One of your body's most important systems is your digestive tract. It often works fine without a problem, but small pouches can develop in the colon. These small pouches can form when the inside layer of the tract pushes out through a weak spot. They can be found anywhere along the tract. Most often, they occur on the left side of your large intestine. This area is known as the descending and sigmoid colon. The pouches are known as diverticulosis. When one or more of these pouches gets inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis.
Diverticulosis occurs when part of the colon bulges through a muscular layer into the abdomen, called diverticula. Learn about this condition, possible complications, and what you should do if you have diverticulosis.
Diverticulosis means that small pouches have formed in the wall of the large intestine. Most often, this problem causes no symptoms and is common as people age.
Some people get pouches along the wall of the colon as they get older. These pouches are called diverticula. They often cause no symptoms. If the pouches become blocked, you can get an infection. This infection is called diverticulitis.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are 2 problems involving the colon (large intestine). These conditions can be painful. But they can be managed. Read on to learn how.
