A Body Out of Balance: Understanding and Treating Sjogren's Syndrome

by Nancy Carteron, Ruth Fremes

Overview

One of the most common yet underrecognized autoimmune and rheumatological disorders.  Sjögren's (pronounced SHOW-grens) syndrome, or SjS, affects more people than rheumatoid arthritis and lupus combined.  Difficult to diagnose, SjS is characterized by symptoms that shift almost daily, usually beginning with vague discomforts such as dry eyes and dry mouth, then advancing to more severe concerns such as joint pain and swollen glands.  A Body Out of Balance provides a comprehensive guide to the wide array of symptoms, traditional and complementary treatments, and invaluable coping methods, so patients may devise a personal treatment plan.  Co written by a woman living with the disease and by a physician who has treated countless SjS patients, this indispensable resource will enhance awareness and demystify this often-misunderstood disorder.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101567425
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	12/01/2003
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	814 KB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Ruth Fremes, M.A., the author of nine books on health and nutrition and is the leader of a Sjögren's Syndrome support group. 

Nancy Carteron, M.D., is a fellow of the American College of Rheumatology in San Francisco. Her extensive research on autoimmunity has appeared in numerous medical journals and publications.

Table of Contents

	Foreword	xi
	Introduction	xiii
	Introduction	xvii
	What You Can Expect from This Book	xix
Chapter 1	Understanding Sjogren's Syndrome	1
Chapter 2	Discovering a Diagnosis	17
Chapter 3	You, Your Doctor, and Sjogren's Syndrome	31
Chapter 4	Dry Eyes	44
Chapter 5	Dry Mouth, Nose, and Throat	63
Chapter 6	Extraglandular Involvement	76
Chapter 7	Pain and Fatigue	93
Chapter 8	Special Considerations	101
Chapter 9	The Emotional Toll of Chronic Disease	110
Chapter 10	Medications for Sjogren's Syndrome	120
Chapter 11	Nutrition and Autoimmune Disorders	135
Chapter 12	Complementary Medicine	145
	Afterword	155
Appendix	Clinical Guidelines for Oral Treatment and Dental Caries Prevention in Patients with Chronic Dry Mouth	157
	Resources	165
	Notes	174
	Index	180

Editorial Reviews

"Having SjS is a bit like having a demanding, exacting, unpredictable but needy two-year-old in your life-forever nagging for your attention," writes Fremes, leader of a Sjogren's Syndrome (SjS) support group. Known as the "dry eyes/dry mouth" disease, this autoimmune and rheumatological disorder can affect other organs and systems with devastating consequences. About four million people in the United States, primarily women, have it. With rheumatologist Carteron, Fremes has written a consumer's guide that covers all the basics: a brief overview of autoimmunity, diagnosis, medical treatments, self-care, genetics, and current and future areas of research. Encouraging a wellness lifestyle and good nutrition, the authors suggest conventional and complementary therapies to bring back balance and to cope with diminished quality of life. Especially valuable is their detailed advice on various products and medications for dealing with lack of moisture. However, the authors do not always present their technical information in understandable terms-no glossary is provided, and there are few real definitions. Libraries already owning Teri P. Rumpf's The Sjogren's Syndrome Survival Guide could probably pass. Otherwise, recommended for consumer health collections needing current information. (Index not seen.)-Lisa McCormick, Jewish Hosp. Lib., Cincinnati Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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