Raise Awareness During National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month

By Andy Niska | April 19, 2017 |

Elderly Care in Deer Park WA: Raise Awareness During National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease where tiny nodules of tissues grow within the body on certain organs. The National Sarcoidosis Society has declared April to be National Sarcoidosis Awareness month to boost awareness for the disease and to encourage awareness and support for those who have the disease or support loved ones who are afflicted. Elderly-onset sarcoidosis affects approximately 30% of all sarcoidosis cases, so those who are involved in elderly care should learn the signs and symptoms.

Identifying Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease linked to the immune system and it causes nodules to grow on one or more organs within the body. The lungs, skin and lymph nodes are the most commonly affected. The inflamed tissue may remain benign in some patients and avoid interfering with the normal functions, while other patients may experience problems with how the organ performs.

Typical Sarcoidosis Patients

While most people who contract the disease are under 40 years old, a significant percentage of diagnosed cases are in elderly people. When it appears in the elderly, it is known as elderly-onset sarcoidosis. In the United States, African-American women are most likely to contract the disease, although it is found in both sexes and all races. Most of the cases are mild, but there are instances where sarcoidosis can have serious impact on the body’s organs and cause major medical problems.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Diagnosing sarcoidosis is difficult because the symptoms are typical of many other conditions. Also, many patients never really experience symptoms, so medical experts only discover it when the patient is being treated for another condition. Because most cases of sarcoidosis affect the lungs, typical symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and reddish skin rashes on the neck, ankles or face that are often raised.

Treatment Options

There is no cure for sarcoidosis but modern medicine allows doctors to treat the symptoms effectively in most cases. For patients with very mild symptoms, no treatment is required. In mild to moderate cases, the most common treatment is with corticosteroids. Severe elderly care cases may require additional medicine and more regular doctor visits to keep an eye on the disease, its progress if any and to monitor side effects of any medicine.

Awareness and Outreach

The National Sarcoidosis Society is dedicated to boosting awareness and education about this problematic disease. With a goal to “educate the general public on how to recognize the symptoms of sarcoidosis,” the organization hopes to bring attention to the condition and advocate for more research in hopes for a cure in the near future.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Deer Park, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.