Another chronic autoimmune neuromuscular condition where the muscles get weaker causing severe fatigue. Myasthenia gravis is a Latin word means “grave muscle weakness”. The disease often goes undiagnosed. For every three people, two women will have this condition.

This condition affects skeletal muscles that are attached to bones. These muscles are responsible for skeletal movement. Like many other autoimmune diseases, this condition also does not have a cure at present. One can control severity of symptoms.

Symptoms: Muscle weakness and fatigue kicks in after physical activity and gets better after a period of rest. Muscles that control eye, eyelid movement, facial expressions, swallowing, chewing, lip movement makes it challenging. One will feel weakness in arms, fingers, legs, neck, eye muscles, drooping of eyelids, blurred vision, swallowing problem, shortness of breath, difficulty in speaking etc.

Stress, extreme heat, too much physical activity, certain medicines (some antibiotics, beta-blockers, quinine etc.), illness could enhance the symptoms.

Treatment: Ice pack test, blood test, repetitive nerve stimulation, CT, MRI, pulmonary function test will help to determine Myasthenia gravis. Based on age and severity of symptoms doctor may prescribe immunosuppressants, monoclonal antibody treatment or immune globulin injections.

Lifestyle changes – eating soft foods, eating small meals several times a day, supports system to hold, walk, using electrical appliances for daily activities to conserve body energy, planning on daily activities to reduce energy consumption and taking rest when it is needed – these lifestyle changes can help to deal with Myasthenia gravis.

References: https://www.everydayhealth.com/

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