What causes diverticulitis?
A lack of dietary fiber causes the sigmoid colon, which has the smallest diameter, to become somewhat blocked, not allowing as much fecal material to pass through. This, in turn causes a certain amount of pressure to develop in the colon called “intraluminal colonic pressure.” When there is a large amount of intraluminal colonic pressure, the diverticula swell and become susceptible to the entry of foreign bodies into them. The actual blockage of the diverticula, usually by a piece of fecal material, causes an infection in the diverticulum.
