Understanding Sjogren’s Disease: It’s More Than Dry Eyes

Since 1998, April has been a time to raise awareness about this serious and often underdiagnosed condition affecting millions.

April is Sjogren’s Disease Awareness Month. This is a time to bring attention to this autoimmune condition that is often overlooked or misunderstood.(In 2025, the name was officially changed from Sjögren’s Syndrome to Sjögren’s Diseaseto better indicate the serious and systemic nature of the disease) 

While many people associate Sjogren’s with dry eyes or dry mouth, the condition is far more complex. It’s an autoimmune disorder that affects the body’s moisture-producing glands, but it can also impact joints, nerves, and energy levels in ways that aren’t always immediately recognized.

Nine out of ten diagnosed patients are women, however Sjögren’s can be diagnosed in all ages, races and genders.

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.

According to the Sjogren’s Foundation website, “Sjögren’s is the 2nd most common rheumatic autoimmune disease in the United States. Affecting as many as four million Americans, Sjögren’s is three times more common than better known related diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis.” 

About half of the time Sjögren’s occurs alone, and the other half it occurs in the presence of other autoimmune connective tissue diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, or Scleroderma. For more information about how Sjögren’s Syndrome affects the body, visit the foundation’s website, here.

Common symptoms that often go unnoticed: 

Sjogren’s Disease can present differently from person to person, but some of the most common symptoms include:

• Persistent dry eyes or a gritty sensation
• Dry mouth or difficulty swallowing
• Chronic fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
• Joint pain or stiffness
• Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

Because these symptoms overlap with other conditions—or even with seasonal changes—they are often attributed to stress, aging, or allergies.

How Sjogren’s affects the nervous system: 

Sjögren’s disease can impact all parts of the body, including the nervous system. Learn about nervous system symptoms, including brain fog, fatigue, headaches, dysautonomia, and neuropathy, and get strategies for managing nervous system impacts on the Sjögren’s Foundation website.

“One of the challenges with Sjögren’s is that it doesn’t always follow a clear or predictable path. Patients may see multiple providers before receiving a diagnosis, especially when symptoms are mild or spread across different systems in the body.”

– Dr. Ryan Wood 

“In some cases, Sjögren’s also occurs alongside other autoimmune conditions,” explains Dr. Wood. “This adds another layer of complexity which can delay diagnosis and treatment. This delay can leave patients feeling frustrated or uncertain about what’s really going on in their body.” 

Because it is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ condition, symptoms can vary widely—and many are invisible, like chronic fatigue or internal complications. This often leads to misunderstanding about the seriousness of the disease and can leave those living with it feeling unseen and isolated. And that’s why sharing real stories matters.

Getting Your Story Out There:  Your Turn to Share

This month, the foundation’s #ThisIsSjögrens campaign highlights the many faces of Sjögren’s through a different patient story each day—offering a glimpse into life with this complex disease. If you are currently living with Sjogren’s, we encourage you to share your story. Together, they’ll paint a fuller picture of what Sjögren’s truly looks like.

A Whole-Body Perspective on Treatment

At NW Regen, care begins with understanding how systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation are affecting the body as a whole. Rather than focusing only on symptom management, our regenerative approach looks at how to support the body’s natural healing processes. 

This may include therapies that aim to:

• Reduce inflammation
• Support tissue repair and function
• Improve overall resilience and recovery

Each treatment plan at NW Regen is individualized, based on the patient’s symptoms, history, and goals. Between Dr. Ryan Wood and Dr. Alicia Hart, we’re able to bring both regenerative and integrative modalities to your healing protocol. 

When to Seek Support

If you’ve been experiencing ongoing dryness, fatigue, or joint discomfort—especially if symptoms seem to come and go without a clear cause—it may be worth taking a closer look. Early evaluation can help identify patterns and provide clarity, even if a formal diagnosis has not yet been made.

Sjögren’s Syndrome is manageable, and with the right support, many patients are able to improve their quality of life and better understand how to care for their bodies.

Learn more about regenerative medicine with NW Regen’s Dr. Ryan Wood.

Contact us to schedule your consultation.