time and expertise:

 

Resources

Canadian Digestive Health Foundation

Clinical Guide to Probiotics Available in Canada

Gastrointestinal Society: Canadian Society of Gastrointestinal Research

International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders

(US) National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images Courtesy of Pixabay