Diverticulosis

Q My 35-year-old son has something called "diverticulosis." First hat is it, and, second, how is it treated?

R.K., Charlotte

A Diverticular disease consists of two conditions--diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Diverticulosis, which occurs when small pouches form in the walls of the large intestine or colon, is the less severe of the two.

Doctors say the colon weakens with age and, in some people, increased pressure that builds inside the colon causes small pouches to bulge out at the weakest places in the intestinal wall.

One of the main causes of the pressure is usually constipation. And relieving the constipation, primarily by increasing fiber in your diet, can relieve the problems associated with diverticulosis.

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