What is Sjögren’s?
Sjögren’s (pronounced “SHOW-grins”) is a common and serious autoimmune disease that can affect the whole body. The most frequent symptoms are dry eyes, dry mouth, severe fatigue and chronic pain. However, other serious complications can include organ and nerve damage.
Sjögren’s can occur at any age, but it is usually diagnosed between the ages of 40 to 60. Women are much more likely than men to develop the disease. Sjögren’s can occur on its own or can co-occur with other auto-immune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or thyroid disease.
Sjögren’s is a chronic and debilitating disease with no known cure, so current treatments focus on relieving symptoms and limiting complications. Despite being a common condition, there is limited awareness of the widespread nature and seriousness of Sjögren’s amongst healthcare professionals and the public. This can lead to difficult diagnostic processes, ineffective treatments and insufficient support.
Our Story
Our aim is to improve the understanding of Sjögren’s amongst healthcare professionals, and provide a supportive community for those in Ireland living with Sjogren’s
We have and continue to contribute our knowledge and experiences to research projects and programmes. You can see some examples here:
https://sjogrensresearch-ireland.eu/
Sjögren's Ireland 