World Sjogren’s Day
July 23, 2017
World Sjögren’s (pronounced SHOW-grins) Day commemorates the birthday of Dr.Henrik Sjögren, a Swedish ophthalmologist who first identified the disease in 1933.
It is more importantly a way to help raise awareness for Sjögren’s. It is meant to put a face on the millions of people who live with this disease or suffer from symptoms and have yet to be diagnosed.
Sjögren’s Fast Facts:
Sjögren’s is pronounced “SHOW-grins”
The hallmark symptoms are dry eyes, dry mouth, fatigue and joint pain, but the disease is systemic, affecting the entire body.
Symptoms often vary from person to person and may worsen, stay the same or, uncommonly, go into remission.
Sjögren’s is the 2nd most common inflammatory disease in which people’s white blood cells attack their moisture-producing glands.
Currently, there is no cure for Sjögren’s but an early diagnosis and proper treatment may prevent serious complications and greatly improve the quality of life for individuals living Sjögren’s.
Nine out of ten patients are women. Most patients are diagnosed in their late 40s.
On average, it takes 3 years from the time a patient seeks treatment for their symptoms to receiving a formal diagnosis.
World Sjogren’s Day creates a wonderful opportunity for you to talk about Sjogren’s with the people in your life. By sharing, you may help someone get diagnosed quicker but most importantly, you will be helping to make Sjogren’s a household name.
Source: www.Sjogrens.org
Image Credit: www.firstgiving.com
