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Having fibromyalgia puts you at risk of developing a lot of other different conditions. And one of the most dangerous of these conditions has to be autoimmune disease. A large percentage of people who suffer from fibromyalgia develop some form of autoimmune disease. That includes a condition called Sjogren’s syndrome that attacks the mucous membrane and can lead to permanent damage over time.
The mucus membrane is the delicate tissue that lines the respiratory system and many other organs, and damage to that tissue can be very dangerous. So, what exactly is Sjogren’s syndrome? What’s the link between it and fibromyalgia? And what can you do to treat it?
Sjogren’s Syndrome: Autoimmune Disease That Damages The Mucous Membrane
Sjogren’s syndrome is a form of autoimmune disease. And an autoimmune disease is essentially a condition where the body’s immune system begins to attack your own tissue. Your immune system is made up of different cells that perform different functions. The antibodies are the cells that attack foreign bacteria and viruses and destroy them and they are an important part of what keeps you healthy.
But when you suffer from an autoimmune disease, these antibodies instead begin to attack your own cells, which destroys them over time and leads to inflammation. And there are many different kinds of autoimmune disease such as lupus, or psoriasis. These conditions all have the same root cause, and so the distinction between autoimmune disease is really based on the type of damage that they cause. In the case of Sjogren’s syndrome, the disease damages the mucous membrane.
The mucous membrane is a type of tissue that lines the eyes, mouth, and a respiratory system where it secretes mucus that keeps your body functioning. And when you have Sjogren’s syndrome, antibodies damage this membrane resulting in a variety of unpleasant symptoms.
The symptoms vary based on where the damage is occurring and how far it has progressed. But generally, Sjogren’s causes the eyes or mouth to stop producing moisture which results in dry or scratchy eyes that feel like there’s grit or sand in them and a chronic dry feeling in the mouth that can make it hard to eat or speak.
But Sjogren’s can also cause symptoms in the body, leading to swollen or painful joints, skin rashes or dry skin, and even vaginal dryness or a persistent cough.
These symptoms are caused by the inflammation of the mucous membrane. Over time, the inflammation damages and even destroys the tissue. And while we don’t know what exactly causes Sjogren’s syndrome or other autoimmune diseases, we do know that having fibromyalgia is a significant risk factor.
Sjogren’s Syndrome And Fibromyalgia
There seems to be a definite link between autoimmune disease and fibromyalgia. People who suffer from fibromyalgia also much more likely to develop some form of autoimmunity. For many years, this fact has led doctors to speculate that fibromyalgia itself may be an autoimmune disease.
But the evidence doesn’t quite support that. To start, people with fibromyalgia lack the elevated levels of antibodies in the blood that people with autoimmune diseases usually have. And the condition doesn’t cause the sort of systemic tissue inflammation that usually accompanies these diseases.
Instead, the link may be psychological. We know that chronic stress is one of the most significant factors when it comes to the likelihood of developing autoimmune disease. And there are few conditions as stressful as fibromyalgia. It’s possible that the chronic stress of fibromyalgia simply makes you more susceptible to developing these conditions.
How Can You Treat It?
The good news is that Sjogren’s syndrome is very treatable. In fact, there are a number of different effective medications that doctors prescribe for the condition.
The first is basic, over-the-counter NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen. These drugs not only help with the pain caused by Sjogren’s syndrome, they also help fight the damaging inflammation by blocking the production of a specific enzyme your body makes that contributes to inflammation.
In addition, doctors often prescribe something called a corticosteroid. Corticosteroid is a hormone that your body naturally produces to fight inflammation. But synthetic corticosteroids can help your body’s natural anti-inflammatory response and are available in many different forms.
Finally, immunosuppressants are commonly used to treat Sjogren’s syndrome. Essentially, they work by lowering the activity of your immune system so that it isn’t strong enough to attack your body.
So, let us know, do you suffer from Sjogren’s syndrome? Do you think it’s related to fibromyalgia? Let us know in the comments.
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