How do diverticula form?
The muscular wall of the colon grows thicker with age. Thickening of the colon wall may reflect the increasing pressures required by the colon to eliminate feces. A diet low in fiber can lead to small, hard stools which are difficult to pass. Over time, vigorous contractions in the colon push the inner intestinal lining outwards (herniates) through cracks in the muscle walls. These pouches or sacs that develop are called diverticula. What are the symptoms of diverticular disease? Most patients with diverticulosis have few or no symptoms. The diverticulosis condition in these individuals is found incidentally during tests for other intestinal problems. Twenty percent of patients with diverticulosis will develop symptoms related to diverticulosis. The most common symptoms of diverticular disease include: • abdominal cramping, • constipation, and • diarrhea. These symptoms are related to difficulty of passing stool along the left colon narrowed by diverticular disease. More serious compli
