Sjögren's Syndrome

Filed in archive General Health on April 18, 2007

I'd never heard of Sjögren's Syndrome until I read an article this morning from Solanco News.com. According to the article, Sjögren's Syndrome causes:

Constant joint pain, extreme fatigue and chronic dry eyes and mouth are common experiences for up to 4 million people in the U.S. who suffer from Sjögren's syndrome - yet many do not know their own ailment. Identified in 1933, Sjögren's syndrome (pronounced SHOW-grins) is a serious chronic autoimmune disease in which white blood cells attack and destroy the body's moisture producing glands.

Also, the article tells us that 9 out of 10 patients are women.

April has been named Sjögren's Syndrome Awareness Month. Sjögren's Syndrome is either connected to or mimics other disorders incouding chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. It also momics some of the symptoms of menopause.

The Health Talk Blog lists some of the more common symptoks,. including:

Do you frequently have dry, scratchy eyes? Is your mouth dry as dust, sometimes causing you to have difficulty swallowing? Is your nasal area often dry and do your lips and nose have a tendency to be very dried out and perhaps develop sore spots? Is your skin extremely dry?

But the syndrome doesn't stop there. It affects a;; the glands and joints in the body. To learn more about Sjögren's syndrome, visit the Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation.