Among autoimmune diseases, Sjögren’s disease, whose traces are usually displayed on the body, stands apart. At first glance, it seems completely safe, but if measures are not taken in time, it can even lead to death. The disease was named after an ophthalmologist from Sweden, who discovered it at the beginning of the 20th century, and today it is the subject of research by biologists around the world, since there is still no definite cure for it.
What is the essence of the disease?
Dry Syndrome is an unofficial name for Sjogren's disease, in which a serious malfunction occurs in the human immune system. The body perceives its own cells as strangers, after which it starts the mechanism of their destruction. Cells designed to protect the body, get into the tissues of various glands with external secretion, and affect them. As a result, the latter significantly reduce their production, most often we are talking about the salivary and lacrimal glands, however, protective particles can also fall into other "units" of the human body.
If the protective mechanism of the body that failed does not stop in time, the disease can spread to other organs, as a result of which shortness of breath, joint and muscle pain, arthralgia, etc. may occur. In especially advanced cases, this disease can lead to death of the patient, however this happens rarely and most often occurs in those cases when he suffers from several ailments at once.
Why does she appear?
To date, scientists do not have an exact answer to the question about the causes of Sjogren's disease, the mechanism of its appearance has not been studied. There are a number of hypotheses about its origin, some theorists suggest that it arises as a result of strong prolonged stress caused by an aggressive environment. In some cases, the disease can make itself felt after a strong change in the hormonal background in the body.
Some people may be genetically predisposed to the onset of this disease. Most often, it can be transmitted from mother to daughter, but it is impossible to determine the percentage of probability of this both at the stage of pregnancy and after childbirth. This ailment can also be the result of others - lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
Who is at risk?
Representatives of the fair sex are more likely to experience Sjögren’s disease, especially for women aged 20 to 60 years. According to statistics, in 90% of cases, she persecutes women, and those who have already passed the menopause have a much higher chance of getting sick. Periodic visits to the doctor and following his recommendations can help the body achieve a stable hormonal background, then there is a chance to avoid the appearance of this disease.
Men and children rarely suffer from this ailment, since they practically do not experience complex hormonal changes in their body. However, Sjogren's disease can affect absolutely any person, regardless of gender and age. Doctors from developed countries claim that the number of people suffering from it is in the millions, but there are no exact statistics.
How to make out the first signs of the disease?
In Sjögren’s disease, the symptoms are divided into those that manifest themselves in a significant change in the functioning of the glands, and those that are reflected in other organs. The first of them are called glandular, you can talk about their appearance when the patient feels the “sand” in his eyes, a strong burning sensation, his eyelids turn red and swell strongly. The next stage is the fear of light and a significant decrease in visual acuity.
Also, a sign of the appearance of this ailment can be considered constant dry mouth, in which the tongue is often inflamed, and dental caries increasingly makes itself felt. The patient very often suffers bronchitis, sinusitis, in some cases even pneumonia. At a very late stage, it becomes difficult for a person to swallow solid food without using a glass of water, gastritis appears, and the parotid glands can significantly increase. In the future, such ailments as pancreatitis, hepatitis and cholecystitis may appear.
How else can the disease manifest itself?
Considering extra-iron signs of the appearance of this disease, we can conclude that they are systemic in nature. We are talking about muscle and joint pain, weaknesses, as well as morning sickness. In most patients, doctors also register a significant increase in various types of lymph nodes, in some cases it resembles the usual ARVI, but the body temperature in such cases does not rise.
Serious inflammation of the airways is another manifestation of Sjogren's disease, its symptoms may look like a dry cough and tickle. In some cases, the ailment can be accompanied by rashes on the buttocks, thighs and abdomen, as well as general skin irritation and fever. You may also be allergic to certain foods, washing powder, antibiotics, and foods that contain B vitamins.
Where to run?
The first question that a patient has when the first signs of Sjögren’s disease appears is which doctor to contact. Since this disease is classified as rheumatic, it is necessary to go to a rheumatologist. The specialist will conduct an initial examination, which will help to make sure that the applicant really suffers from this ailment, after which he will prescribe treatment with the help of medications.
To alleviate the symptoms of the disease, a rheumatologist may appoint an additional consultation with an ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, and dentist. In especially neglected cases, when internal organs, skin integuments and even the brain are affected, a visit to narrow-profile doctors may be required: a dermatologist, nephrologist, gynecologist, pulmonologist, vascular surgeon, etc.
What tests to take?
Laboratory tests are mandatory when examining the body for the presence of Sjogren's disease, tests can confirm or refute the diagnosis. It is necessary to pass a general blood test, in which the doctor will have to pay attention to the level of leukocytes in the blood, anemia and ESR. A general urinalysis will help to identify the amount of excess protein in the body.
You will also need to pass a biochemical blood test, it is necessary to determine the increased protein, as well as to identify a number of rheumatoid factors. In some cases, a special study is prescribed to help detect the presence of immunity to thyroglobulin. If the patient really suffers from a dry syndrome, then the amount of antibodies to this type of protein will be above the norm by 30-35%. Another analysis is a salivary gland biopsy, most often it can be used to determine if the body is healthy or not.
