What is diverticulosis?
Diverticulosis is a common condition that develops in the large intestine. This diagnosis means that small pouches, similar to a bag, form in the lining of the large intestine.
Diverticulosis itself does not cause problems, and if it is not accidentally diagnosed during a routine examination, a person may not even know that they have this diagnosis.
Many people never have symptoms or develop any complications. However, if the infection is not treated in a timely manner, the risk of sepsis and large amounts of blood loss increases significantly.
Diverticulosis is particularly common in the Western world, with 30% of people over 50, 50% of people over 60, and 75% of people over 80 having diverticulosis in the United States. Diverticulosis is rare in people under 40. It is less common in countries where the standard diet contains little or no processed foods.
It is usually asymptomatic, but if any signs are present (abdominal pain, fever, etc.), it is because there is an infection in the body (diverticulitis). Sometimes symptoms are a side effect of another disease - against the background of some intestinal problem, the diverticula become more sensitive, and as a result of this sensitivity, the symptoms are also noticeable.
Scientists suspect and express the opinion that the main cause of diverticulosis is the standard Western diet, which contains a large amount of processed starch and a small amount of vegetable fiber. Genetic predisposition should also be considered.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24883-diverticulosis
