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Lakewood, NJ ---- If you’ve ever experienced a bladder infection, you know they can be painful and debilitating. However, after a course of antibiotics, the infection is quickly cleared up and you’re feeling better. Unfortunately, patients living with Interstitial Cystitis (IC – a painful inflammation of the lining of the bladder) experience pain, frequency and irritation similar to that of a bladder infection, but as a long-term, chronic condition.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), IC affects about 700,000 people in the United States, 90 percent of which are women. The average age of onset is 40 years although about 25 percent of cases involve those people under the age of 30.
Vance Moss, M.D., urologist on staff at Kimball Medical Center, states that Interstitial Cystitis (IC), is a serious medical condition which affects the bladder, urinary system and pelvic region of mainly women, but a small percentage of men as well.
“The symptoms of IC often mimic those of bladder infections or urinary tract infection,” explains Dr. Moss, “which can make it more complex to diagnose. Unlike a bladder infection, though, IC is not caused by bacteria and is not an infection,” he notes.
According to the doctor, IC is a chronic, and often severe, inflammation of the lining of the bladder wall. “The natural lining of the bladder is protected from toxins in the urine by a coating of enzymes known as the GAG (glycoaminoglycan) layer,” he explains. “In patients with IC, this protective layer is defective and allows toxins to penetrate into the bladder wall. The toxins destroy the nerve endings and cause severe irritation and inflammation resulting in frequent, urgent and painful urination and in some cases pelvic pain,” he adds.
Diagnostic tests can often help to rule out infection and other urologic conditions. In some cases, a cystoscopy – an endoscopy of the bladder – is performed. The procedure, performed under anesthesia, allows urologists like Dr. Moss to carefully examine the inside wall of the urethra and bladder to look for signs of IC. “Indications of IC could include small hemorrhages, lesions or ulcerations on the inside lining of the bladder,” he says.
The severity of IC varies from patient to patient, according to Dr. Moss. “While some people may experience mild symptoms and find this condition a minor inconvenience, some individuals are in severe pain and left virtually debilitated by this condition – unable to drive, work or enjoy quality of life,” he adds.
While approximately half of patients with IC go into spontaneous remission; those who don’t, live with the effects of IC and hope for a cure.
“This can be a very painful and debilitating condition for many patients,” says Dr. Moss. While the exact cause of IC is unclear, increasing awareness of the condition offers hope that with more information and research will also come a cure.
In the meantime, there are dietary and lifestyle changes individuals can make that can help to reduce flare-ups of this disease, according to the doctor. “Many people find that eliminating acidic, spicy, and sugary foods, as well as dairy products from their diet helps to control symptoms,” he says. Eliminating tobacco and reducing stress can also help.
Dr. Moss notes there are also numerous treatment options available for patients who are experiencing the symptoms of this painful bladder condition. “There are medications that can help alleviate the pain and voiding symptoms of IC,” he says. “There are also a variety of surgical and non-surgical therapies that can help reduce pain, improve bladder function and improve each patient’s quality of life.
“It’s important to see your doctor if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of IC,” says Dr. Moss. “Because finding out whether you have IC or another bladder condition is the first step in finding relief.”
To contact or schedule an appointment with Dr. Vance Moss, or another urologist on staff at Kimball Medical Center, please call the Saint Barnabas Health Care Link at 1-888-SBHS-123 (888-724-7123).
Date: November 12, 2008
CONTACT: Carrie Cristello
Director, Public Relations
732-923-6552
ccristello@sbhcs.com
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