Diverticular Disease in Adults
Learn about diverticular disease, symptoms, and treatment options through private care
As an FCA-authorised expert with over 800,000 policies of various kinds issued, WeCovr helps people across the UK navigate the world of private medical insurance. This guide offers an in-depth look at diverticular disease, a common condition affecting the gut, and explains how private health cover can provide fast access to diagnosis and treatment.
Diverticular disease is a condition that develops when small bulges or pockets, known as diverticula, form in the lining of the intestine. While these pockets often cause no problems, they can sometimes lead to uncomfortable symptoms or become inflamed, a more serious condition called diverticulitis.
Understanding this condition is the first step towards managing it effectively. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the symptoms, causes, and treatment options available through both the NHS and private healthcare, helping you make informed decisions about your health and wellbeing.
What Is Diverticular Disease and Diverticulitis? A Clear Explanation
It's easy to get confused by the similar-sounding terms related to this condition. Let's break them down into simple concepts. Imagine the wall of your large intestine (colon) is like the inner tube of a bicycle tyre. Over time, weak spots can develop and bulge outwards, forming little pockets.
- Diverticula: These are the small pockets or bulges themselves that form in the wall of the large intestine.
- Diverticulosis: This is simply the presence of these pockets. Most people with diverticulosis have no symptoms and may never know they have it. It’s incredibly common, especially as we age.
- Diverticular Disease: This is the term used when the pockets cause intermittent, often mild, symptoms like lower abdominal pain, bloating, or changes in bowel habits.
- Diverticulitis: This is a more serious condition where one or more of the pockets become inflamed or infected. This can cause severe pain, fever, and requires prompt medical attention.
Think of it as a spectrum: having the pockets (diverticulosis) is common and often harmless. When they start causing noticeable symptoms, it's called diverticular disease. When they get infected, it becomes acute diverticulitis.
How Common Is Diverticular Disease in the UK?
Diverticular disease is very common in Western countries, including the UK, and its prevalence rises sharply with age. The latest data from the NHS and other health bodies paints a clear picture:
- Age is the biggest factor: It's estimated to affect around 1 in 3 people over the age of 50.
- Prevalence in older adults: This figure rises to approximately 2 in 3 people by the age of 80.
- Hospital admissions: According to NHS Digital data, hospital admissions for diverticular disease have been steadily increasing over the last decade, reflecting both an ageing population and potentially lifestyle factors.
While it was once considered a disease of the elderly, doctors are now seeing it more frequently in younger people, with some studies suggesting a link to modern diets and rising obesity rates.
Recognising the Symptoms: From Mild Discomfort to Severe Pain
The symptoms you experience depend on whether you have diverticular disease or an acute flare-up of diverticulitis.
Symptoms of Diverticular Disease
These symptoms can be persistent or come and go. They often feel similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
- Lower abdominal pain: Usually a cramping feeling in the lower tummy, most commonly on the left-hand side. The pain may worsen after eating.
- Bloating: A feeling of fullness or pressure in the abdomen.
- Changes in bowel habits: You might experience constipation, diarrhoea, or alternating between the two.
- Mucus in your stool: Occasionally, you may notice a slimy substance in your poo.
Symptoms of Acute Diverticulitis
This is when the condition becomes serious and requires immediate medical help. An attack of diverticulitis can develop suddenly.
- Severe and constant abdominal pain: The pain is typically more intense and persistent than with diverticular disease. It usually starts below your belly button and moves to the lower left side.
- High temperature (fever): You may feel hot, shivery, and generally unwell.
- Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting).
- Blood in your stool: You might see bright red blood or darker, tar-like stools.
If you experience the sudden and severe symptoms of diverticulitis, you should seek urgent medical advice by calling NHS 111 or contacting your GP immediately.
What Causes Diverticular Disease? Key Risk Factors
While the exact cause isn't fully understood, it's widely believed that a long-term lack of dietary fibre is the main culprit. A low-fibre diet can lead to constipation, which increases pressure inside the colon as the muscles strain to move hard stools. This pressure is thought to cause weak spots in the colon wall to bulge outwards, forming diverticula.
Other key risk factors include:
- Age: The colon wall naturally weakens as we get older.
- Obesity: Being significantly overweight increases the pressure inside the abdomen.
- Smoking: Smokers are at a higher risk of developing diverticulitis and its complications.
