How To Prevent Appendicitis

The appendix is a 3 and a half inch tube of flesh that is a part of the large intestine. Although constant research cannot define any specific function of the appendix, it is capable of bringing harm to the body through its vulnerable characteristics.
When touched by bacteria or any other foreign materials inside the body, the appendix swells and becomes inflamed. This event is called “appendicitis”, the inflammation of the appendix. Unlike wounds, an infected appendix can bring about a more significant harm to the body, causing excruciating pain to the patient before it explodes. An infected appendix’s explosion is life-threatening, and it is reported that not many patients survive after this occurs.

One treatment of appendicitis, which is the most popular, is surgery. A surgeon cuts open your stomach and detach your appendix from your large intestine. It is a sure process that takes away the inflamed intestine that is causing harm to your body. But like most surgery, surgery for the removal of the appendix is expensive, and most people don’t have the financial capability nor the courage to undergo surgery.

To counter the need for treatment, people go for prevention, as they as it is better than cure. According to urban claims, appendicitis can be caused by excessive activity after eating like running, jumping, and swimming. This myth also explains why appendicitis is more prominent among children of playful age. However, this myth is inaccurate and untrue. The appendix becomes inflamed when it is blocked by a foreign object inside the body, such as stool, tumors, or accumulation of other wastes. And this issue will not be brought about by excessive movements.

However, despite this urban myth, there are more that claim appendicitis can be prevented by various ways. Although there is no scientific evidence to support these claims, they are renowned for being efficient and effective.

Here are various ways to prevent appendicitis:

Eating A Balanced Diet

When it comes to diseases in the digestive system, a balanced diet is without a doubt the best method for both cure and prevention. Not only does it prevent appendicitis, it helps you live a healthy lifestyle and prevents most diseases all over your body in the long run. For a balanced diet, the best food to eat would be those that are high in fiber. This way, you will flush out all the wastes and toxins floating in your body. This means that when the fiber has finished its work, there will be almost no tools or wastes left to block and infect your appendix. Aside from fiber, you might want to take some extra vitamins as well, such as vitamin A. It is reported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that vitamin A aids your white blood cells in fighting off infection. Another vitamin, Vitamin D, fights off bacteria and infection all over your body at a greater degree. These three nutrients found in particular meals are your best friends in prevention and cure.

Healthy Exercise

Keep your body moving. A regular exercise does not only keep you well fit as well as add several significant benefits to your body, it also helps flush out toxins and wastes that could be accumulating in your body. As long as you’re healthy, you’re free to take as many rigorous exercises that your body can take. Otherwise, if you’re sick or you have a weak body, it’s best to stick to light or moderate exercises such as light jogs, yoga, and stretching. Even doing household chores can count as exercises. Do whatever it takes to keep your body moving.

Proper Posture

It’s annoying to hear our mothers encourage us to maintain a proper posture. But it’s true that an improper posture can create some problems for us in the long run. A proper posture can do us a lot of good, like regulation of proper blood flow, healthy elimination of wastes, and maximizes our potential in daily activities. For a proper posture, one must keep his body straight but relaxed at all times. Slouching or keeping an improper posture for a long period of time can become a habit that would be hard to break.

Rest After Eating

Although it’s not scientifically proven that moving around after eating causes appendicitis, this urban myth gained its reputation from numerous strings of coincidences. A lot of people claim that they feel an unpleasant stomach ache hours (or even minutes) after moving around a lot when they’ve just finished eating. These unpleasant stomach aches were soon diagnosed to be caused by the inflammation of their appendix. While there is a lack of scientific proof, it’s better to be safe than sorry. And also, regardless of whether it’s appendicitis or not, your stomach will always hurt when you move too much after eating.