Featured:
Allergies
Grilling Guide
eHow Now Blog

Sjogren's Syndrome & Muscle Atrophy

Sjogren's syndrome is complex and unpredictable. It most commonly affects the mucus glands of the body. However, Sjogren's can affect other parts of the body. In some cases, Sjogren's can cause muscle atrophy.

  1. Features

    • The two most common symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome are dry mouth and dry eyes. Other common symptoms include fatigue, dry cough, dry skin, skin rashes, swollen glands behind the jaws and by the ears. Sjogren's syndrome also can damage the joints thyroid, kidneys, liver, lungs, nerves, muscles and skin.

    Muscle Symptoms

    • According to the Sjogren's organization, muscle pain is also a symptom of Sjogren's syndrome. Nerve damage related to Sjogren's syndrome may affect the muscles, causing atrophy or muscle wasting. Muscle atrophy can make everyday activities challenging or even impossible.

    Diagnosis

    • Sjogren's syndrome is often difficult to diagnose. The diagnosis usually involves ruling out other diseases with similar symptoms. Diagnostic studies may include blood, urine tests and eye tests, as well as tests related to the salivary glands.

    Medication Treatments

    • Sjogren's syndrome in not curable. Muscle atrophy and other symptoms may be treated with medications such as hydroxychloroquine, which works by suppressing the immune system. Eye drops can be used to treat dry eyes. Prescription medications such as saliva producers can be used to remedy dry mouth.

    Other Treatments

    • Muscle atrophy may be improved with physical therapy. A physician may recommend specific exercises or activities to improve muscle condition, depending on which muscles are affected.

Related Searches:

References

You May Also Like

  • Muscle Atrophy

    Muscle atrophy is the loss of muscle tissue and can result from disuse, disease and as a normal consequence of aging. Disuse...

  • How to Prevent Optic Nerve Atrophy

    Optic nerve atrophy is most commonly caused by poor blood flow among the small veins in the eyes, which as a result,...

  • Musculoskeletal Symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome

    Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that primarily causes dry eyes and a parched, dry mouth and throat. Dryness can affect other...

  • Symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome

    Sjogren's syndrome is an inflammatory autoimmune disease in which white blood cells attack and ravage the body's moisture-producing glands. There are two...

  • Natural Remedies for Sjogren's Syndrome

    Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease, impacts 4 million Americans each year. The immune system of people with Sjogren's syndrome malfunctions, attacking the...

  • What Are the Stages of Sjogren's Syndrome?

    Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder affecting approximately three million Americans as of 2009. While both men and women of any age...

  • How to Manage the Pain of Sjogren's

    Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder in which a person's white blood cells attack their moisture-producing glands, can be quite painful. Sjogren's causes...

  • Sjogren's Syndrome and Hair Loss

    Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder, which means the immune system of the human body fights against the healthy cells within the...

  • Chinese Herbal Remedies

    Chinese herbal remedies are based on several thousands years of accumulated knowledge of the properties of plants and a rich cosmological philosophy...

  • About Post Breast Cancer Back & Hip Pain

    Breast cancer primarily affects females, although men can be diagnosed with it too. A patient with breast cancer usually has a tumor...

  • Sjogren's Disease Symptoms

    It is estimated that approximately 1 to 4 million Americans are living with Sjogren's disease. The disease affects more women than men,...

  • How to Diagnose Muscle Atrophy

    Muscular atrophy causes a progressive weakening of muscle tissue that can lead to paralysis and even death. One type, disuse muscular atrophy,...

  • How to Build Up Atrophied Muscles

    Your muscles atrophy when you do not use them. Inactivity is by far the biggest reason we lose muscle mass, not age....

  • Nerves that Cause Leg Muscle Pain

    Leg muscle pain isn't always due to pulling a leg muscle or a strain or sprain. Sometimes the pain experienced in leg...

  • Medications for Sjogrens Syndrome

    Sjogren's syndrome is a disorder of the immune system that, according to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation (SSF), affects almost 4 million people...

  • Sjogren's Syndrome Defined

    Sjogren's Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that prevents the glands in your mouth and eyes from producing moisture. According to the National...

  • What Are the Causes of Elevated Muscle Enzymes?

    Elevated muscle enzymes may be the result of several conditions or disorders. When disease or injury to your cells occurs, your body...

  • Sjogren's Syndrome & General Anesthesia

    Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune condition, which means that the immune system develops an anomaly in which immune cells attack the body's...

  • What Is Sjogrens Syndrome?

    Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that effects up to four million people in the United States, according to the Sjogren's Syndrome...

  • How to Treat Oral Yeast in Sjogrens Syndrome

    Sjorgen's syndrome affects saliva production and causes dry mouth. This condition is the result of your immune system mistakenly attacking healthy glands...

Related Ads

thumbnail
Featured