- Lack of Exercise: Regular physical activity helps promote normal bowel function and reduces pressure in the colon.
- Certain Medications: Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, as well as steroids and opioids, has been linked to an increased risk.
- Genetics: If you have a close family member with the condition, you may be more likely to develop it.
Getting a Diagnosis: The Path to Clarity Through Private Care
If you present to your GP with symptoms, they will likely ask about your medical history, diet, and lifestyle before carrying out a physical examination of your abdomen. To confirm a diagnosis and rule out other conditions like bowel cancer or IBS, they may refer you for tests.
This is where private medical insurance can make a significant difference. While the NHS provides excellent care, waiting lists for non-urgent diagnostic tests can sometimes be long. With private health cover, you can often see a specialist and get these tests done within days or weeks.
Common diagnostic tests include:
- Blood Tests: To check for signs of infection or inflammation, indicated by a high white blood cell count.
- Stool Sample Analysis: To rule out infections or other causes of your symptoms.
- CT Scan: This is the most reliable imaging test to confirm a diagnosis of acute diverticulitis and check for complications like an abscess.
- Colonoscopy or Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: A thin, flexible tube with a camera is used to look inside your colon. This is usually done to diagnose diverticulosis or investigate bleeding after an attack of diverticulitis has settled.
With a private medical insurance UK policy, you can get a referral from your GP and book an appointment with a private gastroenterologist swiftly, bypassing potential delays and getting a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan much faster.
Critical Information on Pre-existing and Chronic Conditions
It is vital to understand a fundamental principle of UK private medical insurance: standard policies are designed to cover acute conditions, not chronic ones.
- Acute Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. An attack of acute diverticulitis would be considered acute.
- Chronic Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that has one or more of the following characteristics: it needs long-term monitoring, has no known cure, is likely to recur, or requires ongoing management. Diverticular disease itself is generally considered chronic.
Furthermore, PMI does not cover pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is any illness or symptom you had before your policy started. If you have already been diagnosed with or had symptoms of diverticular disease, it will be excluded from your cover.
However, if you take out a policy before you have any signs of the condition, an acute flare-up (diverticulitis) that occurs after your policy begins would typically be covered. An expert PMI broker like WeCovr can help you understand these crucial distinctions and find a policy with underwriting that best suits your circumstances.
Navigating Treatment Options: NHS vs. Private Care
Treatment depends entirely on the severity of your symptoms.
| Feature | NHS Care | Private Care |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Consultation | Appointment with a GP. Waiting times can vary. | Fast access to a GP, often same-day or next-day. |
| Specialist Referral | Referral to a gastroenterologist. Subject to NHS waiting lists, which can be many months. | Rapid referral to a consultant of your choice, often within a week. |
| Diagnostic Tests | Tests like CT scans or colonoscopies are subject to waiting lists. | Tests are arranged quickly, often within days, speeding up diagnosis. |
| Hospital Stay | In a shared NHS ward if hospitalisation is needed for severe diverticulitis. | Private, en-suite room for comfort and privacy during recovery. |
| Choice of Surgeon | You will be treated by the on-call surgical team. | You can choose your surgeon from a list of approved specialists. |
| Follow-up Care | Follow-up appointments may have long waiting times. | Prompt and convenient follow-up appointments with your chosen consultant. |
Treatment for Mild Diverticular Disease
For mild, intermittent symptoms, the focus is on self-management, primarily through diet.
- High-fibre diet: Gradually increase your intake of fibre to soften your stools and reduce pressure in the colon.
- Pain relief: Paracetamol is recommended. You should avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen as they can increase the risk of bleeding.
- Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids to help the fibre work effectively.
Treatment for Acute Diverticulitis
If you have an attack of diverticulitis, treatment becomes more intensive.
- At home: For a mild attack, your GP may prescribe antibiotics and advise a liquid-only or low-fibre diet for a few days to let your bowel rest.
- In hospital: For severe attacks, you will likely be admitted to hospital. Treatment involves antibiotics given directly into a vein (intravenously), pain relief, and fasting (no food or drink) to rest the colon.
With private medical insurance, a hospital stay for acute diverticulitis means you’ll benefit from a private room, more flexible visiting hours, and the direct oversight of your chosen consultant.
Managing Your Health: Diet, Lifestyle, and Wellness
Living well with diverticular disease is all about proactive management. Making positive changes to your diet and lifestyle can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms.
