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Staying Healthy
Battle of the bulges
- By Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
Take these steps to avoid ailments that afflict your colon.
As you age, there’s a good chance you’ll develop diverticulosis, a condition that affects the walls of your colon. In fact, about 58% of people over 60 have diverticulosis, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Diverticulosis occurs when tiny bulges (called diverticula) form in weak areas of your colon’s inner wall. These bulges occur naturally over time, but certain conditions and lifestyle habits can accelerate the process. For instance, people with frequent constipation or irritable bowel syndrome are more likely to develop diverticulosis, especially at an earlier age.
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Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
In this guide, we will explain how diverticular disease can appear with little or no warning. We’ll show you how to tell when you may be having symptoms and give you steps you can take to keep the problem from developing in the walls of your colon in the first place, including tips on maintaining a healthy, high-fiber diet. We’ll explore the more common diverticulosis, then go into detail about the more serious diverticulitis, offering insight into treatments for both, as well as self-help and prevention strategies
