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Hemorrhoids and Veins Hx Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Many people call telling me they have hemorrhoids and/or anal polyps. I always ask people to be specific as to exactly what is going on in their digestive tract. While to most people, hemorrhoids might seem to …
IBS and IBD Written by Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND A question I am often asked is, “what is the difference between Irritable Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome?” Aren’t they the same? Well not really. While both are digestive conditions involving irritation in our digestive …
SIBO and Diverticulitis
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
In this blog I wanted to talk about 2 conditions that may not seem related at 1st glance but are more closely related than you may think! These conditions are diverticulitis and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). In both conditions there is an overgrowth of bad bacteria. (1, 2) But just what is diverticulitis? What is SIBO? And what can you do if you are affected by these conditions? It is a lot to cover so let us get into it, shall we?
Let us start with diverticulitis. In diverticulitis there are small bulging pouches in the intestine. These pouches called diverticula are usually found in the lower parts of the intestines and normally the large intestine. In the case of diverticulitis these pockets have become infected or have an overgrowth of bad bacteria. (3) In contrast diverticulosis is where you have the pouches but there is not an overgrowth of bacteria. In this blog I will be concentrating on diverticulosis which is where you get the infection in the pouches. (1)
SIBO is also an overgrowth of bacteria. One of the differences between diverticulitis and SIBO is location. As I stated diverticulitis usually occurs in the large intestine and as the name implies SIBO occurs in the small intestine. (2) Another difference between the 2 disorders is the type of bacteria that are typically the cause of the infection. While in diverticulitis the bacteria found is typically the type thought of as “bad bacteria’ in the case of SIBO we can find the growth of what is typically considered normal or even “good bacteria.” (1, 2)
I know what you are thinking, this is great, but I am still confused! Well to make a long story short both SIBO and diverticulitis involve an overgrowth of bacteria. SIBO occurs in the small intestine and diverticulitis occurs in pouches typically in the large intestine or lower intestine.
Now what are some of the most common symptoms of diverticulitis? The most common symptoms include cramps, gas, bloating, and changes in bowel movements and blood in the stool. (4) You may also experience abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, fever, and chills. Long term there may be a decrease in appetite which can result in weight loss. (5) The symptoms of SIBO are like diverticulitis! To start there typically are changes in bowel movements. With SIBO this change tends to run towards diarrhea more often than constipation. However, constipation does occur more often than you would expect. Therefore, in my professional opinion the presence of constipation should not automatically rule out SIBO. Other symptoms that are also like diverticulitis include gas, bloating, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain and even loss of appetite and thus weight loss. Those symptoms more strongly associated with SIBO include fatigue, joint pain, insomnia, brain fog and even nutrient deficiencies such as low B12. (6)
When it comes to risk factors for diverticulitis and SIBO once again some of them are the same. For both diverticulitis and SIBO constipation or slow transit time can increase your risk. (7, 8) Anything that can increase the risk of constipation can increase the risk of both digestive concerns. For example, a low fiber diet and even a high meat diet. Other risk factors more linked to diverticulitis include extreme weight loss, advanced age, a genetic predisposition, and a condition called Ehlers Danlos syndrome. (7) There are also some factors that cause food to move more slowly through the small intestine thus they increase the risk of SIBO. These factors include low stomach acid, structural malformations of the small intestine, IBD, immunodeficiency and even certain medications. (8) Lastly as we all know stress and anxiety can lead to constipation thus increasing the risk of diverticulitis and SIBO. (7, 8)
What can you do to help with the symptoms of diverticulitis and SIBO?
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Constipation and Diarrhea Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Every week I get calls asking about how to deal with digestive issues such as constipation or diarrhea. In fact, constipation and diarrhea are the 2 most common concerns that people have when it comes to health. But what …
Pulled Back Muscles or Muscle Strain Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Experiencing a pulled muscle or muscle strain is probably one of the causes of back pain that almost everyone has heard of. Whether you’ve experienced it yourself or know someone who has experienced it a …
Back Pain – Introduction
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
I wanted to do a series on a topic that on the surface seems simple BUT in reality, is anything but simple. This topic is back pain. Now I know what you are thinking, but Dr. Claire back pain is just back pain! You grab an NSAID and move on. You may not realize that back pain can occur for many reasons. Depending on the cause of your back pain, the recommendations to help reduce the pain and inflammation can vary. So, let us get into it, shall we?
In this series we will be reviewing the causes for back pain that most come up in consultations here at Invite health. These include muscle strain (or pulled muscles). We will also be reviewing the differences between a herniated and bulging disc. On a similar note, we will be covering degenerative joint disease, bone spur induced pinched nerve pain and even sciatica. We will also be reviewing scoliosis and how the spine can affect back pain. Additionally, we will be reviewing how certain chronic conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis can trigger and worsen back pain. Lastly, I will be reviewing back pain that is triggered by other conditions not related to the back such as the type of pain that may be experienced if you have a kidney infection.
However, before we can really talk about the things that can go wrong with our back let us get into some basic anatomy of our back. To start with there are our muscles. In the back there are 3 layers of muscles. These are the superficial (extrinsic) back muscles, intermediate back muscles and intrinsic (deep) back muscles. Please see the attached picture. (1)
What do our back muscles do for us? Well, the muscles in our back support the body and help us move. The muscles in our back help move the body, head, neck, shoulders, arms, and legs. The back muscles work together to let you bend over, twist, turn your head and extend your back. They even help with breathing. The most common symptoms of an injury to the muscles in your back include muscle pain, stiffness, spasms, and tightness/weakness. There may also be swelling or bruising. (1)
In addition to the muscles there is also the spine. The spine is the column of bones that go from the base of your skull and end at your tailbone. The spine is made up of various parts. The vertebrae are the 33 stacked bones that form the spinal canal. These 33 vertebrae ae divided into 5 segments. These are the cervical, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx. Located in the back are facet joints. There are also intervertebral disks that sit between the vertebrae and typically act as spine shock absorbers. There is also the spinal cord and nerves. Lastly the soft tissues in the back include ligaments that help to connect the vertebrae and hold your spine in place. Please see the attached picture. (2)
The spine helps you sit, stand, walk, twist and even bend. The spine also gives your body structure, and it is important for your body posture. It is also important for protecting the spinal cord. Lastly it allows for flexibility. What are some of the most common signs that there is a problem with your spine? The most common signs include muscle spasm, paralysis, and weakness in the limbs and even in some cases loss of bowel or bladder control. (2)
As I get into each topic I will be going more in depth as to the symptoms and tests you can do to help find out what is causing the pain in the first place.
But what can you do right now for back pain? Well, I have some fun recipes for you!
Remember if you have any questions, you can always reach out to an Invite nutritionist! You can even schedule an appointment online for an Invite nutritionist to call you back for a 30-minute consultation. InVite® Health | Personalized Nutrition – InVite Health
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