If you experience these symptoms during the autumnal equinox but don’t pay attention to them, be careful that you may be suffering from Sjögren’s syndrome!

If you experience these symptoms during the autumnal equinox but don’t pay attention to them, be careful that you may be suffering from Sjögren’s syndrome!

The Autumnal Equinox is the day when yin and yang are equal, so the day and night are equal and the cold and heat are balanced. Like the Spring Equinox, the sunlight on the Autumnal Equinox is directly above the equator, and the day and night are equal. Every year when the Autumnal Equinox comes, people will feel that the temperature drops significantly faster, especially the temperature difference between day and night is large. Therefore, there is a saying in my country since ancient times that "an autumn rain brings a cooler weather", which symbolizes the beginning of autumn cold.

In addition to the temperature drop, many people will also experience chapped lips, dry eyes, unbearable thirst, dry skin and other discomforts during the autumnal equinox. This also indicates that autumn dryness will come with the autumnal equinox when the autumn is getting stronger and the weather is getting cooler. At this time, you need to be alert to Sjögren's syndrome.

Although many people are unfamiliar with Sjögren's syndrome, in fact, Sjögren's syndrome is not only a disease, but also a very harmful disease. Elderly women are the main patient group of Sjögren's syndrome. Today we will sort out the symptoms that are suggestive of Sjögren's syndrome.

1. Persistent dry mouth and dry eyes

Different from general dry mouth and dry eyes, dry mouth and dry eyes caused by Sjögren's syndrome are more serious. Patients need to drink water frequently due to dry mouth, and often need water to take dry food. In severe cases, they may have difficulty eating, tooth flaking and multiple caries. Patients' dry eyes are specifically manifested as dry eyes, frosted feeling and congestion. In severe cases, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, corneal epithelial erosion, corneal neovascularization and ulcer formation, and even corneal perforation and blindness may occur.

2. Recurring joint pain

Generally speaking, normal people rarely experience joint and muscle pain without obvious trauma, but if joint and muscle pain recurs, you need to be alert to the possibility of rheumatism. About 50% of patients with Sjögren's syndrome may experience joint pain symptoms of varying degrees, which are mostly chronic and recurrent, and hand joint pain is more common. Patients with Sjögren's syndrome may also experience muscle pain and weakness, but they are generally not serious.

3. Parotid gland swelling and pain without obvious cause

50% of patients with Sjögren's syndrome present with intermittent alternating parotid swelling and pain, which can affect one or both sides. This parotid swelling and pain can disappear on its own in about 10 days, or it can persist and even cause swelling of the submandibular gland.

4. Fever and fatigue with no known cause

Low-grade fever and fatigue are common symptoms, and can be caused by many diseases. However, generally speaking, after active treatment of the primary disease, low-grade fever and fatigue can gradually ease and eventually disappear. However, the low-grade fever and fatigue caused by Sjögren's syndrome often persist.

So how can we prevent Sjögren's syndrome in our daily life during the autumnal equinox? First of all, we should keep our mouth and eyes clean, brush our teeth and rinse our mouth frequently, quit smoking and drinking, reduce the time of using mobile phones and computers, give our eyes enough rest, and have a regular work and rest schedule, try not to stay up late, insist on doing small to medium intensity, intermittent physical exercise, and maintain a happy mood. Stay calm when encountering things and avoid excessive anxiety.

Secondly, you should reduce the consumption of foods rich in fat and salt, such as barbecue, hot pot, and fried chicken. You can eat more sweet and cool nourishing foods such as coix seed, white fungus, lily, lotus seed, winter melon, loofah, water chestnut, pear, papaya, honey, and green leafy vegetables, as well as meat such as chicken, duck, and freshwater fish. However, the cooking method should be stir-frying or stewing, and avoid frying, pan-frying, and roasting. In addition, you can carry a water cup with you, or soak Chinese medicine such as Ophiopogon japonicus and chrysanthemum in water and drink it as tea, which can enhance the effect of nourishing yin and promoting body fluid.

Author: Wei Ni, deputy chief physician of the Department of Rheumatology, Oriental Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Review expert: Yan Yan, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Oriental Hospital