Sarcoidosis Awareness Day

National Sarcoidosis Day is observed all over the world on April 30 and we celebrate by creating awareness among people, volunteering for events, and spreading the word about do’s and don’ts regarding this chronic disease. Did you know, 70% of people affected by sarcoidosis are aged between 20 and 40? Also, women are more likely to develop the disease.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL SARCOIDOSIS DAY

National Sarcoidosis Day was born out of Sarcoidosis Awareness Month, which is observed every year in April. People have been requesting a day of observance as an official holiday ever since Sarcoidosis Month was announced. Eventually, it was proposed and officially declared a holiday by Congress only in 2008.

The second Saturday of April is also observed as an awareness day for the same disease. The symbol of a snowflake has been used to resemble the symptoms of the disease, creating awareness among people all over the country.

There is no cure for sarcoidosis, and people who are diagnosed with the disease find it difficult to recover from the complications that arise from it. The root cause of sarcoidosis could be genetic. The disease is said to primarily affect African-Americans and people suffering from prior autoimmune disorders are also more susceptible. As of 2015, about 1.9 million people had been affected by pulmonary sarcoidosis, which mainly affects the lungs. Therefore, National Sarcoidosis Day was created in order to spread awareness about the disease.