Interstitial Cystitis Association is Honored in Winter/Spring 2011 Web Health Awards(SM) Competition

www.ichelp.org is 2011 Web Health Awards(SM) Winner

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The website of the Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA), www.ichelp.org, was selected as a winner in the 13th annual Web Health Awards(SM) program. This competition recognizes the nation's best digital health resources.

"We were delighted to participate in the 2011 Web Health Awards competition, and were honored to be selected as a Bronze winner," said Barbara Gordon, RD and Executive Director of the Interstitial Cystitis Association. "Given our modest web development budget and the outstanding team effort that goes into this resource, it is a real accomplishment to be chosen." The ICA was picked from more than 500 entries judged by a panel of experts in digital health media.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder illness affecting between 4 and 12 million men, women and children. There is no known cause and no cure at this time. Symptoms are pain, pressure and urinary frequency and urgency to relieve the pain or pressure. Treatments include self-management strategies such as making dietary changes, as well as medicines to help control urinary symptoms and pain. Physical therapy may also be helpful. For many patients, IC can significantly impact their quality of life and be quite debilitating.

"The ICA website plays a vital role in providing current health and research information to IC patients, researchers, healthcare providers and the community at large. We believe that the ICA website is the most comprehensive source of IC information in the world," noted Gordon.  "The site also includes extensive information in Spanish, as well as basic IC information in other languages."                                                                                            

The ICA was founded in 1984 by Dr. Vicki Ratner, a physician and IC patient. It has remained the only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to promoting advocacy, research funding, and education to ensure early diagnosis and optimal care with dignity for people affected by IC. 

The Web Health Awards program is organized by the Health Information Resource Center(SM), a national clearinghouse for professionals who work in consumer health fields. Other well-known HIRC programs include the National Health Information Awards(SM) which annually recognizes the nation's best consumer health programs and materials (for non-digital resources), the National Women's Health & Fitness Day® and the 15th annual Family Health & Fitness Day USA®.

SOURCE Interstitial Cystitis Association