What is Myasthenia Gravis?



*Myasthenia gravis facts medical author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Information gained from: http://www.medicinenet.com/myasthenia_gravis/article.htm
  • Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal (voluntary) muscles of the body.
  • Myasthenia gravis is caused by a defect in the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles.
  • The thymus may give incorrect instructions to developing immune cells, ultimately resulting in autoimmunity and the production of the acetylcholine receptor antibodies.
  • The symptoms of myasthenia gravis may include eye muscle weakness, eyelid drooping (ptosis), blurry or double vision(diplopia), unstable gait, a change in facial expression, difficulty in swallowing, shortness of breath, impaired speech, and weakness in the arms, hands, fingers, legs, and neck.
  • The disease is not directly inherited nor is it contagious; it commonly affects adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60), but it can occur at any age.
  • Diagnosis is often delayed because muscle weakness is a common symptom in other diseases and may slowly develop; diagnostic tests that help confirm the diagnosis include detecting the presence of immune molecules or acetylcholine receptor antibodies, edrophonium test, and electromyography.
  • Medical treatment includes anticholinesterase agents, plasmapheresis, and various immunosuppressive drugs; surgical treatment may include removal of the thymus.
  • A myasthenic crisis occurs when the muscles that control breathing weaken so much that the patient requires emergency ventilation assistance.
  • The disease prognosis is highly variable; some patients have a complete remission (about 50% with thymus surgery), others have relatively normal lives with continued treatment, and others have a poor prognosis as the disease advances.
  • Research is ongoing; new treatment protocols and immunosuppressive drugs are being investigated and therapeutic methods are likely to improve in the future.
  • To Continue Reading click here. 
  • To read my personal story click here: My Snowflake Story

Popular posts from this blog

Therapeutic Journaling

Image
Therapeutic Journaling Need a confidential, non-judge mental support system? Don't have a friend to call or a shoulder to cry on? Feel like you need an emotional detox? Why not try journaling? When I was first introduced to therapeutic journaling I was a sceptic. I had all the what ifs to back me up. What if someone finds it and reads it? What if I'm not disciplined enough to do it daily? What if I just don't have anything to write about? What if it's only negative? As a therapist I want to be honest with my clients. I will not suggest anything unless I see the benefit in it. Therefore, I needed to experience journaling for myself. I must admit, I was surprised by my experience and wanted to share my findings.   1)    Set the scene Before starting, make sure your sensory and physical needs are taken care of. I would never be able to focus in front of a TV or with a full bladder. I found a quiet environment suited me best. Whether it was...
Read more

My Snowflake Story: Myasthenia Gravis 101

Image
How Snowflakes are formed Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune neurological disease. (1)   What a mouthful! It has a world prevalence of between 25 and 142 per million  (2) indicating that those affected, especially in South Africa, are few and far apart. MG is often called the snowflake   disease   due to the fluctuating symptoms experienced from one person to another. Each snowflake has a similar primary ice crystal base, but the internal order of the primary crystal, and exposure to different atmospheric conditions during the formation of its crystal arms results in its unique appearance.  (3) S imilarly, MG is normally identified by muscle fatigue and weakness; this would be the primary crystal  (1)  . Each individual's genetic make-up, the internal order of the crystal, and their unique environmental and lifestyle stressors, the atmospheric conditions, results in each MG warrior's unique set of symptoms....
Read more

Exercise for Myasthenia Gravis: a necessity not a luxury

Image
Exercise: a necessity not a luxury. If I saw this post a year ago, I would never have clicked on it. I was always tired and felt like a barely made it through the day. When people traditionally talk about exercise routines words like 'sweat' 'pushing the limits' 'weight loss' 'body building' jump to mind. While most chronic Warriors would love to engage in this type of exercise, it is unrealistic for the majority of us. A regular exercise routine has helped me to improve my health, therefore I wanted to share my insight with you.  Suffering from Myasthenia Gravis, exercise can sometimes be seen as contradictory. In short, the strain on our voluntary muscles makes them weaker. However, we still need our muscles to move and engage in life or we risk becoming complete couch potatoes. Therefore a guided balance is needed. Literature notes the following benefits of exercise therapy for chronic diseases:   1 2 3   -    ...
Read more