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Interstitial Cystitis Diet: Western Vs. Eastern

Interstitial Cystitis Diets:
Eastern vs. Western

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder condition resulting in recurring discomfort or pain in the bladder or surrounding pelvic region. People with IC usually have inflamed or irritated bladder walls, which can cause scarring and stiffening of the bladder. Symptoms vary from case to case but may include any or all of the following: mild discomfort, frequent urination, urgency to urinate, pressure, tenderness, or intense pain in the bladder or pelvic region, severe lower abdominal pain that intensifies as the urinary bladder fills or empties. The cause(s) of IC is currently unknown. Its diagnosis is often made only after excluding other urinary or bladder causes. IC affects men and women of all cultures, socioeconomics and ages. However, it is more common in women than in men. In this paper Iím going to discuss the basics of IC from a western medicine perspective, their take on the IC diet, then compare it to what Western medicine says.

IC is frequently misdiagnosed as an acute urinary tract infection (cystitis), a disorder that can be successfully treated with antibiotics. A cystoscopy with hydrodistention under general anesthesia is required to make a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis. The bladder is distended to check for pinpoint hemorrhages on the bladder wall that is the hallmark of IC.

A number of other diseases must be ruled out, such as bladder infection, bladder cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, neurological disorders, kidney disease, and vaginal infections.

Treatments that can successfully relieve symptoms in many patients include diet modification (a diet low in acidic foods, and avoiding beverages such as coffee, tea, carbonated and/or alcoholic drinks, can be helpful in reducing IC symptoms), stress reduction techniques (such as biofeedback and pelvic floor relaxation exercises), bladder hydrodistention, Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) - oral medication specifically for...