What exactly is diverticulitis?

So, what exactly constitutes a diverticulum? 😉

divertikul
Google's your best friend, but hey—I'll give you the lowdown
it's basically just a little pouch bulging out from your intestinal wall

redgardener5 said:divertikul
Google's your best friend, but hey—I'll give you the lowdown
it's basically just a little pouch bulging out from your intestinal wall

It usually hits people who don't get enough fiber in their diet or deal with chronic constipation. It’s also way more common in Western cultures—like here in the States—where there's this huge social stigma against passing gas.

In some Eastern cultures, like in China, letting one rip is totally normal, so there's less internal pressure building up in the colon.

A diverticulum can act like a little trap for undigested food particles, which can trigger an infection called diverticulitis. If you don't catch it early, it can be lethal (even Franjo Harmon passed away from diverticulitis).

Diverticula don't just happen in the colon—that's a common misconception. You can get them in the bladder, the bronchi, or pretty much any other organ for that matter. Basically, a diverticulum is just a little pouch-like bulge.