When you’re diagnosed with diverticulitis, it may be a relief to know that the gut pain you’ve experienced isn’t all in your head, and neither is it a life-threatening illness, such as cancer. Still, inflamed pouches in your gut are no picnic, either.
So, how do you avoid a flare of the pain and inflammation that comes with diverticulitis? And, especially, as you travel for the holidays and beyond, how do you control your exposures and keep away from triggers?
At Colon and Rectal Surgeons of Greater Hartford, our colorectal experts and surgeons diagnose and treat diverticulitis at our offices in Bloomfield and South Windsor, Connecticut. We want you to stay comfortable between visits, too.
So, how do you avoid diverticulitis triggers and keep flares at bay? Following are a few tips.
Cigarette smoking looks cool onscreen, but — as you’re already aware — it does a lot of very un-cool things to your body. In addition to raising your risk for all kinds of cancers (not just lung cancer), it dehydrates your body. That means your skin, your organs, and yes, your colon.
Those lines around your mouth, sometimes referred to as “smoker’s lines,” are one sure sign that smoking’s been sucking needed moisture from your tissues. You may notice, too, that you look older than your peers. You’d look older than a non-smoking twin, if you had one.
Nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco, also relaxes the muscles and nerves in your colon. When the muscles are too relaxed, they can’t contract optimally to evacuate your bowels. That leaves fecal matter around longer, so it can collect in your diverticula and worsen your diverticulitis.
As mentioned, nicotine’s addictive, which is why it’s difficult to quit smoking. Alcohol is also difficult to quit on your own, but has similarly negative effects on your gut. If you need help quitting either one, we’ll refer you to cessation programs.
Foods that are rich in fiber help move feces quickly, smoothly, and effortlessly through your colon, so it can’t collect in your diverticula. You might benefit from adding psyllium husks or another form of fiber to your diet. Also switch from processed foods to whole foods, rich in fiber, such as:
Also add in lean, high-quality protein and healthy fats, such as olive oil. Make sure you get enough of essential nutrients, such as vitamin D. Ironically, even if you’re obese, you may not be getting “enough” food, meaning that you’re not getting the right kinds of nutrient-rich foods.
If you’re not comfortable switching up your diet, let us know. We may recommend you for medically supervised weight loss, which helps you make healthy changes for life.
Notice a trend? All of the general health advice that helps you avoid life-threatening conditions, such as heart attack and stroke, also keeps your gut healthy.
The more you move, the better your bowels move, too. Exercise also stimulates your circulation, which brings more nourishing blood to your colon and other tissues.
If you don’t already exercise, ask your doctor to design a program that takes your current fitness level into account. Gradually, you increase the duration and intensity of exercise until you reach weekly recommendations.
A nice side effect of combining a healthy diet with sufficient hydration and exercise is that you could end up losing weight. Obesity is also a trigger for diverticulitis, so getting your weight stable can control your flares, too.
Do you need to avoid diverticulitis flares and get treatment for the times they strike? Call our team at our office nearest you (Bloomfield or South Windsor, Connecticut) today. You can also contact us online.
