What is interstitial cystitis
Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder disease, mainly characterized by bladder pain, urinary frequency and urgency, and the symptoms last for more than 6 weeks. In recent years, with the popularization of health knowledge, interstitial cystitis has gradually become a hot topic of public concern. This article will combine the hot discussions on the Internet in the past 10 days to provide you with a comprehensive analysis of this disease from the definition, symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment.
1. Definition of interstitial cystitis
Interstitial cystitis is a non-infectious inflammation of the bladder characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the bladder wall. Unlike common cystitis, interstitial cystitis is not caused by a bacterial infection, so antibiotic treatment is not effective. The disease is more common in women, especially in the 30-40 age group, but men can also be affected.
2. Symptoms of interstitial cystitis
The symptoms of interstitial cystitis are diverse and vary in severity from person to person. Here is a summary of common symptoms:
| Symptoms | Description |
|---|---|
| Bladder pain | Mainly characterized by persistent pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic area, which may worsen after urination |
| Frequent urination | Urinating more than 8 times during the day and more than 2 times at night |
| Urgency to urinate | Sudden and strong desire to urinate that is difficult to control |
| Pain during intercourse | Female patients may experience pain during intercourse |
3. Causes of interstitial cystitis
At present, the specific cause of interstitial cystitis is not fully understood, but research shows that it may be related to the following factors:
| possible causes | Description |
|---|---|
| Bladder epithelial barrier defect | The protective layer of the bladder epithelium is damaged, allowing irritating substances in the urine to penetrate the bladder wall |
| autoimmune reaction | Immune system mistakenly attacks bladder tissue, causing inflammation |
| neurogenic inflammation | Abnormal activation of the nervous system leading to increased bladder sensitivity |
| genetic factors | People with a family history are at higher risk |
4. Diagnosis of interstitial cystitis
The diagnosis of interstitial cystitis requires the exclusion of other similar diseases, such as urinary tract infection, bladder cancer, etc. The following are commonly used diagnostic methods:
| diagnostic methods | Description |
|---|---|
| Medical history collection | The doctor will ask the patient in detail about symptoms, duration, and precipitating factors |
| Urine test | Rule out bacterial infection or other urinary tract disease |
| Cystoscopy | Observe the bladder wall through an endoscope for characteristic lesions |
| potassium sensitivity test | Inject potassium solution into the bladder to see if it induces pain |
5. Treatment of interstitial cystitis
There is currently no cure for interstitial cystitis, but symptoms can be relieved in a variety of ways:
| Treatment | Description |
|---|---|
| diet modification | Avoid spicy, acidic foods and caffeine to reduce bladder irritation |
| Oral medications | Such as amitriptyline, sodium pentosan polysulfate, etc., to relieve pain and inflammation |
| bladder instillation | Instill a drug, such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), directly into the bladder |
| physical therapy | Pelvic floor muscle exercises or electrical stimulation to improve bladder function |
| surgical treatment | Severe cases may require cystectomy or cystectomy |
6. Recent hot discussions
In the past 10 days, discussions about interstitial cystitis on social media and health forums have mainly focused on the following aspects:
| topic | heat index |
|---|---|
| The relationship between interstitial cystitis and diet | high |
| New treatments (such as stem cell therapy) | in |
| Patient psychological support and quality of life | high |
| High misdiagnosis rate | in |
7. Summary
Interstitial cystitis is a complex chronic disease that greatly affects patients' quality of life. Although there is currently no specific treatment, symptoms can be effectively relieved through comprehensive management such as dietary modification, medications, and physical therapy. If you or someone around you has similar symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical advice as soon as possible to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment.
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