Sjögren’s (“SHOW-grins”) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. Along with symptoms of extensive dryness, other serious complications include profound fatigue, chronic pain, major organ involvement, neuropathies, and lymphomas. As a systemic disease, affecting the entire body, symptoms may remain steady or worsen overtime. There is no one single progression of the disease and this can make it challenging for patients and their physicians. While some people experience mild discomfort, others suffer debilitating symptoms that greatly impair their functioning. Early diagnosis and proper treatments are important as they may prevent serious complications and greatly improve a patient's quality of life. About half of the time Sjögren's occurs alone, and the other half it occurs in the presence of another autoimmune connective tissue disease such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, or Scleroderma. In addition, Sjögren's is often misrepresented as a rare disease, however it is estimated that there are four million Americans living with this disease, making it one of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases. The Sjögren’s Foundation is proud to be the first and only national non-profit health organization leading the charge to conquer Sjögren’s. While focused on increasing research, education and awareness for this disease, the Foundation works on behalf of all Sjögren’s patients and is dedicated to conquering the complexities of this life-altering and debilitating disease. The Foundation is committed to supporting all Sjögren’s patients while acknowledging the truly complex nature of this disease. Our initiatives, programs and overall efforts are first and foremost started, advanced and expanded, with the Sjögren's patient in mind. With so many people living with questions about their disease and concerned about their disease progressing, we want to make a difference for patients and provide them with answers as well as a sense of hope, now, and for the future. The Foundation brings the voice of patients to the highest levels – to the halls of Congress, primary agencies of the United States Government, leading medical centers and prominent research institutions. We help patients tell their stories to put a human face on Sjögren's, and address the misunderstanding of this complex disease. The Foundation also serves as the lead organization for Sjögren’s worldwide. The Foundation reserves the right to remove without notice any comments, accounts, photos, videos or graphics that are unlawful, obscene, spam or otherwise offensive. This includes but is not limited to advertising or spam, vulgar or disturbing language or images, posts that may violate the rights of others, are disrespectful to any community member, go against the Facebook Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and Community Standards, or any other Facebook term or policy. Community members that repeatedly violate these guidelines will be blocked. Additionally:
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