Gastrointestinal

The more serious cases of diverticulitis (inflamed or infected diverticula) may need hospitalization or surgery in order to treat the condition. Diverticulitis becomes serious when complications occur.

Complications of diverticulitis include bleeding that is not controlled or stops on its own, bowel obstruction, or peritonitis. Complications from diverticulitis often mean that a section of the bowel tissue has become damaged or that the condition has spread from the colon into the abdominal cavity. The patient may experience severe abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. Complications occur when diverticulitis is not caught early on, or when antibiotics and rest alone cannot control the condition.

Hospitalization

What organ located in the human body below the rib cage an in the upper left part of the abdomen is as big as your fist? The answer is your spleen, as you probably guessed based on the title. Your spleen has a pretty important role to play in your body and is part of your body's defense system, also known as your lymphatic system.

The spleen is made up of a splenic artery, a splenic vein that drains into a larger portal vein and fibrous tissue called the splenic capsule. The tissue of the spleen is actually made up of two types of tissues: red pulp and white pulp. They both function differently in the body and both are important.

Infection Fighting Immune Machine

Food intolerance or food sensitivity is a negative reaction to a food that may or may not be related to the immune system or to food poisoning. It may be caused by the absence of specific enzymes which are needed to digest a food substance or to the body’s responses to certain food chemicals both natural and artificial.

Symptoms of food intolerance vary greatly and may be mistaken for the symptoms of an allergy. Food allergies or food intolerances affect nearly everyone at some point, but only about three percent of children have clinically proven allergic reactions to food and only about one percent of adults have food allergies.

Most Common Allergies

In adults, the most common foods to cause allergic reactions include shellfish such as shrimp, crayfish, lobster, and crab; peanuts, eggs, tree nuts, and fish.

Constipation is a miserable condition and common to many people. It means the bowel movements are small, hard, and difficult to pass. You may have few bowel movements or always have a feeling of never finishing the movement. There are many reasons for constipation including anxiety; stress, dehydration, injury and some medications will cause constipation.

There are many natural ways to help patients who suffer from constipation. Eating fruit and vegetables are recommended especially green leafy ones like lettuce and parsley.

Blood Thinner

One home cure especially recommended is the use of cayenne pepper. You can use the pepper on food or can be bought in capsule form. Cayenne pepper is a blood thinner and can help improve circulation.

Finding the correct diet for those who have experienced diverticulitis can be confusing and there can be different diets to which your doctor may have you on depending on your symptoms, your age and how often you have experienced diverticulitis. The diverticulitis diets generally have one thing in common - fiber.

The three-diverticulitis diets are:

• High Fiber

• No Fiber

When to use the different levels of fiber?

High Fiber

The high fiber diet is when your diverticulitis is in control and things are good for you. You are not experiencing any pain or discomfort. The high fiber diet is the one that keeps you healthy. It is used to prevent diverticulitis and it stops diverticula forming.