{"id":24407,"date":"2023-06-05T12:48:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-05T19:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/?p=24407"},"modified":"2023-12-29T08:52:39","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T16:52:39","slug":"dry-eyes-or-mouth-it-could-be-signs-of-sjogrens-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/dry-eyes-or-mouth-it-could-be-signs-of-sjogrens-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"Dry Eyes or Mouth?  It Could Be Signs of Sjogren\u2019s Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article\">\n\t<header class=\"header\">\n\t\t<span class=\"type\"><\/span>\t\t<h1>Dry Eyes or Mouth?  It Could Be Signs of Sjogren\u2019s Syndrome<\/h1>\t\t<time>June 5, 2023<\/time>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div id=\"block_b1f764128531837ca229b3a4056402c3\" class=\"shs-block block-news-article entry-content\">\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p>An estimated four million Americans have Sjogren\u2019s (SHOW-grins) syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disorder that can affect the entire body, especially the eyes and mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMost often, this disease causes one\u2019s immune system to attack the moisture-producing glands of the body, especially the eyes and mouth, resulting in decreased tears and saliva. It can also affect the joints, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, digestive organs, and nerves,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/patients-visitors\/find-a-doctor\/abraham-mary-1073876199\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mary Abraham, MD<\/a>, of <a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/find-a-location\/samaritan-rheumatology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Samaritan Rheumatology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Named for Henrik Sj\u00f6gren, the Swedish eye doctor who first described the condition, Sjogren\u2019s syndrome can occur alone or in association with another autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-symptoms-of-sjogren-s-syndrome\">Symptoms of Sjogren\u2019s Syndrome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Symptoms vary from person to person and may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dry eyes \u2013 burning, itching, a feeling of sand in the eyes, light sensitivity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dry mouth \u2013 chalky tongue, a feeling of cotton in the mouth, difficulty swallowing or speaking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prolonged fatigue, sometimes debilitating.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Joint pain, swelling and stiffness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Muscle pain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Persistent dry cough, hoarse voice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dryness in other parts of the body, skin rashes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Numbness, tingling in hands and feet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Liver and kidney problems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn most people, dry eyes and dry mouth are the primary features of the disease and these are manageable conditions. But in some instances, the disease attacks the body\u2019s other organs and tissues, causing painful inflammation in the joints and more serious problems. Everyone\u2019s experience is different,\u201d explained Dr. Abraham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-diagnosis\">Diagnosis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Diagnosis of Sjogren\u2019s syndrome is not always a clear-cut process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMany of the symptoms for Sjogren\u2019s syndrome could be similar to the side effects from a medication or symptoms of other health issues, so your health care provider will want to rule out the obvious first,\u201d noted Dr. Abraham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSometimes, it can be a bit of a puzzle that requires looking at all the symptoms together and hearing a patient\u2019s full experience to know what the problem is. The more detail a patient can share with their doctor, the better,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Confirming Sjogren\u2019s syndrome involves eye and saliva tests, blood tests and possible biopsies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA health care provider would be looking to see if the tear and salivary glands are functioning normally,\u201d Dr. Abraham explained. \u201cBlood tests can, among other things, help identify signs of an autoimmune disorder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-treatment\">Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, treatment for Sjogren\u2019s syndrome focuses on making symptoms manageable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMany people can manage mild symptoms with over-the-counter eye drops for dry eyes, ibuprofen for inflammation, and sipping water for dry mouth,\u201d noted Dr. Abraham. \u201cFor more severe symptoms, your provider will suggest prescription medications that can work to address your specific condition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhile<span style=\"color: black\"> there are no current treatments for curing Sjogren\u2019s syndrome, there are different medications in clinical trials that may promise some future therapy,\u201d Dr. Abraham noted.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-potential-complications\">Potential Complications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There can be complications with Sjogren\u2019s syndrome:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em><strong>Dental Cavities<\/strong><\/em><strong>:<\/strong> Because saliva protects the teeth from decay, people with dry mouth are more susceptible to cavities. Brushing teeth more frequently and regular preventive dental exams are important.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><strong>Yeast Infections<\/strong><\/em><strong>:<\/strong> Yeast infections, including oral thrush, are common with Sjogren\u2019s syndrome.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><strong>Vision Issues<\/strong><\/em>: Reduced tears in the eye can cause blurred vision, increased light sensitivity and corneal damage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><strong>Infections:<\/strong>&nbsp;Lung, kidneys and liver infections are the most common<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><strong>Lymphoma<\/strong><\/em><strong>:<\/strong> A small percentage of people with the disease develop this blood-related cancer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-risk-factors\">Risk Factors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientists do not know what causes Sjogren\u2019s syndrome. There is a higher incidence of the disease in women and in those over age 40. Sjogren\u2019s is more common in people who also have rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Genetics and environmental factors can also play a role&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have concerns about dry eyes or dry mouth or any other health issues you are experiencing, call your primary care provider for an appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/patients-visitors\/find-a-doctor\/abraham-mary-1073876199\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Abraham<\/a> sees patients at <a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/find-a-location\/samaritan-rheumatology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Samaritan Rheumatology<\/a>. She can be reached at <a class=\"phone-link\" href=\"tel:541-768-5800\">541-768-5800<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/dehydration-danger-and-symptoms-summer-in-oregon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn <\/a>why it\u2019s important to stay hydrated for optimal health.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<aside>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/woman-smiling-outdoors-CO.jpg\" class=\"attachment-cta size-cta wp-post-image\" alt=\"Woman smiling outdoors.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/woman-smiling-outdoors-CO.jpg 360w, https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/woman-smiling-outdoors-CO-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/woman-smiling-outdoors-CO-120x100.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><figcaption>Women are as much as 10 times more likely to develop Sj\u00f6gren\u2019s syndrome than men. This difference could be related to the effect of female hormones on the immune system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\t\t<\/aside>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sjogren\u2019s (show-grins) syndrome is an immune disorder that reduces the body\u2019s ability to produce moisture. Dr. Mary Abraham, Samaritan Rheumatology, explains its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":13230,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_shs_workflow_notes":"June 05, 2023","_shs_exclude_from_navigation":false,"_shs_promote_article_on_blogs":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"news-topics":[293],"news-types":[270],"services":[236,261],"specialty":[51,82],"class_list":["post-24407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","news-topics-wellness","news-types-feature-article","services-endocrinology","services-rheumatology","specialty-endocrinology","specialty-rheumatology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24407"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24407\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13230"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24407"},{"taxonomy":"news-topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-topics?post=24407"},{"taxonomy":"news-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-types?post=24407"},{"taxonomy":"services","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/services?post=24407"},{"taxonomy":"specialty","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/specialty?post=24407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}