Johns Hopkins Rheumatologist Dr. Zsuzsanna McMahan shares what Scleroderma is.
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Signs and Symptoms of Scleroderma
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Sjögren’s Syndrome – Disease Overview
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.
Sjögren’s Syndrome : Signs and Symptoms
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.
Sjögren’s Syndrome – Lifestyle Options
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.
Sjögren’s Syndrome – Diagnosis
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.
Sjögren’s Syndrome – Treatment
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.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Overview
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that not only affects the joints, but the whole immune system. Many patients who have Rheumatoid Arthritis also experience fatigue, dry eyes and mouth, shortness of breath, and skin problems. The good news is, with the advancement of Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments, many patients can live a healthy, normal life. In this episode, Dr. Uzma Haque, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, explains the effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the misconceptions many have about it.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Signs & Symptoms
The onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis is very gradual. Often the symptoms are worse in the morning and improve as the day goes on. Because of inflammation, many patents experience restlessness at night and can have flu-like fatigue, fevers, and aches. In this video, Dr. Uzma Haque, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, discusses the signs and symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis.