Sjogren's Syndrome Treatment in Seattle, WA

Estimates of the number of people in the United States with Sjögren's Syndrome range from one to four million. Also known as Sjogren’s Disease, it is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack glands that produce moisture in the body. Primarily, it affects the glands that produce tears and saliva, so extremely severe dry eyes and dry mouth are its most common symptoms.

Sjögren’s Syndrome usually strikes individuals over the age of 50, but increasingly it’s being uncovered in children, with a much higher rate of recurrent and persistent parotitis in childhood cases. Parotitis involves inflammation of the salivary gland located near the cheek. Over 60 percent of children had a history of parotitis, compared to only 24 percent of adults.

While Sjogren's Syndrome patients, overall, experience higher than expected mortality, most can expect to live a normal lifespan with progressive treatment.

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Seattle, WA, we have years of experience treating Sjogren’s Syndrome and other autoimmune diseases. We are here to help. Compile your list of symptoms, and call Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Seattle, WA at (206) 966-4522 or contact us online.

What is Sjögren’s Syndrome?

Sjögren’s Syndrome is a debilitating disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks your glands that produce moisture. Sjogren’s is an extremely complex autoimmune disease and manifests differently in every individual it strikes.

Because your immune system damages glands in your body that produce and control moisture, specific areas of your body are most impacted by Sjogren’s Syndrome, including your:

• Mouth and salivary glands
• Nose
• Tear system
• Throat
• Digestive system
• Sweat glands (e.g., underarms)
• Vagina

Understanding its unpredictability is key to understanding this disease. The condition may progress slowly, so in some individuals, the typical symptoms of dry eyes and mouth may take years to appear. But rapid onset can also occur. Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe, and no two individuals with Sjogren’s will have the exact same exact symptom profile.

Understanding Autoimmune Diseases like Sjögren’s Syndrome

An autoimmune disease can attack any part of your body. Autoimmune diseases can profoundly impact and weaken bodily functions, becoming debilitating – and even life-threatening. In fact, Autoimmune Disease is now one of the top 10 causes of death for women in the U.S.

Over 50 million people suffer with autoimmune disease in the U.S., and for so many, it can be a battle that lasts a lifetime. Oftentimes with an autoimmune disease like Sjögren’s Syndrome, people can suffer for years before getting an accurate diagnosis – and even if eventually diagnosed, conventional medicine offers no cure and few effective treatments. Most often, modern medicine employs steroids, pain pills or immune-suppressing medication, all of which are approaches that can create even more troubling issues.

That’s why our naturopathic approach to Sjögren’s Syndrome can be life changing. While conventional medicine treats symptoms, naturopathic medicine looks at the individual as a whole, assessing factors ranging from diet to hormones to digestive health. Our goal is to enable you to overcome autoimmune disorders, utilizing targeting testing and accurate diagnoses that will help us develop a personalized treatment plan to maximize real healing.

When your immune system is functioning properly, it defends against infection and disease, but when it instead begins to attack your healthy organs, tissues and cells, it is considered an autoimmune response or malfunction caused by an Autoimmune Disease - and it often becomes a chronic response. There are many different diseases categorized as Autoimmune Disease, including:

• Graves' Disease
• Hashimoto's Disease
• Lupus
• Primary Immunodeficiency
• Relapsing Polychondritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

More than 100 forms of Autoimmune Disease have been identified. While some are more commonly recognized - like Type 1 diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, RA, Lupus and Hashimoto’s - others are more rare and not easily recognized. If you have symptoms that cannot be successfully diagnosed or treated and you suspect Sjögren’s Syndrome or any of these autoimmune diseases, let Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Seattle help you restore healthy immune function.

Sjögren’s Syndrome Causes and Risk Factors

It can occur in all races and ethnicities, but women are nine times more likely to have it than men. Most people are diagnosed after age 50. So age and gender are clearly risk factors for Sjogren’s Syndrome.

The cause of Sjögren’s Syndrome is not always clear. There can be multiple causes or risk factors with most autoimmune diseases. Sjögren’s Syndrome can cluster in families, impacting generations. They can also cluster in individuals – if you have one Autoimmune Disease, you may be prone to have multiple Autoimmune Diseases.

Environmental triggers—like an infection, food allergy, physical trauma, exposure to toxic chemicals, etc.—may be necessary to actually trigger the disease, even in people who are genetically predisposed.

