Sjogren's Treatment: The Disease And Its Treatments

Sjogren's Treatment is a collection of medication and dietary changes that help ameliorate

Sjogrens syndrome, a disease of the autoimmune system when the glands that make tears and saliva come under attack by the autoimmune calls. The many symptoms can include dry eyes, mouth, skin, but more seriously it can include fatigue and depression, affect the kidneys, pancreas, the brain and the nervous system.

The disease usually is more common with women in their late forties with 9 out of 10 patients being female. An estimated four million Americans are afflicted, and there is no known cure for the disease. Diagnosis is often extremely difficult to make since the symptoms are often confused with other associated autoimmune disorders and it usually take 6 to 7 years to make.

Presently, there is no one diagnostic tool that can check for this syndrome. The ANA test can look for the presence of a high concentration of anti-nuclear antibodies. Genetic tests can search for the markers that are SS A and SS B: 70% of patients are positive for SS A and 40% are positive for SS B. The IGs test tests for elevated levels of immunoglobins, a protein that may indicate immune reactions to the production of moisture.

Other tests besides taking blood can search for the reasons behind dry eyes and mouths: the Schrimer test for dry eyes, and the saliva test done by a dentist to check saliva amounts in the mouth.

At present, there is no known cure for the disorder but there are numerous treatments and dietary adjustments which can ease the symptoms. There are several kinds of medications for dry eye and dry mouth. Among them are Restasis and Lacrisert for dry irritated eyes. For dry mouth, there is Evoxac (cevimeline), Salagen (pilocarpine hydrochloride) and Namoisyn.

Changes in diet can also alleviate symptoms. It is recommended not to eat spicy or hard crunchy food like thick bread which can scratch the mouth and may cause coughing. Soft, smooth food like yoghurt and ice cream as well as pasta dishes with a lot of creamy sauces are good choices too. All acidic fruits, vegetables or juices should be avoided since they can irritate the mouth too.

People with this disorder should change the way they eat their food. They should add moisture to their meals by dipping small portions of food in liquids such as broth, gravy, sauces and salad dressings. Food can be made more chewable by adding soup, water, skim milk, and even melted butter or margarine. One vegetable that is on the list of recommended foods is cucumber because it is rich in water content.

Exercise is recommended to combat the fatigue, which is a symptom of Sjogrens syndrome. A list of support groups on the Sjogrens website is available for people who wish to share their struggles and their coping strategies.

sjogren's treatment

by: Stefanie Schwartz.

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