SCRIPT NUMBER 85 CONSTIPATION AND DIVERTICULITIS (TWO SPEAKERS)

Transcription

1 SCRIPT NUMBER 85 CONSTIPATION AND DIVERTICULITIS (TWO SPEAKERS) PROGRAM NAME: HEALTH NUGGETS PROGRAM TITLE: CONSTIPATION AND DIVERTICULITIS PROGRAM NUMBER: 85 SUBJECT: CAUSES OF CONSTIPATION, MECHANISM OF DEVELOPING DIVERTICULITIS, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF CONSTIPATION AND DIVERTICULITIS KEY WORDS: HIGHLY PROCESSED FOODS, CONSTIPATION, STOOL, FIBER, DIVERTICIULOSIS, INFLAMMATION, ABSCESS, DIVERTICULITIS, VAGINA, ANTIBIOTICS, WHOLE GRAIN DATE OF SCRIPT: NOVEMBER 09, 2012 AUTHOR: RICHARD YUKL, MD, FACS Today, we want to talk with you about an association that exists between the diets and lifestyles of our modern life and constipation, because the complications of constipation can be life threatening. As societies around the world mature, their food supplies become more established and people no longer need to spend most of their time hunting for their next meal. Everyone becomes less physically active because hunting and the gathering of

2 food is no longer required. Highly processed fast foods and even completely prepared meals can be purchased in stores. Some examples of today s highly processed foods include cereals and breads made with refined grains and flour, milk products such as cheese and cottage cheese, well-cooked meat and most sweet desserts. Is there any real difference between unprocessed foods and the highly processed foods commonly found today? Highly processed foods differ from more primitive foods in that they are lower in fiber content and higher in fat. Unfortunately, both the lower fiber diets and the lessening of physical activity that have become a part of modern life are major factors in the development of constipation, and people living in modern societies are suffering marked increases in constipation. Why do highly processed foods cause constipated? As food passes through your large intestine, or colon, water is removed and stool is formed. Then, the colon s muscle contractions push the stool out of your body. By the time the stool reaches the end of the colon it is solid because most of the water has been removed. If the colon removes too

3 much water, or if the muscle contractions are too slow, the stool moves through too slowly, becoming hard and dry. You become constipated. How does constipation damage my body? As stool becomes hard, the amount of pressure the colon must generate to move it along increases dramatically. That increased pressure can cause the formation of thin-walled pockets of your colon s lining tissues. Doctors call the condition diverticulosis. Once formed, these colon pockets plus the high colon pressures required to create them can combine to cause infection and inflammation of the pockets, or what the doctors call diverticulitis. Diverticulitis can cause life threatening complications as well as lesser complications such as bleeding from the bowel, blockage of your colon or an abnormal passageway to form between an inflamed pocket and your urinary bladder, a woman s vagina or even through the skin of your belly wall. So, I understand that constipation can cause colon pockets, and that these pockets can become infected, leading to some serious complications. These complications can actually become life threatening? Yes, the infected pockets can rupture, spilling stool into your belly cavity and causing inflammation of your entire belly. This is a true, life threatening medical emergency that requires immediate medical care in a

4 hospital, and often surgery. What are the symptoms of diverticulitis? You develop sudden, severe pain in the lower left side of your belly, fever, and either nausea and vomiting or diarrhea. You feel very sick. How will my diverticulitis be treated? Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms and whether this is your first attack of the pain. If the symptoms are mild, a liquid diet and antibiotics to be taken at home may be all you need. Your doctor will instruct you to rest and to eat a totally liquid diet for a few days so that your infection can heal with the help of the antibiotics. Once your symptoms improve, you can gradually add high fiber food such as fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grain cereal back into your diet. You must finish all of your antibiotic pills even if you start to feel better, however. Stopping them too early could cause your infection to return. If your symptoms are moderate to severe, or if you have experienced previous attacks of symptoms, you may need more advanced care. Your doctor will give you the strong pain medicine and antibiotics that are appropriate for you. Strong pain medicines can make your constipation worse, and that may make your inflammation worse, so you need to take your medicines exactly as your doctor directs.

5 What if my symptoms are severe, how will they be treated? If your pain is severe, you need to be hospitalized to receive strong pain medicines and antibiotics by vein. You will possibly even need surgery to drain pus from your belly, or to correct other complications that have developed. You may even need to have the diseased part of your colon removed. What can I do to prevent developing diverticulitis? There are some things that help prevent or to slow the progression of diverticulitis. First, eat foods that contain a lot of fiber foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables and cereals and bread made with whole grain flour. Fiber softens your stool, reducing the pressure your colon must generate to move it along. Next, drink plenty of fluids. Fiber makes your stool softer and more bulky as it passes through your colon by absorbing water. You must drink enough fluids to keep up with what's being absorbed. Additionally, when you need to use the toilet, don't delay. Delaying bowel movements leads to harder stools that require more force to pass. That increases pressure within your colon. Finally, get regular exercise. Exercise helps your colon to function normally, and that reduces pressure inside your colon. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes on most days.

6 Health Nuggets is written by Dr. Richard Yukl, a medical doctor working in the United States. The medical views expressed in this program are his and may differ for your particular health needs. If you need medical advice, please consult a medical professional in your area.