Diverticulitis Research Paper

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Diverticular disease is very rampant in America. By the age of 60 one third of Americans will have acquired this condition, and by the age of 85 two thirds. This makes the condition one of the most common in the United States. There are few symptoms until it develops into diverticulitis, a condition in which there is pain and bleeding inside the large intestine.
Most digestion occurs inside the stomach and the small intestine. The remaining product is moved through the large intestine where vitamins and water are absorbed. This is where diverticular disease occurs, along the walls of the small intestine.
The large intestine is normally smooth, but in the case of diverticulosis, small sac-like structures that stick out along the intestinal …show more content…

Refined carbohydrates contain very little fiber. A common refined carbohydrate is white flour. It contains very little fiber compared to alternatives like whole-wheat flour. In this case, white flour is often used in Western baking for the taste and not for health.
15-20% of those with diverticulosis will go on to have the inflammatory disorder diverticulitis. This includes bleeding, and can become severe and life threatening. Diverticulitis causes approximately 3500 deaths annually in the United States.
Diverticulitis occurs when bacteria found inside the colon cause infections in the diverticula along the intestinal walls. Scientists do not know why infection occurs in only some diverticula and not others. A possible theory is that the sacs are caused to erode by pressure or build up, or a bit of both. This erosion then causes a slight perforation into the tissues surrounding the sac. In most people, the immune system can handle this excess of bacteria. However, in the case of diverticulitis, this sore becomes quite problematic, leading to pain and bleeding.
Aside from pain and bleeding, symptoms of diverticulitis include fever, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and constipation or diarrhea. The pain is typically located where you would expect the colon to be, along the bottom left part of the

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