Breathing

It has been actually a few weeks since I have focused on the sarcoid. What is it again? Well - here is the Penn State Clinic definition:


Sarcoidosis is a disease of unknown cause in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, or other tissues.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The cause of the disease is unknown. Sarcoidosis is marked by abnormal inflammatory masses (granulomas) in certain organs of the body. Granulomas are clusters of immune cells (macrophages, lymphocytes, and multinucleated giant cells). The disease can affect almost any organ of the body, although it most commonly affects the lungs. Sarcoidosis can be acute, subacute, or chronic.

Possible causes of sarcoidosis include:

Hypersensitivity to environmental factors
Genetics
Extreme immune response to infection
The incidence varies widely according to race and sex.

It is more common in African Americans than Caucasians. Females are usually affected more frequently than males. Onset of the disease typically occurs between the ages of 20 and 40. Sarcoidosis is very rare in young children.
Treatment:
Sarcoidosis symptoms often gradually resolve on their own without treatment.

Severely affected patients may require treatment with corticosteroids. Therapy may continue for one or two years, although some of the most severely affected may require life-long therapy.

Immunosuppressive agents, such as methotrexate, azathioprine, and cyclophosphamide, are sometimes used in addition to corticosteroids. Rarely, some individuals with irreversible organ failure require organ transplantation.

Expectations (prognosis):
Many people are not seriously ill, and the disease may resolve without treatment. Thirty to fifty percent of cases resolve without treatment in 3 years. About 20% of those with lung involvement will develop residual lung damage.

Complications:

Diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary hypertension
Anterior uveitis
Glaucoma and blindness (rare)
Cardiac arrhythmias
Cranial or peripheral nerve palsies
Kidney stones
Organ failure, leading to the need for a transplant.

AIR QUALITY is moderate to good for today which means I can get outside and not worry. Actually, I haven't been worried because it is just a part of me now and why obsess about it! I "unlisted" myself from all of the sarc feeds, web sites, and chat groups as I really do not feel a need to have it in my face. I think they feed into creating more fear, misinformation, and promises of miracle cures that don't exist.