Is it safe to drink?

Diverticula are small sacs that form in the large intestine (colon) and bulge outward. People with such intestinal pouches have a disease called diverticulosis. “Diverticulitis” is the term used when the pocket becomes inflamed or infected. Both of these conditions are called “diverticicular disease,” but there is conflicting research on how alcohol affects them.

Although it is largely influenced by diet, there is conflicting research on the effects of alcohol on diet.

This article aims to explain the relationship between alcohol and diverticular disease.

Does alcohol cause diverticular disease?

Some studies suggest that alcohol consumption may cause or induce diverticular disease. However, the data is inconsistent.

Some studies have shown that the risk of diverticulosis is significantly increased in people who drink alcohol. Experts aren’t sure exactly why, but some suspect it’s because alcohol causes dehydration. Additionally, dehydration makes stools harder and increases straining during defecation, increasing the risk of diverticula formation.

Alcohol also slows down intestinal motility, which can cause constipation and increased pressure in the intestines.

It is important to discuss your individual risk factors and lifestyle changes that may help reduce your risk of developing diverticular disease with your health care provider.

Other risk factors

Although it is not clear exactly why intestinal bags form, there are risk factors that may increase the presence of diverticula, including:

Although diverticulosis is not uncommon in people under 40, it is relatively common in older people. Approximately half of Americans over age 60 have this condition, and most people become affected by age 80. Some foods that were once thought to be harmful, such as popcorn and nuts, appear not to cause bag inflammation.

Evidence from several studies shows that daily dietary fiber intake reduces the risk of diverticular disease. A 2020 meta-analysis of five cohort studies and a total of 865,829 participants found that people who consumed 30 grams of fiber per day had a 41% reduced risk compared to those who consumed less fiber. It has been found.

How does alcohol affect diverticulitis?

Alcohol can cause inflammation of the stomach and cause symptoms of diverticulitis. Alcohol consumption can also increase the frequency of relapses. Consult your doctor if you have symptoms of diverticulitis. You may be advised to avoid alcohol completely to prevent symptoms from worsening. In general, it is best to avoid alcohol during an episode of diverticulitis.

mild diverticulitis

Diverticulitis occurs when the sac becomes inflamed or infected. Symptoms of mild diverticulitis include:

Eating a diet high in fiber and taking mild painkillers often relieve symptoms of mild diverticulitis.

Common symptoms of more severe diverticulitis include:

• Abdominal pain (usually on the left side)
• constipation
• convulsions
• heat
• nausea
• vomiting
• cold

Extreme symptoms of diverticulitis include bleeding and obstruction. Your health care provider may need to perform diagnostic tests, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to diagnose diverticulitis.

Treatments include:

• Antibiotics
• painkillers
• liquid food

Severe cases of diverticulitis may require hospitalization or surgery.

Effect on diverticulosis

You may wonder if it’s okay to drink alcohol once in a while when you have diverticulitis. Research has shown that older age and alcohol use are the most identifiable risk factors for developing diverticulosis. Researchers noted that lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol, may reduce the risk of developing diverticular disease.

chronic diverticulitis

Chronic diverticulitis refers to:

• Repeated attacks of diverticulitis
• Prolonged attacks of diverticulitis
• Complications from long-term diverticulitis, such as intestinal strictures, fistulas, and bleeding diverticular sacs

Chronic diverticulitis may cause small amounts of blood in the stool. Bleeding may become severe and black blood clots may appear.

If you have any rectal bleeding, even a small amount, contact your health care provider right away. Diverticular bleeding may stop on its own without treatment. In severe cases, diverticular bleeding may require hospitalization and treatments such as colonoscopy, angiography, and surgery to stop the bleeding.

Alcohol misuse in patients with diverticulitis

Although there is not enough data on the association between alcohol consumption and diverticular disease, studies have shown that alcoholism is a potential risk factor for the disease.

It is well established that consuming alcohol over a long period of time or in large quantities at once can cause serious physical and mental health problems. Drinking too much at once interferes with your body’s ability to fight off infections after 24 hours.

Alcohol is worst for diverticulitis

Ethyl alcohol is an intoxicating ingredient found in alcoholic beverages. Beer, wine, and hard liquor all contain it. If you drink alcohol, consider the alcohol content of the drink.

Alcohol by volume (ABV) is a metric used to determine the alcohol content of a beverage. ABV indicates what percentage of the total volume of a beverage is pure alcohol.

Which alcohol is the “best”?

There is no “best” alcohol to prevent diverticular disease, and the safest method is not to drink at all. However, if you drink alcohol, it is very important to be aware of exactly how much alcohol you are drinking. Liquor usually contains more alcohol than wine or beer, and your body needs less alcohol to feel its effects.

Reduce or stop drinking alcohol due to diverticular disease

If you feel that drinking is interfering with your daily life, health, relationships, work or social life, it may be time to change your alcohol-free lifestyle.

The first step is recognizing that it’s time to cut back on drinking or stop drinking altogether. This may take some time. Talk to your health care provider about your drinking habits and how they affect your life. Your health care provider will discuss your specific risk factors and the benefits of abstinence and help you find the best treatment plan for you.

Also, talk to your doctor about the risk of alcohol withdrawal symptoms if you stop drinking suddenly. If they determine that you are, you may need to remain under medical treatment or observation while you quit smoking.

summary

Some studies have shown that the risk of diverticulosis is significantly increased in people who drink alcohol. Some experts speculate that this may be because alcohol can dehydrate you, making your stools harder and straining when you defecate, increasing your risk of diverticula formation. Alcohol also slows down intestinal motility, which can cause constipation and increased pressure in the intestines.

Other risk factors include a low-fiber diet, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, and older age. There is no “safe” amount of alcohol to prevent diverticular disease. The safest option is not to drink at all. Talk to your health care provider about your risk factors. You may also want to consider reducing your alcohol intake and discussing lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of developing diverticular disease.