The Silent Heart Risk in Sjogren’s: What Most Doctors Don’t Say Out Loud

When you think about Sjogren’s Disease, you probably think about dry eyes, dry mouth, fatigue, and body pain. But there's something else we need to talk about – something that often gets missed in our 10-to-15-minute doctor's visits: your heart.

As a quadruple board-certified allergy/immunology/lifestyle medicine physician and a Sjogren's patient myself, I know what it’s like to navigate this complex autoimmune condition. But today, I want to talk about the silent but significant cardiovascular risk that comes with Sjogren’s Disease, and why the standard advice to "check your cholesterol once a year" simply doesn't cut it for us.

Over the next few weeks, we'll dive deep into the connection between Sjogren's and heart health. We'll talk about the numbers you need to know, the questions you need to ask your doctors, and the proactive steps you can take to protect your long-term cardiovascular health.

The Science: Sjogren's & Systemic Inflammation

At its core, Sjogren's is a disease of systemic inflammation. I want to emphasize that word: systemic, meaning whole-body. That chronic, low-grade inflammation is like a fire constantly burning inside your body, and it doesn't just stay localized in your salivary glands or joints. This inflammation affects your entire body, including your cardiovascular system – your heart and the delicate inner lining of your blood vessels (the endothelium).

The Shocking Statistics on Cardiovascular Events

Research has shown that women with Sjogren's Disease have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to the general population. We're talking about heart attacks, strokes, and other serious cardiovascular complications. Some studies suggest this risk is elevated by 20-40%, and some research indicates it could be even higher depending on factors like disease activity and duration.

I'm not sharing this to scare you; I'm sharing it to empower you. When we know about a risk, we can take meaningful action to address it. Knowledge is power.

The Problem with Standard Risk Calculators

The challenge is that many of us are told our cholesterol is fine or our blood pressure is okay, so we think our heart is doing well. But here's the fundamental problem: standard cardiovascular risk calculators – the tools your primary care doctor or cardiologist might use – are designed for the "average" person. My friend, you are not average.

These calculators take into account factors like age, smoking status, cholesterol, and blood pressure – all important, don't get me wrong. But they often fail to account for the single most important risk factor for us: chronic systemic inflammation.

In practical terms, this underlying inflammation can damage the lining of your blood vessels, promoting the buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis). And here's the kicker: this can all be happening even if your traditional risk factors, like your "bad" cholesterol (LDL), look pretty normal on paper. That's the gap in standard care that we need to address.

A Doctor & Patient's Personal Perspective

As someone who lives with Sjogren’s and happens to be married to a cardiologist, this topic is deeply personal. I know I can't just rely on standard checkboxes at my annual physical. I can't assume that because my cholesterol looks okay, my heart is protected. I need to be proactive.

I see this same challenge with so many of the women I work with. They're doing everything "right" – eating a balanced diet, staying active, taking their meds – but they still have this underlying inflammatory risk that isn't being fully seen or addressed by standard guidelines. It’s not because anyone’s doing anything wrong; the system isn’t set up to connect these dots for us. And this is what I want to help change.

How to Shift from Worry to Proactive Empowerment

The first step is simply knowing this risk exists. You're already doing that by reading this. This knowledge allows you to shift from being a passive recipient of healthcare to an active, informed partner in your own care.

After reading this, think about your last conversation with your doctor about heart health. Did anyone talk about inflammation? Or was it a quick check of your cholesterol and blood pressure, and then you were on your way? If it was the latter, it's not anyone's fault, but it's an opportunity for you to speak up at your next appointment.

You can say something like: "I've been learning about the connection between Sjogren's and cardiovascular disease, and I understand that chronic inflammation can be a risk factor. Can we talk about my specific risk and what I should be monitoring beyond just my cholesterol?"

That one question can open up an entirely different conversation.

Coming Up Next Week: 7 Key Numbers to Track

Next week, we're going to get specific about seven key numbers every person with Sjogren's should know and track. We're going beyond standard cholesterol and blood pressure to look at inflammatory markers and metabolic health indicators that give us a more complete picture.

Have you had a real conversation with your doctor about heart health in the context of your autoimmune disease? What is the one question you still have after reading this? Share your thoughts in the comments below!