April — Minority Health Month + Sarcoidosis

April is National Minority Health Month — a recognition that not everyone faces the same health risks, and that awareness is the first step toward changing outcomes.

This month also marks Sarcoidosis Awareness Month. Most people have never heard of it.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes small clusters of inflamed cells (granulomas) to form in organs — most often the lungs, but also the skin, eyes, liver, and brain. It's non-contagious, has no known cure, and is most common among African Americans and people of Northern European descent.

Many people have no symptoms, or symptoms that come and go — fatigue, shortness of breath, a dry cough, skin changes, sore eyes. It's often mistaken for allergies or something passing.

An estimated 175,000 people in the U.S. are living with sarcoidosis. Many don't know it yet.

If you or someone you know has persistent, unexplained symptoms that don't respond to typical treatments, ask a doctor about sarcoidosis. Diagnosis takes time — but it starts with asking the right questions and providing as much information as possible.