Sjogren's Syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which our own body immune system attacks glands that produce moisture. The misdirected immune system leads to inflammation of tissues and dysfunction in glands that generate tears and saliva. It causes extreme dryness of eyes and mouth.

The cause of Sjogren's syndrome is not known, your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body cells and tissues instead of attacking harmful bacteria and viruses. It's very commonly found in some families who have members with other autoimmune problems, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune thyroid disease, type I diabetes. Women are mostly affected by this autoimmune disease. About 90 percent women are affected.

Symptoms include: Mouth dryness, Swallowing difficulties, Dental decay, Cavities, Gum disease, Mouth sores and swelling, Hoarseness or impaired voice, Dry cough, Eye dryness, Eye irritation, Less tear production, burning sensation in the eye. It can also affect other parts of the body with dryness in throat, nose, lips or skin. Some people may have symptoms similar to rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnosis includes: Schirmer's test to measure eye's ability to wet a paper slip, blood tests to check for antibodies and inflammation levels, imaging tests for salivary gland function, lip biopsy to check for inflammatory cells.

Treatment depends on the specific parts affected. For eyes: punctual plug treatment, eye drops and gels, medications like Cequa, Restasis. For dry mouth: medicines to boost saliva like cevemeline and Salagen. Home remedies: Keep hydrated, increase indoor humidity, brush twice and floss daily, use warm water for dry skin, avoid coffee or alcohol, chew sugarless gum.