Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches form in the lining of the digestive system. These pouches are called diverticula. According to the NIH, most people with diverticulitis are over the age of 40. While this condition should be taken seriously, diverticula rarely cause health issues or pain unless they become infected or inflamed.
Ask the average person, “What is diverticulitis?”, and they likely won’t know what to tell you. While diverticulitis symptoms can affect healthy people, it is rarely discussed outside of medical circles.
1. No Symptoms
Many people have not heard of diverticulitis, simply because of its remarkable lack of symptoms. It’s common for people with acute diverticulitis to go undiagnosed for years because they never felt the need to be tested for this condition. This is why diverticulitis is typically discovered when tests are performed for other conditions.