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By: by Amino Science
Everyone suffers from the occasional dry mouth or dry eyes. Usually, upping the hydration and using over-the-counter eye drops will clear up symptoms. But if symptoms persist or get worse, there could be an underlying cause, such as Sjogren’s syndrome.
Sjogren’s (pronounced Show-grin’s) syndrome is named after Swedish physician Henrik Sjogren. Dr. Sjogren initially became aware of patients suffering from an unknown condition that involved dry eyes, dry mouth, and arthritis in the early 1930s. Intrigued, Dr. Sjogren continued to study patients with these symptoms and ultimately concluded that they were the result of a systemic disease, which is now named after him. Dr. Sjogren continued to research and practice in the fields of ophthalmology and rheumatology into the 1970s.
Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system is misfiring and attacking healthy cells. Autoimmune disorders such as Sjogren's syndrome confuse the immune system, causing it to mistake healthy cells, tissue, joints, and organs for dangerous invaders such as bacteria and viruses.
In the case of Sjogren’s syndrome, the immune system sends white blood cells to attack and destroy the body’s moisture-producing glands. These include the salivary glands, which produce saliva, and the lacrimal glands, which produce tears. While the disease primarily targets these glands, it can progress to targeting other parts of the body including the joints, nerves, blood vessels, and organs like the liver, kidneys, lungs, and thyroid.
Autoimmune diseases are common in the United States. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association reports that there are over 100 different autoimmune diseases, and 50 million Americans have been diagnosed with some form of autoimmune disease. Doctors aren’t sure why, but autoimmune disorders are far more prevalent in women than in men, with 75% of cases diagnosed in the U.S. being women. The Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation reports that over 4 million Americans have been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, making it one of the most common autoimmune diseases.
While no one knows exactly what causes the immune system to begin attacking the body’s moisture-producing glands, certain risk factors have been identified. One may be at a higher risk of developing Sjogren’s if any of the following applies.
The two most common symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome are dry eyes and dry mouth. However, Sjogren’s is a systemic disease, meaning it can attack and affect the entire body. The Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation highlights the following Sjogren’s symptoms:
Doctors have identified two ways that Sjogren’s may develop. These are:
The first step in getting a diagnosis of Sjogren’s is usually ruling out other possibilities, such as certain medications that have been known to cause dry eyes and dry mouth. These include antihistamines, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications. Once a physician has ruled out medications, he or she will perform a series of tests.
As with many autoimmune diseases, there is no single test that can definitively diagnose Sjorgen’s. Sjogren’s also shares many symptoms with other autoimmune diseases, which can make it even more challenging to narrow down the list of possible culprits. Diagnosis typically begins with a series of blood tests. Standard blood tests used to diagnose Sjogren’s include:
In addition to blood tests, doctors may perform physical exams of the eyes and the mouth. Typical exams include:
Once all tests deemed necessary by the health care professional have been performed, he or she will use the results as well as the patient’s symptoms, medical history, and family history to make a diagnosis.
There is currently no cure for Sjogren’s syndrome. Sjogren’s treatment consists of managing the symptoms, which can be done in several ways. Common Sjogren’s treatments include:
It is possible that amino acids may help with the treatment of Sjogren’s syndrome. Amino acids are often referred to as the building blocks of life. They help the body make protein and chemicals that are essential for a healthy body. A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology reported that N-acetylcysteine, a modified form of the amino acid cysteine, improved common symptoms, including eye soreness, eye irritability, and daytime thirst, in Sjogren’s patients.
When it comes to amino acids, it’s best to take a balanced mixture of all essential amino acids to make sure that the blood concentration of amino acids is optimal.
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