{"id":5442,"date":"2019-04-11T13:11:24","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T13:11:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=5442"},"modified":"2022-02-07T09:34:07","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T09:34:07","slug":"14-things-that-potentially-trigger-scleroderma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-things-that-potentially-trigger-scleroderma\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Things That Potentially Trigger Scleroderma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Scleroderma is a rare health condition that occurs in approximately 20 in every one million people, although might be increasing in prevalence. It\u2019s largely described as an auto-immune disease that can sometimes be paired with other possible connective tissue disorders such as Marfan Syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos, and it\u2019s a condition that can sometimes be worsened or triggered by various factors if you already have it.
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While the condition is rare, if you\u2019ve been diagnosed with the condition yourself then it\u2019s vitally important that you should know how to treat it \u2013 and what triggers the condition itself. There are many potential things that can trigger an episode of scleroderma if you\u2019ve been diagnosed, including a compromised immune system or stress.
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The condition is chronic, but once you know to look out for the triggers, you can adapt your health to cope better.
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Here are just 8 things that can potentially trigger scleroderma that you should know to be looking out for.
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1. Other Connective Tissue Disorders<\/strong>
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Connective tissue disorders are a blanket term for a range of different health conditions which can affect the body\u2019s connective tissue, which is what almost everything in the body is made up out of \u2013 and if you have connective tissue, it\u2019s likely that you might develop scleroderma <\/a>as one of the related conditions that might be paired with the main condition that you\u2019ve been diagnosed with.
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Just some of the conditions that can be associated with scleroderma include Marfan Syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos, and you should pay special attention to any new health symptoms if you\u2019ve been diagnosed with either of these disorders or related ones: You\u2019re at an automatically higher risk of developing scleroderma due to the fact that it\u2019s considered a connective tissue disorder by itself.
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Having any other connective tissue disorder also means that you should be taking good care of your health even if you don\u2019t consider yourself a risk factor for scleroderma.
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2. Compromised Immune System<\/strong>
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The body\u2019s immune system<\/a> is the first line of defense for your body when it comes to putting up a fight against any infections, bacteria, and conditions which might affect your health \u2013 and the body\u2019s immune system when it\u2019s in the condition it should be will stop you from contracting the flu of the season when it comes around.
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But if your immune system isn\u2019t in great condition, it can affect everything else in your body \u2013 and you will be more likely to contract what you are exposed to. There are thousands of different things that can affect your immune system, including your diet and what condition you\u2019re keeping your body in.
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Because of the fact that scleroderma is considered an auto-immune disorder by itself, a compromised immune system can act as a trigger for the condition \u2013 and scleroderma can easily be triggered when your immune system isn\u2019t in the condition that it should be.
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3. Stress<\/strong>
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Stress <\/a>is something that we\u2019re exposed to every single day of our lives, and it\u2019s something that we can\u2019t really avoid \u2013 but too much stress isn\u2019t great for the mind, and too much stress can be a disaster for the body at the same time. There are many things that can affect your immune system and make you more likely to be affected by certain disorders, and mental stress makes for one of the things which can affect you the worst.
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If you\u2019ve already been diagnosed with scleroderma, then you should try to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle, and you should do your best to reduce stress as much as possible. See your doctor for this, and use as many natural means as you can to help reduce your stress. If symptoms persist after this, make another appointment with your doctor for a follow-up regarding the condition to check your health.
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4. Physical Strain<\/strong>
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A lot can be said for mental stress and how it affects the body, but just as much can be said for physical strain and what it can do to the rest of the body. Learn to always listen to your body and make sure that you know when to make the necessary adaptations to what you\u2019re doing, including when you should cut down on physical stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any type of physical strain that you put your body through can affect other parts of your body \u2013 and the same is considered to be true if you\u2019ve been diagnosed with a connective tissue <\/a>disorder or a condition such as a scleroderma.
