 | Beyond Sjögren'sApr 01, 2025 |  |
April is Sjögren's Awareness Month, and we want to take this opportunity to bring awareness to the challenges that people with Sjögren's suffer with:
👉 What is Sjögren's?
Sjögren's is a relatively common autoimmune disease that is most commonly known for damaging moisture producing glands - like tear and saliva glands - causing severe dry eyes and/or mouth.
However, the disease often impacts far more these glands, and can affect the whole body, causing deilitating fatigue, digestive issues, joint and nerve pain, brain fog and more.
👉 How does it affect those who suffer with it?
- They often live with a deep exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest and can make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming.
- Joint pain, nerve pain, and muscle aches are common and may come and go unpredictably.
- Many also experience brain fog, which makes it difficult to concentrate, find the right words, or think clearly.
- The disease can also affect the gut, pancreas, liver, and nutrient absorption, leading to digestive and nutritional challenges.
- Since it’s an invisible illness, this can bring emotional strain, including feelings of isolation, misunderstanding, and the pressure to keep going despite everything.
- Flare-ups often strike without warning, making it difficult to plan ahead or keep up with daily life.
- Most people spend years searching for answers before finally receiving a diagnosis.
- Many also experience dismissal or a lack of support from health professionals, often due to how nonspecific or misunderstood the symptoms can be.
Despite how life-altering it can be, and how relatively common it is, Sjögren’s receives far less funding and public attention compared to other autoimmune conditions.
People with Sjögren’s deserve to be seen, heard and supported. Let’s hope we can move closer to that goal this April.
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