Lack of Physical Activities
Being physically active can do wonders for a person’s physical and mental well-being. Simple activities like exercise, sports, light walking, and even sexual intercourse can strengthen the body’s circulation, digestion, and immune system. Physical activities also trigger the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating almost all immune cells and controlling inflammation. In addition, Experts believe that the upward and downward movement of the body while engaging in physical activities can decrease colonic pressure and stimulate defecation.
Lack of regular exercise and other physical activity hinders normal bowel functions. Patients with little to no exercise have more forceful colon spasms, resulting in irregular bowel movements. This can also result in indigestion, diarrhea, and constipation. Several studies showed that regular exercise improved patients’ pain tolerance with diverticulitis.
Another study conducted among patients with diverticulitis showed that physically active patients have milder symptoms. However, no solid research fully supports that lack of exercise can lead to diverticulitis. But, there are enough scientific data to show that physical activities can affect the severity of the disease.
