Is diverticulitis caused and controlled more by diet or stress? What are the best methods of prevention?
Diverticuli are small blind pouches that develop off the gastrointestinal tract. In common parlance, these refer to the sacks off the colon since these are by far the most common. These are actually herniations of the colon and are usually fed by a small artery. They are most common in the sigmoid colon and increase in frequency with age. There is no clear cause of diverticuli although they are more common in developed countries than in underdeveloped countries. This has led to the thought that increased pressure causes these pouches or sacs. The pressure is thought to be due to lack of fiber in the diet and increasing colonic pressure while defecating. For most people, a diet high in fiber will minimize the symptoms-probably Tom decreasing the pressure on the sacs. Whether a high fiber diet will prevent this from increasing is not clear; but, is the current medical recommendation.
