Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

Many people have small pouches in their colons that bulge outward through weak spots, like an inner tube that pokes through weak places in a tire. Each pouch is called a diverticulum. Pouches (plural) are called diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis.

Most people with diverticulosis do not have any discomfort or symptoms, but some might experience mild cramps, bloating, and constipation. Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers cause similar problems, so these symptoms do not always mean a person has diverticulosis. You should visit your doctor if you have these troubling symptoms.

When the pouches become infected or inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are also called diverticular disease.

The most common symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain, or tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen. If infection is the cause, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping, and constipation may occur as well. The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of the infection and complications such as bleeding, perforations, tears, or blockages. These complications always require treatment to prevent them from progressing and causing serious illness.

SEROVERA® AMP 500 is powerful in relieving symptoms in most diverticular cases. It can help you minimize the risk of severe attacks by taking it on a regular basis to coat and nourish the colon.