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If you\u2019ve been diagnosed with the condition, any form of physical strain, injury, or repeated stress on a certain area can be enough to trigger it into motion \u2013 and you should make an appointment with your doctor should you notice this happening at all.
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5. Unhealthy Lifestyle<\/strong>
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If you want to keep your health in overall good condition, you should be following a healthy lifestyle \u2013 and that\u2019s more than just a commonly-repeated fact about health, it\u2019s a complete truth. Your body should be getting all of the nutrients it needs through a combination of a healthy diet and supplements<\/a>, and you should add to your health whatever you can from that point on \u2013 doing this ensures that your immune system is in excellent condition and it can reduce your risk of developing or triggering certain health conditions.
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If you\u2019re following an unhealthy diet and not getting any exercise (or over-straining), these can be considered potential triggers for scleroderma because of the way in which they affect the immune system.
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Make serious adaptations to your health for the best results, and consume more natural ingredients where possible. If you aren\u2019t sure where to start, a nutritional expert can come in handy.
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6. Environmental Immune-Responses<\/strong>
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There are a thousand different things that can affect your immune system that hasn\u2019t been mentioned in this article just yet, and all of these things can give your immune system a negative knock when you least expect it \u2013 and when this happens, it can act as one of the potential triggers for a condition such as scleroderma. There are many things that can affect your immune system when it comes to your environment, including pathogens in the air that you breathe in, or even pathogens that stick to your clothes or hands.
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The best thing that you can do in the case of potential environmental immune responses is to take a closer look at your environment to see just where you could be making adaptations (or avoiding certain factors) in order to make your health better.
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If the symptoms still persist after this, make a follow-up appointment with your doctor to find out what could be the root cause and what can be done from there to improve your health and your environment.
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7. Genetic Factors<\/strong>
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Genetics <\/a>can affect a lot in your life, and it\u2019s recommended that most people get themselves genetically screened for a range of different health conditions to find out what might have been prevalent in their families before them \u2013 and what they might be considered at risk of when it comes to their own health. There\u2019s little agreement among scientists and doctors about the exact causes of scleroderma, but there is increasing research to support the theory that genetic factors play a large role \u2013 and that having a history of scleroderma or connective tissue in your family will very likely increase your risk.
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If you know that you are at risk of any conditions because of your genetics, make an appointment with your doctor so that they\u2019ll know what to look for \u2013 and might even know what else <\/em>to look for within your genetic make-up. It\u2019s also important for those who want to have kids, too!
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8. Cancer<\/strong>
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There are plenty of things out there that can trigger scleroderma if you\u2019ve already been diagnosed with the condition, but as we\u2019ve already mentioned, there isn\u2019t a lot of information out there for what actually causes the condition itself \u2013 as the condition is researched more, there are more studies that point to the potential causes of scleroderma instead of only the triggers, and there is a considerable amount more research pointing to the fact that scleroderma might go hand in hand with cancer<\/a>.
