IF YOU notice a ‘stitch-like’ pain in the lower part of your tummy or changes to your bowel habits, you might put it down to IBS or eating something funny.
But these uncomfortable symptoms may be caused by a little-known gut condition that’s actually surprisingly common.
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Known as diverticular disease, it affects a whopping one in three people in their lifetime, according to Guts UK.
Despite being so common, few people could name the symptoms it causes or even know of its existence, the digestive health charity warned.
As a result, people with hidden diverticular disease may not get diagnosed and can continue to suffer agonising symptoms.
In honour of Diverticular Disease Awareness Week, Guts UK called on Brits experiencing telltale signs of the condition to get them checked out.
Read more on bowel habits
The often painful disease is caused by small pouches forming in the wall of the colon, known as diverticula.
Although the exact cause of diverticular disease is still unknown, it mostly affects people over the age of 40 and causes a range of digestive symptoms – such as bloating and stomach pains.
Common symptoms of ultra-common diverticular disease include:
- Lower abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Change in bowel habits – such as diarrhoea or constipation
- Mucus or blood in your poo
The pattern of symptoms tends to differ from one person to the next, but most will get crampy pains that come and go.
The pain is also commonly focused in the left side of the belly, where the diverticula most often form, though some people may get pain on the right side.
The pain and bloating can often start after eating food and may get better after going to the loo or passing gas, Guts UK said.
Meanwhile, many people with the condition can see changes to their poo habits, being struck with diarrhoea one day and constipation the next.
It’s important to get symptoms of diverticular disease checked out, as they’re similar to symptoms caused by more serious conditions such as bowel cancer.
Don’t assume that they are solely caused diverticular disease and get them checked out, the charity urged.
Sophie Miller, 23, from the north of Scotland, shared her experience with diverticular disease after being diagnosed with it in 2023.
She said: “I’d been having stomach pains, an intense stitch-like, uncomfortable pain around my bowels and I noticed blood when I went to the toilet.
“I was really embarrassed, so I didn’t say anything to anyone for months.
When should I be worried about my bowel habits?
Everyone’s poo habbits are different.
Anything from three times a day to three times a week can be in the normal range.
Get to know what is normal for you, so you know when something is wrong.
Any changes to our toilet habits, whether it be going more frequently or less, experiencing loose stools, diarrhoea or constipation, are considered a potential warning sign of bowel cancer.
If there any changes to your ‘normal’, it might be something to bring up with a doctor.
The changes could also be caused by digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
It can cause stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation, with symptoms coming and going or lasting for days or weeks.
Everything causing a change in your bowel habits can be scary – they can be altered by how much water you’re drinking or what you’re eating.
NHS guidance recommends you speak to a GP if you notice a persistent change in your bowel habits for three weeks or more.
“Eventually the pain became too intense and I had to go to hospital and, after further tests, I was diagnosed with diverticular disease.
“I’ve since had help to manage my physical symptoms, as well as the anxiety I used to suffer from as a result of my flare-ups.
“I’d encourage anyone experiencing symptoms to see their doctor. If it is diverticular disease then they can help you manage it.”
Most people with the disease will never have any complications from it and can carry on with their lives as normal.
But some people may develop symptoms that can become difficult to live with.
And in some cases, those with diverticular disease can get complications like inflammation, high temperature, nausea, vomiting or serious bowel conditions, such as colitis or bowel perforation.
NHS England stats show that there were over 140,000 hospital admissions for diverticular disease in the last 12 months and this number is on the rise.
People can develop diverticulitis when one or more diverticula become inflamed or infected.
This can cause symptoms like worsening abdominal pain, a high temperature, nausea and being sick.
You should seek medical help immediately if you experience any of these.
Thought we still can’t be sure what exactly causes diverticular disease, it is more common with people with an unhealthy weight.
It’s also thought to be linked to lifestyle factors.
Although it’s more likely to develop after the age of 40, cases are now on the rise in younger people, the charity warned.
While there is no specific medical treatment for diverticular disease, patients can manage their symptoms and reduce the risk of them worsening by tweaking their diet to eat more fibre and losing weight if appropriate.
Diverticular disease explained
- Diverticulum: A diverticulum is a small pouch about 1cm in size which sticks out from the wall of the large bowel.
- Diverticula: This refers to more than one diverticulum. The most common site for diverticula is on the lower part of the large bowel on the left-hand side. They are permanent unless the affected part of the bowel is surgically removed.
- Diverticulitis: Diverticulitis means the condition that occurs when a single diverticulum or several diverticula become inflamed or infected.
- Diverticulosis: You may have heard the term diverticulosis, which means the presence of diverticula, this is not the same as diverticular disease. Most people with diverticulosis do not have, or go on to develop, diverticular disease. The great majority of people with diverticulosis will live out their lives never having symptoms. Having symptoms is diagnosed as diverticular disease.
Source: Guts UK
Doctors may also prescribe simple painkillers, medicines to reduce stomach cramps, constipation or diarrhoea, and antibiotics if necessary.
Suzanne Hudson, CEO at Guts UK, said: “It’s alarming to think that, during their lifetime, one in three people may be living with diverticular disease without knowing it.
“We want to empower individuals to understand their gut health better and to seek help if they experience any symptoms.
“Awareness is the first step towards improved quality of life for millions of people.”
You can use Guts UK’s Poo-torial tool to better understand your own toilet habits and check your poo for concerning changes.
