Sjogren’s Syndrome Is An Autoimmune Disease That Is Often Overlooked

Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that is more likely to occur in women between the ages of 40 and 60. Sjogren’s syndrome has some symptoms similar to menopause, so it is often overlooked.

Boston, MA (Periodical News) – What is Sjogren’s syndrome? It is an autoimmune disease! The two most common symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome are dry eyes and dry mouth, and these conditions may occur along with other autoimmune diseases. According to statistics, Sjogren’s syndrome is more likely to occur in women between the ages of 40 and 60, and its symptoms are often mistakenly thought to be caused by menopause.

A study published in Frontiers in Medicine Rheumatology involved 51 patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome (average age 59 years and average illness for 9 years) in five European countries. Of these 51 patients, except for one German male Except, the rest are women. Its content shows that the disease can cause physical or mental fatigue, sleep interruption problems, etc., and reveals the commonalities and insights of patients in their experiences.

Sjogren’s syndrome affects the body’s water production, including secretory glands, lacrimal glands, salivary glands, and other functions. Therefore, in addition to dry eyes and dry mouth, symptoms may also include dry skin, vaginal dryness, chronic cough, numbness of arms and legs, feeling tired, and Thyroid problems, etc. In addition, patients are also prone to muscle and joint pain. These symptoms are partly similar to female menopause.

The physiological symptoms of female menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, dizziness, chest tightness, heart palpitations, vaginal dryness, frequent urination, urinary incontinence, muscle and joint pain, and bone loss. It is not easy to distinguish menopause from Sjogren’s syndrome if women between 40 and 60 have dry symptoms.

Whether it is female menopause or Sjogren’s syndrome, symptoms can be improved through treatment, but some patients with Sjogren’s syndrome may cause other autoimmune diseases.

When may other autoimmune diseases appear? Sjogren’s syndrome is divided into primary and secondary, and the primary only has symptoms such as dry eyes and dry mouth. In addition to dry eyes and dry mouth, secondary symptoms are also easily accompanied by symptoms such as lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, systemic scleroderma, biliary sclerosis, etc.

On the other hand, Sjogren’s syndrome may also cause complications of other mucosal tissues and organs, such as damage to the thyroid gland, affecting the kidney and urinary system, and causing urinary stones.

There are many mucous membranes in the human respiratory tract. If the patient does not pay attention, there is a risk of interstitial lung disease, which may even lead to long-term inflammation or pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, when the human body has symptoms, it is recommended to go to the hospital as soon as possible to confirm the disease and stabilize the condition.