Myasthenia gravis: symptoms, causes, drugs, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis or myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that causes neuromuscular disorders. It makes the muscles in your eyes, face, throat, arms, and legs weak and tired. The worst weakness usually occurs in the first 3 years then will continue to build up slowly.

Myasthenia gravis is a condition that has no cure. However, treatment can help relieve signs and symptoms, such as weakness of the arm and leg muscles, double vision, and difficulty speaking, chewing, swallowing, and breathing.

How common is myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis is a condition that everyone can experience. However, it generally affects women before 40 years and men after 50 years.

You can minimize your risk of contracting this disease by reducing several risk factors. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of myasthenia gravis?

The main symptom of myasthenia gravis is weakness in the voluntary skeletal muscles, which are the muscles under your control. The failure of muscles to contract normally occurs because they are unable to respond to nerve impulses.

This causes the communication between the nerves and muscles to become blocked, resulting in muscle weakness. The weak muscles associated with myasthenia gravis can worsen with certain activities and improve with rest. The symptoms of myasthenia gravis are:

• Difficulty breathing due to weakness of the chest wall muscles
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing, causing frequent choking
• Trouble climbing stairs, lifting objects, or getting up from a seat
• It's hard to speak
• The head droops
• Paralyzed face or weak facial muscles
• Fatigue
• Hoarseness or voice changes
• Double vision
• Trouble keeping your gaze
• The eyelids droop

There may be some signs or symptoms not listed above. If you have any concerns about symptoms, please consult your doctor.

When should you see a doctor?

You should call your doctor if you are short of breath or your symptoms get worse. Everyone's body reacts differently. A discussion with your doctor is the best solution to find out your situation.

Cause

What causes myasthenia gravis?

There is no definite cause for myasthenia gravis. However, researchers suspect this has something to do with interference with antibodies and the thymus gland. In addition, genetic factors can also be the cause of myasthenia gravis. Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, here is the full explanation.

Antibody

Your nerves communicate with your muscles by releasing chemicals (neurotransmitters) that fit onto receptor sites on the muscle cells of the muscle nerve junctions.

In myasthenia gravis, your immune system produces antibodies that block or destroy your muscle receptor sites. With fewer receptor sites available, your muscles receive fewer nerve signals, resulting in weakness.

Antibodies also block the function of a protein called muscle-specific tyrosine kinase receptor. This protein is involved in forming nerve muscles. Antibodies that block this protein are a possible cause of myasthenia gravis.

Thymus gland

The thymus gland is the part of your immune system that is located in your upper chest, below your breastbone. Researchers believe that the eastern gland triggers or maintains the production of antibodies that block acetylcholine.

These glands are large when you are a baby, but shrink when you are an adult. However, some adults with myasthenia gravis, the thymus gland is very large.

Some people with myasthenia gravis also have tumors of the thymus gland (thymoma). Usually, thymoma is not cancerous (malignant), but it can become cancerous.

Another cause

Some people have myasthenia gravis that is not caused by antibodies. Myasthenia gravis is antibody-negative myasthenia gravis. Antibodies to other proteins, called lipoprotein 4-related proteins, can play a role in this condition.

In rare cases, mothers with myasthenia gravis have children born with the same condition. If treated promptly, children generally recover within two months of birth.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of myasthenia gravis?

Certain factors may increase your risk of developing myasthenia gravis.

• Has a thymus gland that does not shrink like normal adults
• Have an infectious disease
• In the treatment of heart disease and high blood pressure
• Having a father or mother with myasthenia gravis

Having no risk factors doesn't mean you can't get this disease. You should consult your doctor for more details.

Drugs & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the treatment options for myasthenia gravis?

There is no cure for myasthenia gravis. Treatment allows you to have periods without symptoms (remission). Medications that may be prescribed to treat symptoms of myasthenia gravis are pyridostigmine, neostigmine, prednisone, azathioprine, cyclosporine, or mycophenolate mofetil.

If myasthenia gravis is causing you difficulty breathing, you may need to be admitted to the hospital where you may need help with breathing with a ventilator.

Other symptoms are plasmapheresis and immunoglobulin infusion. In plasmapheresis, the clear part of the blood (plasma) which contains antibodies is removed, replaced by donated plasma free of antibodies or other fluids. In intravenous immunoglobulin, a large number of antibodies are given directly into the bloodstream.

If a thymus tumor (caused by myasthenia gravis) appears, the doctor can perform surgery to remove the thymus (thymectomy). If you have eye problems, your doctor may suggest prism glasses to improve vision.

Surgery can also be done to treat your eye muscles. In addition, physical therapy can help maintain your muscle strength. This is especially important if the muscles that support breathing are affected.

What are the common tests for myasthenia gravis?

The doctors will make the diagnosis from a complete physical examination, with tests of lung, reflex, and muscle weakness. Apart from that, electromyography, tensilon test, blood test, and CT scan can also be performed.

Home remedies

What lifestyle changes or home remedies help myasthenia gravis?

The following lifestyle and home remedies can help you deal with Myasthenia gravis are:

• Timely check-ups to track the progress of your disease and health conditions
• Follow the doctor's instructions
• Try to find a balance between rest and physical activity to prevent muscle weakness
• Get physical therapy to keep your muscles strong
• For double vision and blurred vision conditions, you should visit an ophthalmologist, and not drive or operate heavy machinery.
• If you have difficulty swallowing, try foods of a variety of textures and find the one that works best for you.
• Avoid stress
• Do not smoke and avoid dust.

If you have any questions, please consult with your doctor to find out the best solution for you.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.