DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please help. I just saw my skin specialist, who told me she thinks I have Sjogren’s syndrome. She wouldn’t tell me anything about it, only to see my primary physician. What is it? Can it be treated? Is it serious? What’s to become of me? I am 85. — F.

ANSWER: I’m pretty positive you can relax. Sjogren’s (SHOW-grins) is one of many autoimmune illnesses, conditions brought on by an immune attack on one’s own body. In this case, the salivary and tear glands are the targets. The result is a dry mouth and dry eyes. It can come on at any age, but it mainly occurs in middle-age women.

In addition to dry mouth and dry eyes, some patients develop aching joints, enlarged lymph nodes and sensitivity to cold. In a different group of patients, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and scleroderma are associated with it. You do not appear to be in this second group.

You don’t mention any symptoms. That’s a good sign that the illness is taking a very slow and benign course — if you indeed turn out to have it.

For a dry mouth, keep a squeeze bottle filled with water with you or near you at all times, and use it liberally. Chewing sugarless gum promotes saliva production. Artificial salivas might be your choice. Some names are Numoisyn liquid and lozenges, OraMoist and Biotene products. Two oral medicines that stimulate saliva production are pilocarpine and Evoxac.

Artificial tears keep the eyes moist. Liquifilm, Tearisol and HypoTears are some brands. Restasis eyedrops prevent the eyes from drying.

Let me introduce you to a friend you didn’t know you had — the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation. Its toll-free number is 800-475-6473 and its website is www.sjogrens.org. The foundation will send you information that will answer all your questions and put your mind at rest.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I substitute teach in our inner-city schools. I’ve set a goal of informing 2,000 students about osteoporosis and folic acid this year. None of these students has a clue about either. A few months ago, a study came out questioning the usefulness of daily vitamins. Is it correct? — D.G.

ANSWER: You deserve congratulations for your campaign to enlighten your students to the need of understanding osteoporosis and the effects of folic acid.

Young women are at an age when they require a decent daily supply of calcium for their bones and vitamin D to absorb calcium. Strong bones at a young age are the best prevention against the prevalent and sometimes incapacitating condition of osteoporosis later in life.

Folic acid is a B vitamin. A young woman who is intending to become pregnant or is pregnant must get enough of this vitamin to prevent tragedy from possibly happening to her developing baby. Without enough folic acid, the fetal brain and spinal cord might not develop as they should. Simply taking this vitamin prevents tragedy.

A daily vitamin isn’t necessary for people who eat a well-balanced diet. The “well-balanced diet” is a myth for most teens. They shouldn’t hesitate to take a daily vitamin. And girls must get enough folic acid, more than is incorporated into most daily multivitamins. During pregnancy, 600 micrograms of this vitamin is recommended.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I had an abdominal ultrasound for stomach pain. It showed something on the kidney that might be cancer. I had a CT scan to define it better. The radiologist is still not sure. Is this mass usually cancer? — B.M.

ANSWER: If the CT scan cannot identify the nature of the kidney mass, then microscopic exam of the tissue is necessary for assurance about such a finding. Kidney cancer has few signs and symptoms early on. I don’t believe there is any other testing option.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.

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