Can the disease be diagnosed differently?
You don’t have time to take tests? You can use differential diagnosis, but this option is not always able to confirm the presence of Sjogren's disease. Doctors sometimes use the Schirmer test, in which a small piece of strips of special paper is placed under the lower eyelid for 5 minutes. If a person is healthy, then during this time it gets wet about 15 millimeters of strip, if the diagnosis is confirmed - 4-5 millimeters.
You can also go through scintigraphy and sialography, they help to detect the presence of dry mouth in the body. It should be remembered that the presence of SS-B antibodies in the body is considered the primary syndrome of Sjogren's disease. It is very difficult to identify the type of disease that is combined with rheumatoid arthritis, as joint diseases begin to appear much earlier than dry eyes and mouth.
How to be treated?
In Sjögren’s disease, treatment is mainly carried out with the help of hormonal medications, as well as immunosuppressive drugs, aimed at suppressing the negative reaction of the immune system to the cells of your own body. Patients are usually prescribed prednisone, chlorobutin, cyclophosphamide, if the disease is not too advanced, sometimes they prescribe drugs that have lesser effects - penicillin, heparin, cyclophosphamide, etc.
If the disease has moved to a more serious level, causing the appearance of vasculitis and polyneuritis, it will be necessary to use extracorporeal hemocorrection and drug therapy. With a less active manifestation of the disease, standard therapy is used to eliminate dryness and prevent re-infection. During it, the patient needs to wear soft-type contact lenses and periodically rinse his eyes with antiseptic solutions to avoid dryness.
In case of damage to the oral cavity, it is recommended to stimulate the regeneration of its cells, for this you should use solcoseryl ointment, as well as rosehip and sea buckthorn oils. The dosage should be determined by the doctor, it is not recommended to use drugs in an arbitrary order. If the stomach is disturbed, it will be necessary to go through replacement therapy, and if the treating specialist observes problems in the pancreas, it will be enzymatic.
Nutrition Changes - The Way To Heal?
To reduce symptoms, doctors often recommend adhering to certain nutritional rules. A properly built diet for Sjogren's disease must necessarily include fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins, it is important that they are steamed. It is also recommended to consume as much moisture-containing foods as possible: yogurts, milk, broth, etc.
With a lack of fats, it is worth including seeds, mackerel, olive oil, sardines, as well as spices with a high content of anti-inflammatory elements - turmeric, garlic and ginger. Familiar meat is best replaced with veal, in which you can find a large amount of healthy fats. Another recommended dish is flaxseed, 1 tablespoon per day is enough to provide the body with the necessary amount of fiber.
It is not recommended to eat foods high in trans fats (red meat, beef and pork), as they can lead to inflammation and a general deterioration. Pasta, bread, sweets, spicy foods, coffee, alcohol, refined oils - it’s better to forget about all this at least for a while. You can not eat citrus and spicy spices, which can irritate the mucous membrane and provoke excessive dry mouth.
Can I use the advice of friends and acquaintances?
Doctors believe that only traditional treatment can help contain Sjögren’s disease, they are very skeptical about folk remedies. Meanwhile, statistics show that drugs in combination with old recipes help to improve the patient's condition. Dill and potato juice, according to traditional healers, can have a much greater effect compared to the tear fluids sold in the pharmacy.
To rinse their mouth, they recommend a special herbal decoction of sage leaves and chamomile flowers. It is enough to put 1 tablespoon of each herb in a container, then pour this dry mixture with a glass of boiled water, let it brew for 40-45 minutes, and then strain - and you will get a great tool that can relieve the oral cavity from dryness. However, it is still advisable to consult your doctor before using folk remedies, since the latter do not take into account the characteristics of the patient’s body and can lead to side effects and complications.
What else do doctors recommend?
According to doctors, first of all, it is necessary to alleviate the symptoms of the manifestation of the disease, only after that you can focus on the fight against them. Everything will depend on at what stage of development the patient has Sjögren’s disease, and clinical recommendations by specialists will be formed only after the diagnosis. In addition to the above drugs, it is often proposed to use "Trasilol" - a tool that stops the active formation of proteolytic enzymes.
To save the patient from dryness in the trachea and bronchi, doctors recommend using the familiar "Bromhexine". Inflammation of the glands is a much more serious thing, hydrocortisone and dimexide can help here, while the dosage prescribed by the attending specialist should be observed. Rinsing in conjunction with oral hygiene can help not only get rid of the sensation of dryness, but also prevent serious dental diseases.
Is a complete cure possible?
With the timely detection of Sjogren's disease, the forecasts of doctors will be quite favorable. Many people live with this ailment for years, and it does not cause them discomfort if the sick lead a healthy lifestyle. Strong immunity will not allow pathologies to actively develop inside the body, this is how complications can be avoided.
Today, this ailment can be taken under control and prevent its spread, but it is impossible to completely get rid of it. That is why doctors predominantly carry out therapy aimed at stopping the symptoms of the manifestation of the disease. If the recommendations of a specialist help and the patient feels better, this is regarded as normalizing his condition.