Myasthenia gravis is a rare neuromuscular condition caused by poor communication between nerve endings and muscle fibers, which presents with muscle fatigue and weakness. The symptoms of this disorder can vary dramatically depending on specific muscles or muscle groups it affects.

Myasthenia Gravis Symptoms

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Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare and extremely difficult neuromuscular disease, estimated to affect 14 to 20 in every 100,000 individuals, while the most frequent sufferers are aged over 40. MG is an autoimmune disease, caused by the mysterious confusion of antibodies that impair or completely destroy nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the junction between the nerve and muscle (believed to be caused and maintained by the faulty production of the thymus gland). This results in futile nerve impulses that are unable to trigger muscle movement.

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This nerve disability causes a number of serious symptoms, such as ptosis (drooping of one or both eyelids), diplopia (blurred or double vision – due to the inability to control eye movement), involuntary facial expressions, difficulty swallowing, dysarthria (speech impairment), shortness of breath and weakness in the arms, legs, hands, fingers and neck. Further complications often accompany MG, including myasthenic crisis (complete muscle failure resulting in the inability to even draw breath), thymomas (thymus tumours), under or hyperactivity of the thyroid gland (meaning reduced resistance to heat/cold and reduced/increased weight gain, along with other symptoms) and other autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

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There is no cure for myasthenia gravis, and the entire treatment comes down to symptom treatment. The survival rate of patients that haven't undergone thymectomy (thyroid gland removal surgery) is around or under 50%, while their counterparts have a varying 79% chance.

Conditions

"Condition" is a general term for particular abnormal diseases that negatively affect a part or all of the body. Conditions are not due to any external injury. Therefore, a broken bone does not classify as a condition, whereas Herpes, OCD, Shingles, and Ulcers do.

Medical conditions are classified by specific symptoms and signs. While each person's experiences can vary, there are consistent signs and symptoms that doctors will look for when diagnosing their patients. We always recommend that people seek a professional diagnosis. Afterward, supplement medical advice and opinion with accurate and easy to read information.

Most people only spend an average of a couple minutes with their doctor during a checkup. Oftentimes patients don't receive the fullest explanation of their diagnosis. Easily search through the vast amount of articles that Facty Health offers for ones that address your specific needs. From there, allow us to help you with those unanswered questions.

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