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On July 4, news broke that Pope Francis was taken to a hospital for a scheduled operation to relieve the stricture on his colon.

Colonic stricture, which is also referred to as stenosis, is a medical condition where the large intestine becomes narrower.

This stricture is often caused by a common condition known as diverticulitis, where small bulges or sacs form on the colon wall.

Strictures in the colon may become dangerous if they get too narrow for food to pass safely.

Thus, surgery must be done for severe cases to address the stricture resulting from diverticulitis.

Fortunately, as of July 5, Pope Francis has reportedly responded well to his diverticulitis surgery and is now on his road to recovery.

Read on and learn more about diverticulitis, its symptoms, causes and how it can be treated and prevented.

Learn how to prevent diverticulitis / Source: Pexels

Causes and risk factors

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the U.S., diet plays a significant role in one's chances of developing diverticulitis. Those who have low fiber, high fat, and red meat diets are more likely to have diverticulitis.

Plus, Web MD says that one's chances of getting diverticulitis also increases as one ages.

Below are the other risk factors for diverticulitis:

• Being overweight
• Smoking cigarettes
• Not getting enough exercise
• Has history of constipation
• Eating lots of fat and red meat but not much fiber
• Taking certain kinds of drugs, including steroids, opioids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen or naproxen

Symptoms

Here are the symptoms of diverticulitis to watch out for:

• Constant and persistent pain for several days. (The pain usually occurs in the lower left side of the abdomen. But sometimes, the right side of the abdomen is more painful, especially in people of Asian descent. Plus, the cramping may go away after you pass gas or have a bowel movement.)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Abdominal tenderness
• Constipation or, less commonly, diarrhea
• bright red blood in your stool

Treatment and prevention

In non-severe cases, diverticulitis can usually be treated at home. A general physician will prescribe antibiotics and paracetamol to relieve pain.

Surgery may be required for serious cases that have developed complications such as fistulas or peritonitis or blockage in the intestines. It involves removing the affected section of the intestine, known as colectomy.

In cases where the complication involves formation of abscesses, a radiologist will perform percutaneous drainage.

As for the patient's diet during recovery, he or she will be required to go on a fluid-only diet for a few days until the symptoms improve.

And when it comes to prevention, just like most medical conditions, a healthy lifestyle is key to avoid developing diverticulitis, especially eating healthy and consuming fiber-rich foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

To reduce pressure inside one's colon, it's important also to exercise regularly to promote normal bowel movement.

Plus, it's also important to drink plenty of fluids, since fiber works by absorbing water and aids in increasing the soft, bulky waste in the colon.

If you don't replenish the liquid absorbed by fiber, it can actually cause constipation.

And finally, one must lessen his or her risk factor for diverticulitis by not smoking.

For more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.

Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diverticulitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371758
https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/understanding-diverticulitis-basics
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diverticular-disease-and-diverticulitis/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459316/

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