According to the Mayo Clinic, interstitial cystitis (IC), also known as painful bladder syndrome, affects an estimated one million Americans. It is a chronic condition that is characterized by uncomfortable bladder pressure, bladder and pelvic pain that can range from mild to severe. There is no scientific evidence that finds diet as the cause of IC. However, it is thought that people can help alleviate their symptoms by modifying their diet.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person and can also fluctuate over time. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services outlines the symptoms of interstitial cystitis to include the following:
• Pain or discomfort that often gets worse as the bladder fills
• Urinary urgency and frequency
• Pain, pressure or tenderness in the pelvic and genital area
• Pain during sexual intercourse, or pain during ejaculation for men
• Ulcers and bleeding in the bladder
Aggravating Foods and Beverages
The American Urological Association finds that the four foods that are the most irritating to the bladder are citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate and coffee. Alcohol, caffeine, spicy food, artificial sweeteners and carbonated beverages have also been found to bother patients suffering from IC.
Triggers
Sensitivity to foods varies in each patient. The Interstitial Cystitis Association recommends identifying personal triggers through an elimination diet. This involves removing all suspected aggravating foods from the diet until the patient experiences relief from bladder irritation. Foods are added back into the diet one at a time. If there is no reaction, that food can be considered bladder friendly. If a flare is experienced, the patient then knows to eliminate the food from their diet.
Tips for Diet Management
Keep a food and symptom journal while attempting to identify triggers. This will make it easier to correlate specific foods to pain. Processed foods often contain ingredients such as preservatives, artificial flavors or additives that can be irritating to the bladder. Buying fresh foods when possible can eliminate those potential irritants. Eat a balanced diet with a large variety of bladder friendly foods.
Patient Responsibility
The elimination diet is time consuming and can take months to complete. The largest road block to success in symptom management is patient non-compliance. Managing IC flares requires the commitment to exploring the connection between diet and pain. Diet modification is one of the key tools in the treatment of interstitial cystitis.