Your High-Fibre Diet Plan
The goal is to aim for the UK government's recommended 30g of fibre per day.
- Start Slowly: Increase your fibre intake gradually over a few weeks to avoid bloating and gas.
- Eat the Rainbow: Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, and salads with every meal.
- Choose Wholegrains: Swap white bread, pasta, and rice for wholemeal or wholegrain versions.
- Add Pulses and Legumes: Lentils, beans, and chickpeas are excellent sources of fibre.
- Snack Smart: A handful of nuts, seeds, or a piece of fruit makes a great high-fibre snack.
To help you on your journey, all WeCovr customers gain complimentary access to CalorieHero, our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. It can help you monitor your fibre intake and make healthier food choices with ease.
Lifestyle Adjustments for a Healthy Gut
- Stay Hydrated: Drink at least 2 litres (8-10 glasses) of water and other fluids a day.
- Exercise Regularly: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, like brisk walking, per week.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Losing excess weight can reduce pressure on your abdomen.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking is a major risk factor for complications. The NHS offers excellent free support to help you quit.
When Is Surgery Necessary for Diverticulitis?
Surgery is usually reserved for serious complications or for people who have frequent, severe attacks of diverticulitis that don't respond to other treatments. A private health cover policy can be invaluable here, providing access to top surgeons and state-of-the-art facilities.
Surgery may be recommended for:
- A perforation: A tear in the bowel wall, which can lead to a serious infection called peritonitis.
- An abscess: A collection of pus that forms around an infected diverticulum.
- A fistula: An abnormal tunnel that connects the bowel to another organ, like the bladder.
- Recurrent episodes: If you suffer from repeated, severe attacks that significantly impact your quality of life.
The most common operation is a bowel resection, where the affected part of the colon is removed. In most planned (elective) surgeries, the two ends of the bowel are joined back together. In an emergency, a temporary or permanent colostomy (stoma) may be needed, where the bowel is brought to an opening on the surface of the abdomen.
Finding the Best Private Health Cover with WeCovr
Choosing the right private medical insurance can feel overwhelming. At WeCovr, we make it simple. As an independent and FCA-authorised PMI broker, our job is to understand your needs and search the market to find the best policy for you, at no extra cost.
We work with all the leading UK insurers and can explain the key differences in their offerings, including:
- Outpatient Cover: How much is covered for consultations and diagnostic tests.
- Hospital Lists: Which private hospitals you can use.
- Excess Levels: The amount you pay towards a claim, which affects your premium.
- Underwriting Options: Helping you choose between moratorium and full medical underwriting.
What's more, when you purchase a health or life insurance policy through WeCovr, you may be eligible for discounts on other types of cover, providing even greater value. Our high customer satisfaction ratings reflect our commitment to providing clear, impartial, and friendly advice.
Do I need to declare diverticular disease when applying for private medical insurance?
Can my private health insurance cover surgery for diverticulitis complications?
How can a PMI broker like WeCovr help me find the right cover?
Is diverticular disease considered a critical illness?
Ready to take control of your health and explore the benefits of private medical insurance? The friendly experts at WeCovr are here to help.
Why private medical insurance and how does it work?
What is Private Medical Insurance?
Private medical insurance (PMI) is a type of health insurance that provides access to private healthcare services in the UK. It covers the cost of private medical treatment, allowing you to bypass NHS waiting lists and receive faster, more convenient care.How does it work?
Private medical insurance works by paying for your private healthcare costs. When you need treatment, you can choose to go private and your insurance will cover the costs, subject to your policy terms and conditions. This can include:• Private consultations with specialists
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Benefits offered by private medical insurance
Private medical insurance provides numerous benefits that can significantly improve your healthcare experience and outcomes:Faster Access to Treatment
One of the biggest advantages is avoiding NHS waiting lists. While the NHS provides excellent care, waiting times can be lengthy. With private medical insurance, you can often receive treatment within days or weeks rather than months.
Choice of Consultant and Hospital
You can choose your preferred consultant and hospital, giving you more control over your healthcare journey. This is particularly important for complex treatments where you want a specific specialist.
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Knowing you have access to private healthcare when you need it provides invaluable peace of mind, especially for those with ongoing health conditions or concerns about NHS capacity.
Private medical insurance is particularly valuable for those who want to take control of their healthcare journey and ensure they receive the best possible treatment when they need it most.
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