Sjogren’s syndrome (pronounced as ‘show-grins’) is an autoimmune disorder, commonly identified by a dry mouth and dry eyes. Being an immune system disorder, the Sjogren’s syndrome makes the body attack its own cells and tissues that produce saliva and tears. With this condition, the body fails to produce enough moisture. Dry mouth and eyes can lead to a host of problems like tooth decay, oral fungal infections, mouth sores, salivary gland stones, infections of salivary glands, bacterial conjunctivitis, weight loss, corneal damage and vision loss.
This chronic and usually progressive syndrome can also affect any other body glands that secrete sweat, saliva, and oil.
The condition typically occurs as primary or secondary disorder. Primary Sjogren’s syndrome type tends to be more aggressive, cause more dryness than the secondary type, and no other added autoimmune disease; while secondary Sjogren’s syndrome can occur to another autoimmune condition like rheumatoid or scleroderma.
Common symptoms to look out for
As with other autoimmune disorders, the severity of Sjogren’s syndrome’s symptoms varies from person to person. The hallmark clinical signs to identify Sjogren’s syndrome are dry eyes and a dry mouth.
- Dry mouth: since the condition attacks the organs that normally produce lubricating fluid, including the salivary glands in the mouth, people with the syndrome may have trouble in swallowing, speaking and talking. Some people complain of a chalky or cottonlike feeling in the mouth.
Other signs include sore or cracked tongue, dry or burning throat, tooth decay and dry or peeling lips.
- Dry eyes: your eyes may feel extremely dry, with a gritty and burning sensation. Redness and watery eyes can be accompanying symptoms, along with sensitivity to bright light, wind, cold or hot air.
More Sjogren’s syndrome signs & symptoms
Sjogren’s syndrome can also affect other parts of the body, other than your mouth and eyes. One of the challenges in diagnosing Sjogren’s syndrome is that its relating symptoms are also common complaints associated with other health problems.
Other symptoms to make a note of includes:
- Swollen glands, specifically behind the jaw and in front of the ears
- Fatigue or feeling of tiredness
- Joint pain, stiffness and swelling
- Numbness or tingling in your fingers & toes
- Skin rash
- Pain while urinating or urinating more than usual
Sjogren’s syndrome can affect anyone, but typically occurs in people older than the age of 40. Tennis star Venus Williams lives with this autoimmune disorder, which made her withdraw from the U.S. open in 2011.
So, how to know if you have the condition? People with Sjogren’s syndrome often live with the symptoms for years before detecting them and being diagnosed. It is important to discuss your concerns with a dentist, eye doctor or a general physician. If you suspect you could have the condition, your doctor would run a few tests to diagnose the problem.
According to Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation, there is no single blood test to determine the disorder, so it takes a process of elimination to conclude a diagnosis. The blood tests could check for:
- Blood cells levels
- Evidence of inflammatory conditions
- Presence of antibodies
A physical exam generally includes an eye test to check for eye inflammation and to measure the dryness of your eyes. Eye tests can also help check eye moisture.
Treatment Options
There is no permanent cure for Sjogren’s syndrome, but its management. Since the disorder can affect not only the mouth and eye but other parts of the body too, treatment depends on areas the condition has affected.
Medications prescribed or over-the-counter can help relieve the symptoms. For instance, special eye drops and ointments are available to keep your eyes from drying out. Similarly, for the mouth, there are treatments which includes medications to help saliva production. For other symptoms like joint swelling and muscle aches, aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicines can be useful to reduce swelling, pain and stiffness.
Additional tips
Apart from medical treatment, you can take self- care steps of your own to manage the condition.
For dry eyes, eyedrops, eye lubricants and ointments can help relieve the dryness. You can also try using a humidifier to increase the indoor moisture levels that would keep your eyes from running dry.
To ease dry mouth, sipping water and other liquids can help. But avoid drinking caffeinated drinks like coffee as they are dehydrating and increase dryness. Chewing on sugarless gum and candy can stimulate saliva production to keep the mouth moist. To prevent tooth decay due to the dry mouth, brush your teeth twice a day after eating. You can also get mouthwashes and sprays that can relieve dryness.
Sjogren’s syndrome is generally a lifelong disease and if not treated properly, long-term complications could result that not only affect your eyes, mouth, but also lungs, kidneys, liver or lymph nodes.
