Sarcoidosis Prevention
Sarcoidosis remains a somewhat mysterious disease, so efforts to prevent any outbreak may not be successful all of the time.
Help Reduce Your Risk of Sarcoidosis
Quitting smoking, limiting alcoholic consumption and avoiding exposure to toxic inhalants, fumes and gases might help.
Tests and Screenings for Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis can be difficult to diagnose because the disease produces few signs and symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do occur, they often mimic signs and symptoms of other disorders associated with the affected organs or tissues. In many cases, sarcoidosis is discovered amid tests for other diseases and disorders.
When sarcoidosis is suspected, your WellStar physician may order a variety of tests:
- Imaging, such as a chest X-ray or computer tomography (CT) scan to reveal evidence of lung damage, enlarged lymph nodes or cell clumps called granulomas
- Blood tests to check your lung and kidney functions, as well as ACE level, which is an enzyme that is sometimes a marker for active sarcoidosis.
- Lung function tests that measure the volume of your lungs, the amount of air you breathe in and out, the rate of your breathing and the ability of your lungs to deliver oxygen to your blood.
- Biopsies to remove and examine small tissue samples from your lungs, skin, lymph nodes and other areas that may be affected.