Scleroderma & Weight Loss

Scleroderma is a connective tissue disease that involves the skin, blood vessels, muscles and internal organs. It is characterized by discoloration of the skin, skin hardness, hair loss all over the body, and ulcerations on the fingers and toes. These conditions can affect other areas of the body, most commonly the respiratory systems. Shortness of breath and wheezing are common symptoms of scleroderma. In addition to skin changes and lung problems, scleroderma cause other problems such as weight loss.

Identification

The causes of scleroderma are unclear, but people with a buildup of collagen in their skin and other organs are at risk of contracting the skin disease, according to Scleroderma.org. Women also get scleroderma far more often than men do. Also, if you find yourself in close contact with silica dust and polyvinyl chloride, you are at a much greater risk of developing scleroderma. If you exhibit any of the above symptoms or fall into any of the warning signs, seek medical attention immediately as the disease can be fatal if there is gastrointestinal, heart, kidney or lung involvement. Any organ can be affected.

Physical Dangers of Scleroderma

Scleroderma commonly affects the esophagus and intestinal track. Someone with scleroderma may experience a narrowing of the esophagus and swallowing may become difficult. The small intestine may also lose the ability to push food through to the large intestine, leading to increased bacterial growth in the small intestine. Gradual loss of small intestine functioning may lead to partial obstruction of the intestines, resulting in abdominal pain and vomiting. This decrease in small bowel absorption can then lead to diarrhea and malnutrition, causing a severely harmful loss in weight.

Scleroderma and Psychological Weight Loss

Further, scleroderma is considered a rheumatic disease, meaning that it affects the joints and tissues of the body. One of the most common symptoms of scleroderma is the swelling and puffing up of joints. This can cause severe discomfort and pain. According to SRFCure.org, a website devoted to combating the symptoms of scleroderma, much of the reason for weight loss associated with the disease is psychological. Because scleroderma affects the joints, it can be incredibly painful to do simple tasks such as make a dinner if your ankles and wrists hurt with each movement. After enough time, you can convince yourself to skip meals just so you don't have to deal with the pain. This is detrimental to helping you combat scleroderma, as malnutrition only weakens the joints and kills healthy skin cells.

Solution

Scleroderma.org says that even if you don't want to eat or even if you believe the pain is too much to bear, it's worth it for your body to fight through the discomfort and fix a meal. It suggests wearing rubber gloves when preparing meals to help with the grip your hands may have lost due to the disease. Purchase several frozen meals so that preparation is simple and quick. Also, your esophagus may have narrowed as a result of the disease. The website says eat slowly and take smaller bites. Regular meals and lots of water will help to broaden the esophagus back to normal. To aid with intestines that may be debilitated by the disease, sit upright for two hours after eating.

Prevention

Some ways to prevent or curb your chances at developing the disease is to drink plenty of water. Fluids are what flush out the intestines best and if you find yourself developing skin problems, more often than not it is from a deficiency in water intake. Also, do not neglect sugars and salts. Too much sugar can cause weight gain and too much salt can cause circulatory problems, but small amounts of sugar aid in the growth of cells in the body and healthy amounts of salt combat some types of stomach cancer and help keep the kidneys running at full strength.

References

• What is Scleroderma?
• Scleroderma and the stomach
• Psychological reasons for weight loss and scleroderma

Resources

• Stretching exercises for people with scleroderma