Diverticulitis and Diverticulosis: What's the Difference?

What Is a Diverticular Disease?

Diverticulitis and diverticulosis are two related conditions that pose a threat to colon health. Each is a diverticular disease of the colon.

What is diverticular disease? Many people, especially those past the age of 60, have small pouches in their colons. Each pouch is known as a diverticulum. The term "diverticula" refers to the plural.

Diverticula bulge out through weak spots in the colon wall. This condition is known as diverticulosis.

When one of these diverticula becomes inflamed or infected, it's called "diverticulitis."

About 1 person in 10 gets diverticulosis after age 40. The ratios are much higher for those above age 60.

Of those suffering from diverticulosis, about 1 in 4 will get diverticulitis.

Diverticular disease of the colon becomes more common as people age.

Causes of diverticular disease of the colon Although solid evidence is lacking, medical professionals believe the most common cause of diverticulitis and diverticulosis is a low fiber diet.

Diverticular diseases were relatively rare before processed foods were introduced in the early 20th centuryThe disease was first noticed in the industrialized countries in the early 1900s. Diverticulosis and diverticulosis are still relatively rare in most Asian and African countries, where diets tend to contain more vegetables and fiber.

Fiber also prevents chronic constipation, which may lead diverticular disease. Constipation is the main cause of increased pressure in the colon. Such excess pressure might cause the weak spots in the colon to bulge out and become diverticula.

Diagnosing diverticular disease Since diverticulosis presents few symptoms and little discomfort, it is often found only through tests that are ordered for some other condition. Once diverticulosis is suspected, several simple diagnostic tests are available, including a digital rectal exam, stool analysis and x-rays.

Prevention of diverticular disease A doctor may recommend commercially-available fiber products like Citrucel or Metamucil once a day. These products provide about 2 to 3.5 grams of fiber per tablespoon when mixed with 8 ounces of water.

Some medical professionals recommend avoiding of nuts, popcorn, and sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame seeds out of concern that food particles could enter, block, or irritate the diverticula. However, research in this area has been inconclusive.

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