What Is Sarcoidosis?

What Is Sarcoidosis?Chances are good that sarcoidosis isn’t a condition that you’ve heard of before or know much about. That’s because it once used to be rare but is now a fairly common chronic illness worldwide. Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition that results when inflammatory cells affect certain organs of the body, most often the lungs. While these small masses of inflammation, known as granulomas, develop within the tissue, they can also clear up on their own without treatment; however, sometimes they can cause tissue scarring.
What are the symptoms and signs of sarcoidosis?
The symptoms you experience will depend on what organ or organs are affected.
  • Lungs: persistent cough; wheezing; chest tightness and shortness of breath
  • Skin: reddish rash; sores on the nose and cheeks; lighter or darker patches of skin; nodules under the skin
  • Eyes: blurry vision; sensitivity to light; pain; redness; dryness; itching
  • Heart: irregular heartbeat; fluttering heartbeat; swelling; chest pain; fainting
As you can see, the symptoms associated with lung sarcoidosis (the organ most often affected by this disease) are identical to asthma, so it’s not too much of a surprise that sarcoidosis could be misdiagnosed as asthma. Since many disorders and diseases can cause these same symptoms, it is important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
While anyone can develop sarcoidosis, it is most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 to 40 years old.
How is sarcoidosis treated?
It is important to seek treatment right away, as this disease can lead to serious complications. The treatment that your doctor recommends will depend on each person and their symptoms. Topical corticosteroids may be used to treat skin problems while immunosuppressants or steroids may also be prescribed.
How can an osteopath treat sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis can affect multiple systems within the body, leading to widespread symptoms including joint pain, headaches, and fatigue. While you might not require treatment, an osteopath can provide you with comprehensive care and treatment options including massage therapy and spinal manipulation to help ease symptoms such as headaches, joint pain, inflammation, and sleep problems due to sarcoidosis.
If you are looking for natural and more holistic approaches to treat your symptoms, then talk with an osteopath about how they can help you manage sarcoidosis.

 

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