Research, however, is not truly clear on the precise causes of autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s Syndrome or who might be more at risk. Outside of genetic factors, the only other risk factors for Sjogren’s Syndrome appear to include age and gender.

Some of the causes or triggers for autoimmune disease in general – including Sjogren’s Syndrome – can include:

• Certain medications and treatments (like radiation therapy)
• Specific medical conditions or sometimes simple infections or illness
• Some congenital diseases that are present at birth
• Exposure to toxins (e.g., mercury, mold, agricultural chemicals or even tobacco)
• Certain foods or ingredients in foods, or simple food allergies
• Thyroid issues that trigger an autoimmune response in the thyroid and even in other areas of the body
• Stress response to a severe stress event or chronic lesser stressors
• Digestive issues, which makes sense, since the immune system is believed to be centered in the gut

Symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome

The two most common symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome include dry eyes and dry mouth. Your eyes might feel like they have sand in them, or they might burn or itch. Your dry mouth may cause problems speaking or swallowing. Some people describe it like a mouth full of cotton, commonly termed “cotton mouth.”

Swollen salivary glands often are experienced with Sjögren’s Syndrome, especially the salivary glands located in front of your ears and behind your jaw. It can also impact glands under the arms or in your groin area.

Sjögren’s Syndrome can also manifest with symptoms like:

• Joint pain, swelling and stiffness
• Chronic dry cough
• Unexplained weight loss
• Skin issues like rashes or dry skin or pustules
• Constipation
• Vaginal dryness
• Numbness or tingling in your fingers and toes
• Night sweats or reduced ability to sweat
• Problems urinating, including frequent urination, pain while urinating, frequent nighttime urination, or sudden urges to urinate
• Inflammation

Because Sjögren’s Syndrome involves inflammation, you might also experience symptoms like fever or loss of appetite.

Extreme and prolonged fatigue is usually part of the symptom profile. Some people say the weariness and exhaustion that comes with the disease is the worst part.

The disease is not always consistent in the way it affects different people. Some experience a sudden onset of symptoms while others experience gradual intensification of symptoms over many years. Two people diagnosed with Sjögren’s Syndrome, for instance, will not always have the same symptoms – which is one reason why Sjögren’s Syndrome can be so challenging to diagnose. It requires considerable knowledge, experience and expertise – which means finding the right doctor.

Diagnosing Sjögren’s Syndrome

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine, the course of treating Sjögren’s Syndrome and its symptoms will vary with each individual patient. We almost always conduct blood tests. All these specifics can help us discern whether or not you have Sjögren’s Syndrome.

We recommend you compile a complete list of your symptoms, medical conditions and medications before your first consultation. We will review your medical history, lifestyle factors, current medications and other health concerns.

Treating Sjögren’s Syndrome

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine, we offer the most up-to-date and comprehensive testing and treatment to bring renewed health and healing from the troubling symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome – getting to the root causes. Finding out what is triggering your symptoms is the first and most important step in treating the disease.

Our goal is to utilize healing regimens free of the side effects that come with conventional treatment options. Water's Edge Natural Medicine specializes in a naturopathic approach to treatment of Sjögren’s Syndrome, including:

• Medical nutrition plan to avoid foods that trigger Sjögren’s Syndrome
• Targeted vitamins, supplements or IV vitamin therapy
• Identifying and addressing food allergies and sensitivities, as well as environmental allergies that may be contributing factors
• Herbal remedies
• Identifying and removing environmental toxins in your life
• Stress management and restoring adrenal function
• Acupuncture can be helpful with many autoimmune conditions, including Sjögren’s Syndrome
• Medical weight loss plan, together with a customized movement regimen that is appropriate for your physical condition, to help counter the weight gain that is commonly experienced with certain autoimmune conditions
• Other recommended lifestyle modifications

Since your immune system resides in your gut, healing any issues with your digestive system will be an important step, but there are many other approaches to treating Sjogren’s Syndrome. If you are struggling with Sjögren’s Syndrome, working with a doctor who understands the complexity of your condition – as well as the complex array of treatment options that can maximize a healthy immune response – is absolutely essential.

Request your consultation today!

If you have been diagnosed or have symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome – or other autoimmune conditions – and have questions, we invite you to reach out to us. We’re here for you, every step of the way, and happy to answer any questions you may have about your symptoms and our methods to restore balance and bring you back to optimal health and normal immune function.

Compile your list of symptoms, and call Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Seattle, WA at (206) 966-4522 or contact us online.

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