There are various ways to prevent appendicitis. One of the easiest ways is to meet the body's fluid needs, namely by drinking enough water every day. In addition, there are other ways that are also easy to do, but effective to prevent appendicitis.
Appendicitis is a disease that occurs when there is inflammation of the appendix (appendix). This condition can occur at any age, both children and adults. However, this disease most often occurs at the age of 10-30 years.
Appendicitis generally occurs when there is a blockage in the lining of the appendix that results in infection. This condition makes the bacteria multiply rapidly, thus making the appendix inflamed, swollen, to pus.
Until now, the cause of appendicitis is still not clearly known, but certain factors, such as a family history of appendicitis and an unhealthy diet are thought to increase the risk of developing the disease.
Various Ways to Prevent Appendicitis
Appendicitis cannot be completely prevented. This disease can happen to anyone and at any time. However, there are several ways you can do to reduce your risk of developing appendicitis, including:
1. Consumption of fiber foods
Fiber is an important intake for digestion and keeping it healthy. By consuming adequate amounts of fibrous food, your digestion will be smoother and more active, making it easier to excrete stool. This is good for preventing appendicitis.
You can meet your fiber intake by eating high-fiber foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, oatmeal, seeds, and nuts.
2. Drink enough water
In addition to preventing dehydration, adequate water consumption is also important to maximize the performance of the intestines in digesting food and producing feces. Conversely, if you don't drink enough, your intestines will absorb fluids from leftover food to keep your body hydrated.
This can make it difficult for you to defecate or be constipated and risk causing a buildup of stool that can trigger appendicitis. Therefore, to help prevent appendicitis, make sure you drink enough water every day at least 8 glasses per day.
3. Consumption of foods containing probiotics
Foods and drinks that contain probiotics are good for consumption to maintain a healthy digestive system. The good bacteria in probiotics are known to suppress the growth of bad bacteria in the body, including bacteria that can cause inflammation or infection of the appendix.
You can get probiotics from various sources, such as yogurt, tempeh, kefir, kombucha, or kimchi. So that these benefits can be obtained to the maximum, you are also recommended to consume fiber intake, for example from whole wheat, apples, bananas, garlic, or artichoke.
However, unfortunately, the effectiveness of probiotics in preventing appendicitis still needs to be studied further.
4. Eat quietly and slowly
Although it sounds trivial, eating calmly actually brings many benefits to the health of the body. One of them is that it can help the body absorb nutrients properly and support the digestive process.
This can happen because people who eat slowly will chew their food until it is really smooth when swallowed, so it tends to be easily digested. On the other hand, people who are used to eating fast tend to eat large chunks of food more often and don't chew it finely.
As a result, these pieces of food can make the digestive process slow and risk causing a blockage in the appendix.
5. Regular health checks to the doctor
In some cases, appendicitis can sometimes be more common in people who have had an abdominal injury and have a family history of the disease.
This group of people at risk must have regular medical check-ups with a doctor to monitor the development of appendicitis and receive appropriate medical treatment. That way, the risk of appendicitis can also be prevented as early as possible.
Basically, there is no way that can 100% prevent appendicitis. However, by applying some of the methods above, your risk of developing appendicitis can be reduced.
In addition to knowing how to prevent appendicitis, you also need to be aware of the symptoms and complications of appendicitis that may arise. If you experience abdominal pain in the lower right, especially accompanied by symptoms of flatulence, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, you should immediately consult a doctor for treatment.