Patients with a rheumatic disease are at a higher risk for infection due to their disease or medications. Dr. Chris Mecoli from the Division of Rheumatology speaks with Dr. Erika Darrah about steps a patient could take in order to prevent infections.
Sjögren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disease that is found primarily in women, where inflammation at the salivary and lacrimal glands causes dryness of the eyes and mouth. However, it’s also a systemic disease that affects the entire body, producing joint pain and fatigue, and damaging internal organs. As many as four million Americans suffer from Sjögren’s Syndrome, which often overlaps with other rheumatic diseases making it very common to misdiagnose or overlook. Unfortunately, many patients are not diagnosed on time, which makes it much more difficult to treat. In this video, the Director of the Jerome L. Greene Sjögren’s Syndrome Center, Dr. Alan Baer, discusses the symptoms and problems that many patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome face.
The two most distinguishing symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome are dry eyes and mouth. Besides being painful, having dry eyes makes it harder to perform everyday tasks, like working on a computer, and many patients have blurred vision. Dry mouth makes it very difficult to eat and causes burning of the throat. However, these are not the only symptoms. Patients with Sjögren’s often experience joint pain and stiffness, fatigue, and are more likely to develop lymphoma. In this video, Dr. Alan Baer, the Director of the Jerome L. Greene Sjögren’s Syndrome Center, discusses the symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome.
Patients living with Sjögren’s Syndrome can lead a normal, healthy life if they take care of themselves. Eating well, getting plenty of rest, and exercising is essential to maintaining a balanced, healthy lifestyle. In this video, Dr. Alan Baer, the Director of the Jerome L. Greene Sjögren’s Syndrome Center, discusses ways to reduce the symptoms of Sjögren’s.
There are many ways for a patient to present Sjögren’s Syndrome. The most common one is dryness of the eyes and mouth, but other signs include neurological problems, internal organ problems, and joint pain. Once a doctor recognizes the signs, the first step is to confirm there is deficiency of tear and saliva production. In this video, Dr. Alan Baer, the Director of the Jerome L. Greene Sjögren’s Syndrome Center, explains how to confirm a Sjögren’s Syndrome diagnosis.
There is no curative treatment for Sjögren’s Syndrome yet, but there are many ways to relieve the symptoms. The use of eye drops, frequent teeth cleanings, and medication has helped patients who suffer from Sjögren’s Syndrome drastically. In this video, Dr. Alan Baer, the Director of the Jerome L. Greene Sjögren’s Syndrome Center, gives some treatment ideas to combat the symptoms of Sjögren’s.