Scleroderma – Hard to say; harder to live with

Scleroderma – Hard to say; harder to live with

Wednesday 29th June is World Scleroderma Day and Arthritis New Zealand, joins organisations around the world to raise awareness of this condition. This year’s theme is Hand in Hand recognising that for many people with scleroderma the support of others is vitally important.

Scleroderma is a rare, chronic, often progressive, autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue. Scleroderma causes hardening and tightening of skin and tissues that hold muscles, joints, blood vessels and internal organs together, resulting in restrictions in movement. Women are more likely to develop scleroderma than men – and often it starts for women of working age.

June 29th was chosen to mark World Scleroderma Day to remember the life and work of Paul Klee, who died on that day in 1940. Paul was a Swiss artist whose work was strongly influenced by Systemic Sclerosis. June 29th is a day to recognise the bravery of those who live with this disease and to promote better education, treatment and care for those people affected by the condition.

As a relatively unusual condition one of the most important links for a person diagnosed with scleroderma is to find others in the same boat. Arthritis New Zealand is proud to work alongside Scleroderma New Zealand to make sure people can get advice and support to make living with this challenging condition just a little easier.

ENDS

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