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If you have been diagnosed with scleroderma, it puts you at an automatically higher risk of developing cancer \u2013 and you should speak to your doctor about just what this increased risk means for your health. Move to a healthier lifestyle than you\u2019re following now as soon as possible, and reduce your risks as much as you can by switching to a food that\u2019s as natural as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Collagen Overproduction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Scleroderma occurs due to a natural overproduction of the protein collagen. Collagen <\/a>is abundant in our body, and without it, we don’t have the proteins we need to form the building blocks of cells. Collagen supplements are a popular niche in the performance enhancement and health market. The protein allows muscles to rebuild after strenuous exercise, and it keeps our skin looking youthful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With these attributes of the protein in mind, it’s easy to think that the more collagen we have in our body, the better. However, as is the case with most things in life, too much of a good thing can negatively affect our physiology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the body starts to overproduce collagen, it results in the formation of scleroderma. Some people with the mild form of the condition experience thickening of the skin that looks like a rash. Those with the advanced form of scleroderma end up experiencing a thickening of all the tissues in the body. The disease turns them into a stiff, rigid tissue that’s unable to function normally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Hormone Dysfunction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several triggers for scleroderma, and medical science is at a loss to explain many of them. Scleroderma is an auto-immune disorder affecting the normal production of collagen. Some medical experts believe that the condition may have a connection to the hormonal system, particularly in women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s more common for women to develop scleroderma, and some researchers believe it may have something to do with women having more estrogen <\/a>present in their system. Estrogen is a vital hormone in women and men, but it’s far more abundant in women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estrogen will peak in blood during menstruation, causing the start of the fertility cycle. However, some experts believe that the increase in estrogen causes the trigger for the onset of scleroderma. Typically, the mild form of the condition can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, and some women note that they experience attacks more frequently around their period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Chemical Exposure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people may develop scleroderma after exposure to hazardous chemicals and harmful solvents. For example, if you use contact adhesive to repair furniture, you might end up with some of it on your skin. While the sticky residue rubs off easily, the solvents in the adhesive may leech through the pores in your skin and into the bloodstream. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the solvents interact with your physiology, it creates the auto-immune response that forms Scleroderma. The patient may notice that they start to develop the thickening of the skin and inflammation <\/a>associated with the condition a few days after coming in contact with the solvent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, it’s often challenging for the patient to figure out what they came in contact with that’s causing the problem. They may have to backtrack their actions over the last few days to figure out what caused the reaction in their skin. Unfortunately, there is little they can do to soothe the effects of the scleroderma, and they will have to wait for the skin to heal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Complications of Systemic Sclerosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people who experience scleroderma will have complications arising from the disorder. In the mild form of the condition, the blisters <\/a>on the skin typically resolve by themselves, without any lasting scarring or effects on the epidermis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, those individuals the end up experiencing the advanced form of the condition are at risk of developing severe, life-threatening complications. The over-production of collagen leading to scleroderma can cause problems with the muscles and the lining around the heart, arteries, and aorta. As a result, they end up experiencing a heart attack as the tissues stiffen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients with the advanced form of scleroderma may also end up experiencing problems with their kidney function, or they may develop symptoms of hypertension (high blood pressure). Both of these complications can end up causing severe outcomes for the patient. In rare cases, scleroderma can cause the onset of cancer in the affected individual, and it can happen in men and women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Risk Factors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As with any other disorder, there are a set of risk factors that make some people more prone to the condition than others. According to research, people of Native American or African-American descent are more prone to developing scleroderma, particularly the advanced form of the disorder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women seem to experience the problem more than men, with almost 80% of all patients being women. As mentioned, some researchers believe that women are at a higher risk due to elevations in the hormone estrogen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While scleroderma may cause cancer in some unfortunate individuals, it can also occur in cancer patients. The use of chemotherapy<\/a> drugs like Bleomycin can cause the onset of the condition in men and women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another risk factor is regular exposure to solvents. If you work with hazardous chemicals or solvents, you need to ensure you’re wearing the correct PPE for your job. The use of gloves to prevent the solvents from getting onto your skin and a respirator to avoid inhaling solvents as they gas-off are essential to avoid the onset of the condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Unknown Triggers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Scleroderma is an auto-immune disorder affecting men and women. Medical science is at a loss to understand how this condition emerges in people. While there are several triggers identified for causing <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scleroderma, science has yet to identify all of them, and there is a chance there are factors not on this list causing your scleroderma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auto-immune disorders are among the most peculiar aspects of disease and physiological dysfunction in men and women. There are hundreds of identified auto-immune disorders, like lupus <\/a>and multiple sclerosis. While medical science uses a lot of resources to understand how they occur in people, there is no conclusive evidence to show how they manifest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suddenly develop scleroderma, particularly the mild form of the condition, go over this list and see if you can identify the risk factors pertaining to your situation. Please consult with your doctor, and ask them to do bloodwork on you to rule out the possibility of the advanced form of the disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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