Appendicitis affects many people, in fact, statistics show that around 680,000 people in the United States have had this painful affliction. The number of incidents warrants that you do your best to prevent this ailment from afflicting you. This guide will help you naturally prevent appendicitis and a few early signs to watch out for.

Natural Preventative Measures

The following are a few ways that you can try to prevent appendicitis:

Castor Oil

The first thing that you can try to add to your diet is castor oil, as it helps your bowels function well, and it has anti-inflammatory properties, which could be due to the oil's ricin content. The bowels should be able to absorb moisture well enough to keep any stool from hardening. Appendicitis may result from hardened stools that get stuck somewhere in your appendix. You can purchase this type of oil in your local health food store or online.

Garlic

Eating fresh garlic might also be a good idea, as it also possesses powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Garlic contains allicin and other sulfur-containing compounds that should help prevent inflammation as well as keep your digestive system healthy. You can eat garlic fresh, but you can also lightly cook garlic.

Ginger

Another great addition to your diet is ginger because it contains gingerol and other ingredients that help inhibit some of the cytokines responsible for inflammation. You can grate some fresh ginger on some of your meals or add some to a homemade drink that contains fresh ingredients.

You can talk to your health care provider about other things that you can do to help you prevent this affliction, as he or she will have other suggestions.

Detecting Appendicitis

Appendicitis may still creep up on you no matter how much you try to avoid it, and it can show up for a number of reasons, like the following:

• A cancer or growth blocking your appendix
• Foreign object that causes inflammation and blocks the appendix

So, it is a good idea to know some of the early signs of appendicitis. Check out the following:

• Dull pain near your bellybutton
• An acute loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal swelling
• Fever
• The inability to pass gas
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Painful urination
• Cramps

Be sure to talk to your health care specialist immediately should you notice any of the aforementioned symptoms, as appendicitis can lead to an appendix burst, which will require surgery.