Diverticulitis Research Paper
Diverticulitis: The Disease
Nursing 110
March 28, 2013
Constipated? Having difficulty passing your stool? You are quickly putting yourself at risk for developing diverticulosis. It is believed that pressure accumulation in the colon, created by people straining to pass harden stool, may cause the lining of the colon to bulge out in weak spots of the colon creating pouches, called diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis (Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis, 2012). Although only ten percent of Americans over the age of forty have diverticulosis, the risk for developing it increases every ten years afterwards. It is suspected that everyone over the age of eighty has some form of diverticulosis (Issa et al., …show more content…
These pouches are primarily found in the large intestine of the colon. Although there is not a specific proven culprit in causing diverticulitis, it is suspected that the small, narrow openings in the diverticula trap fecal material creating an infection. It is thought, not proven, that avoiding small foods such as nuts, kernels that are found in corn and popcorn, and even seeds found in some fruits like kiwi (Diverticulitis, 2012).. These small items are capable of entering the diverticula and causing a blockage. Another suspected cause of the inflammation is an obstruction in the diverticula which decreases the blood supply to the area. Although there are many general symptoms of the disease such as fever, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and bloating; there are symptoms specific to the disease. These symptoms are sudden pain, which is normally severe, located in the left lower side of the abdomen as well as tenderness, also located in the same place. When the patient becomes symptomatic they need to seek a health care provider as soon as possible. If the symptoms are ignored, other complications can occur (Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis,
Nursing 110
March 28, 2013
Constipated? Having difficulty passing your stool? You are quickly putting yourself at risk for developing diverticulosis. It is believed that pressure accumulation in the colon, created by people straining to pass harden stool, may cause the lining of the colon to bulge out in weak spots of the colon creating pouches, called diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis (Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis, 2012). Although only ten percent of Americans over the age of forty have diverticulosis, the risk for developing it increases every ten years afterwards. It is suspected that everyone over the age of eighty has some form of diverticulosis (Issa et al., …show more content…
These pouches are primarily found in the large intestine of the colon. Although there is not a specific proven culprit in causing diverticulitis, it is suspected that the small, narrow openings in the diverticula trap fecal material creating an infection. It is thought, not proven, that avoiding small foods such as nuts, kernels that are found in corn and popcorn, and even seeds found in some fruits like kiwi (Diverticulitis, 2012).. These small items are capable of entering the diverticula and causing a blockage. Another suspected cause of the inflammation is an obstruction in the diverticula which decreases the blood supply to the area. Although there are many general symptoms of the disease such as fever, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and bloating; there are symptoms specific to the disease. These symptoms are sudden pain, which is normally severe, located in the left lower side of the abdomen as well as tenderness, also located in the same place. When the patient becomes symptomatic they need to seek a health care provider as soon as possible. If the symptoms are ignored, other complications can occur (Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis,