Sarcoidosis – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects one or more organs, although it most commonly affects the lungs and lymph glands. Due to the inflammation, abnormal lumps or nodules referred to as granulomas form in one or more organs of the body. These granulomas may alter the normal structure and possibly the function of the affected organ/s.

The exact cause of sarcoidosis is not known. Sarcoidosis can appear suddenly and then disappear, or it can develop slowly and cause symptoms that come and go for a lifetime. However, researchers believe that an abnormal immune response causes the disease. In a healthy individual, inflammation occurs as the cells of the body’s immune system come together to fight the intruder or foreign substance at an organ or tissue site. On the contrary, in an individual with sarcoidosis, cells that come to fight end up clumping together into small lumps called granulomas.

Known symptoms of sarcoidosis

The signs of sarcoidosis vary depending on the affected part of the body. In general, the signs of sarcoidosis include fatigue, fever, weight loss, joint pain, dry mouth, nosebleeds, and abdominal swelling. If it affects the lungs, it can cause a dry cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pain around the breastbone. If the disease affects the skin, it can cause skin rashes, sores, hair loss, and raised scars. If it affects the nervous system, it can cause seizures, hearing loss, and headaches. Sarcoidosis that affects the eyes can cause dry eyes, itchy eyes, eye pain, vision loss, a burning sensation in the eyes, and a discharge from the eyes.

Sarcoidosis can potentially cause complications, such as lung infection, cataracts, glaucoma, kidney failure, abnormal heartbeat, facial paralysis, or infertility. In rare cases, it can cause severe heart and lung damage.

Body systems harmed by sarcoidosis

The body systems harmed by sarcoidosis are the immune system, lymphatic system, and respiratory system.

List of foods or nutrients that prevent sarcoidosis

There is no information on what foods or nutrients prevent sarcoidosis.

Treatments, management plans for sarcoidosis

Although there is no cure for sarcoidosis, it may get better on its own over time. Treatment options for sarcoidosis include maintenance of good health practices and medication. Good health practices include the following:

• Having regular check-ups with your healthcare provider
• Eating a well-balanced diet with various fresh fruits and vegetables
• Drinking eight to 10 8-ounce glasses of water daily
• Getting six to eight hours of sleep each night
• Exercising regularly, and managing and maintaining your weight
• Quitting smoking
• Avoiding exposure to dust, chemicals, fumes, gases, toxic inhalants, and other substances that can harm your lungs
• Avoiding high amounts of calcium-rich foods (such as dairy products, oranges, canned salmon with bones), vitamin D, and sunlight in patients with high blood or urine levels of calcium

Herbal treatments for sarcoidosis include turmeric, goldenseal, and chamomile.

Where to learn more

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Summary

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects one or more organs, although it most commonly affects the lungs and lymph glands.

Sarcoidosis generally causes fatigue, fever, weight loss, joint pain, dry mouth, nosebleeds, and abdominal swelling.

The signs of sarcoidosis vary depending on the affected body part.

Sarcoidosis may lead to complications, such as lung infection, cataracts, glaucoma, kidney failure, abnormal heartbeat, facial paralysis, or infertility.

Sarcoidosis has no cure, but it may go away on its own.

Sources include:

My.ClevelandClinic.org 1

My.ClevelandClinic.org 2

Healthline.com 1

Healthline.com 2

Livestrong.com