Sjogren’s Syndrome Specialist

What is Sjogren’s syndrome?

Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease. It primarily causes dry eyes and dry mouth. The disorder attacks the mucous membranes and glands in your eyes and salivary glands, depleting your tears and saliva. Not only is Sjogren’s syndrome uncomfortable, but it also often develops alongside other immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

What are the symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome?

While the most common symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome are dry eyes and mouth, some individuals frequently experience:

• Joint pain and stiffness
• Chronic fatigue
• Cough that won’t go away
• Inflamed salivary glands
• Skin rashes
• Dry skin
• Vaginal dryness

Sjogren’s symptoms can be worse if you also have another underlying condition or autoimmune disease.

What causes Sjogren’s syndrome?

Because it’s an autoimmune disease, Sjogren’s syndrome causes your immune system to mistakenly flag your own tissues and organs as threats. While there’s no known single cause of Sjogren’s syndrome, experts believe genetics and infections can trigger the disease. Common risk factors for Sjogren’s syndrome include:

• Having rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, or scleroderma
• Being a woman
• Being over 40
• Being postmenopausal

During your initial visit to Rheumatology Associates, the team will do several blood tests, eye exams, and imaging scans to diagnose Sjogren’s syndrome. They might also take a biopsy to detect inflammatory cells in your body.

How is Sjogren’s syndrome treated?

When treating Sjogren’s syndrome, the team targets your unique symptoms. Depending on the area affected, the team could prescribe medication to:

• Increase saliva production
• Reduce eye inflammation
• Relieve joint pain
• Lubricate the eyes

The team might also recommend several lifestyle changes to ease your discomfort and improve your symptoms. Drinking more water and chewing sugarless gum can help stimulate saliva production. Meanwhile, a nasal spray can combat dry nasal congestion.

To prevent complications, the team will encourage you to quit smoking and protect your oral health with regular brushing and flossing.

There is no cure for Sjogren’s syndrome, and your symptoms can change over time. Routine visits with the Rheumatology Associates team can identify changes to your health before they cause complications.

Call Rheumatology Associates today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about diagnosing and treating Sjogren’s syndrome.