At the age of 70, 70 percent of the population will have diverticulosis. However, this doesn’t mean that all of these patients will ever experience diverticulitis. So, what’s the difference, and how ...

Understanding the Context

Diverticulosis is a common condition that can develop in your colon, especially as you get older. It means that little pouches form in the inside lining of your colon. They usually don’t cause any problems. But rarely, they may bleed or develop an infection (diverticulitis).

Key Insights

In diverticulosis, small pouches develop and bulge out through weak spots in the walls of the colon, typically in the part of the colon called the sigmoid colon on the left side of the abdomen. These small, balloon-like pouches are called diverticula. The condition is more prevalent as people age. Diverticulitis (diverticulosis) is a digestive condition that occurs when the diverticula in the colon become infected and inflamed. Learn the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition, as well as the recommended diet.

Final Thoughts

Care guide for Diverticulosis. Includes: possible causes, signs and symptoms, standard treatment options and means of care and support. Diverticulosis is the condition of having multiple pouches (diverticula) in the colon that are not inflamed. These are outpockets of the colonic mucosa and submucosa through weaknesses of muscle layers in the colon wall. [1] Diverticulosis is increasingly common with age; it is present in over 60% of people older than 70 years. Diverticulosis is usually asymptomatic, but approximately 20% of patients develop symptoms and/or complications, including inflammation (diverticulitis) and lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Certain foods may help prevent complications of diverticulosis and diverticulitis, two related problems that affect the colon. Diverticulosis happens when small pouches (diverticula) form in the walls of the colon.