Diverticulosis, A Simple Guide to the Condition, Treatment and Related Diseases

By Kenneth Kee

Diverticulosis is a disorder of the colon
Pouches (diverticula) are present in this condition
It is present in the older age group of people
Also in people who takes a diet of low fiber

Constipation and straining causes weak spots in the bowel mucosa
As a result pouches push outwards at these spots to form diverticula
There are very few symptoms present
There may be bloating or left abdominal pain

The best way of diagnosing diverticulosis is colonoscopy
Examination for blood in the stools by microscopy
Some patients may develop fever and pain from infection
Antibiotics may be needed to reduce the inflammation

Pain medications will relieve any pain symptoms.
Antispasmodic medication for spasm of the colon
Surgery if the attacks are severe or there are complications
Surgery is also done for a perforation or intestinal obstruction

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Interesting Tips about the Diverticulosis

A Healthy Lifestyle

1. Take a well Balanced Diet

2. Treatment of Diverticulosis
Medication:
a. Pain medications will relieve any pain symptoms.
b. Antispasmodic medication for spasm of the colon
c. Antibiotics may be needed in diverticulitis and complications such as urinary infection and peritonitis.
Diet:
a. High-fiber diet
b. Whole grain breads and cereals;
c. Fruit like apples and peaches;
d. Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, spinach, carrots, cabbage, and beans.
e. Fiber product such as Metamucil once a day.
f. Avoid nuts, popcorn, pumpkin, and sesame seeds or any food which can cause discomfort

Diverticulitis
a. Antibiotics to treat the infection and inflammation,
b. Resting the colon by bed rest, nasogastric suction and a liquid diet
c. Hospital stay to prevent complications such as abscess.
d. Surgery if the attacks are severe or there are complications.
e. The surgeon resects the affected part of the colon and then joins the remaining sections.
f. Surgery is also done for complications such as a fistula or intestinal obstruction.
g. Emergency surgery may be done for a large abscess, perforation, peritonitis, or continued bleeding.

3. Keep bones and body strong

Bone marrow produces our blood

Eat foods rich in calcium like yogurt, cheese, milk, and dark green vegetables.

Eat foods rich in Vitamin D, like eggs, fatty fish, cereal, and fortified milk.

Eat food rich in Vitamins B and C such as green vegetables and fruits

Zinc and other minerals are important to the body

4. Get enough rest and Sleep

Avoid stress and tension

5. Exercise and stay active.

It is best to do weight-bearing exercise such as walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing, or lifting weights for 21⁄2 hours a week.

One way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week.

Begin slowly especially if a person has not been active.

6. Do not drink more than 2 alcohol drinks a day for a man or 1 alcohol drink a day for a woman.

Alcohol use also increases the chance of falling and breaking a bone.

Alcohol can affect the neurons and brain cells.

7. Stop or do not begin smoking.

It also interferes with blood supply and healing.

Chapter 1

Diverticulosis

Diverticulosis is a disorder of the colon or large intestine where there are one or more sac-like pouches (called diverticula) in the walls of the colon.

It is more common in the descending and sigmoid colon.

Diverticulosis becomes more obvious with age.

50% of people over the age 0f 60 have Diverticulosis.

The exact cause of Diverticulosis is not known.

It has been suggested that a low-fiber diet is the main cause of diverticular disease.

Diverticulosis is common in developed countries where low-fiber diets are common whereas it is rare in Asia and Africa where people eat

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: Dec 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311039705

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

Diverticulosis,

A

Simple

Guide

To

Condition,

Treatment

And

Related Diseases

By

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2014 Smashwords Edition

Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

to my wife Dorothy

and my children

Carolyn, Grace

and Kelvin

This book describes the Diverticulosis, Treatment and Related Diseases or in vernacular terms

(What You Need to treat Diverticulitis)

This eBook is licensed for the personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

Ode to Diverticulosis

Diverticulosis is a disorder of the colon

Pouches (diverticula) are present in this condition

It is present in the older age group of people

Also in people who takes a diet of low fiber

Constipation and straining causes weak spots in the bowel mucosa

As a result pouches push outwards at these spots to form diverticula

There are very few symptoms present

There may be bloating or left abdominal pain

The best way of diagnosing diverticulosis is colonoscopy

Examination for blood in the stools by microscopy

Some patients may develop fever and pain from infection

Antibiotics may be needed to reduce the inflammation

Pain medications will relieve any pain symptoms.

Antispasmodic medication for spasm of the colon

Surgery if the attacks are severe or there are complications

Surgery is also done for a perforation or intestinal obstruction

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Interesting Tips about the Diverticulosis

A Healthy Lifestyle

1. Take a well Balanced Diet

2. Treatment of Diverticulosis

Medication:

a. Pain medications will relieve any pain symptoms.

b. Antispasmodic medication for spasm of the colon

c. Antibiotics may be needed in diverticulitis and complications such as urinary infection and peritonitis.

Diet:

a. High-fiber diet

b. Whole grain breads and cereals;

c. Fruit like apples and peaches;

d. Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, spinach, carrots, cabbage, and beans.

e. Fiber product such as Metamucil once a day.

f. Avoid nuts, popcorn, pumpkin, and sesame seeds or any food which can cause discomfort

Diverticulitis

a. Antibiotics to treat the infection and inflammation,

b. Resting the colon by bed rest, nasogastric suction and a liquid diet

c. Hospital stay to prevent complications such as abscess.

d. Surgery if the attacks are severe or there are complications.

e. The surgeon resects the affected part of the colon and then joins the remaining sections.

f. Surgery is also done for complications such as a fistula or intestinal obstruction.

g. Emergency surgery may be done for a large abscess, perforation, peritonitis, or continued bleeding.

3. Keep bones and body strong

Bone marrow produces our blood

Eat foods rich in calcium like yogurt, cheese, milk, and dark green vegetables.

Eat foods rich in Vitamin D, like eggs, fatty fish, cereal, and fortified milk.

Eat food rich in Vitamins B and C such as green vegetables and fruits

Zinc and other minerals are important to the body

4. Get enough rest and Sleep

Avoid stress and tension

5. Exercise and stay active.

It is best to do weight-bearing exercise such as walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing, or lifting weights for 2½ hours a week.

One way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week.

Begin slowly especially if a person has not been active.

6. Do not drink more than 2 alcohol drinks a day for a man or 1 alcohol drink a day for a woman.

Alcohol use also increases the chance of falling and breaking a bone.

Alcohol can affect the neurons and brain cells.

7. Stop or do not begin smoking.

It also interferes with blood supply and healing.

Chapter 1

Diverticulosis

What is Diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis is a disorder of the colon or large intestine where there are one or more sac-like pouches (called diverticula) in the walls of the colon.

It is more common in the descending and sigmoid colon.

Who is affected by Diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis becomes more obvious with age.

50% of people over the age 0f 60 have Diverticulosis.

What is the Cause of Diverticulosis?

The exact cause of Diverticulosis is not known.

It has been suggested that a low-fiber diet is the main cause of diverticular disease.

Diverticulosis is common in developed