Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis is a condition which can affect muscles in all areas of the body (weakening them). The problem originates in the body’s nervous system.

In this article:

What is myasthenia gravis?

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Effect on your life

Treatment

How Chemist Online can help

Advice & Support

What is myasthenia gravis?
The name ‘myasthenia gravis’ derives for the Latin and/or Greek for grave muscle weakness. It is the body’s voluntary muscles that are mainly affected (rather than the heart, for example).

Physical activity worsens symptoms.

Symptoms
Symptoms of myasthenia gravis include:

A feeling of general muscle weakness around the body (however, this is not necessarily accompanied by overwhelming tiredness or fatigue)

Muscle weakness around the limbs (impacting upon general mobility, and making even the simplest everyday tasks difficult)

Drooping of the eyelids

Blurred or double vision

A change to the appearance of your smile (changing it from a pleasant expression to one which appears to others as a snarling look)

Problems with speech

Difficulty chewing

Difficulty swallowing

Breathing difficulties

Neck pain

Causes
Despite worldwide medical research the exact cause of myasthenia gravis is as yet unknown. However, it is thought that it may be an autoimmune condition (where the body ‘attacks’ itself) which originates in the thymus gland in the chest.

Other possible causes/triggers may include:

Viruses

As a reaction to certain medication

A genetic predisposition (this means that there may be a family history of myasthenia gravis that has been passed down to you)

Diagnosis
If you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms, make an appointment to see your GP.

Myasthenia gravis is usually diagnosed through a blood test. However, where this proves inconclusive, you will be referred to your local hospital for an X-Ray or a CT scan – to examine your thymus gland.

If a confirmed diagnosis is made, an appropriate treatment will be recommended to you by a neurologist.

Effect on your life
To keep the severity of your symptoms under as much control as possible it is essential that you avoid environments where there is an extreme temperature; situations that could induce a high level of stress; any kind of activity that could make you very tired; and also infections of any kind.

Treatment
There is no cure for myasthenia gravis. However, a range of treatments are available which are intended to help better manage the condition so that you may still live an active, full life. These treatments include:

Prescribed drugs – steroids and immunosuppressants

Plasmaphoresis treatment – where an attempt is made to eradicate harmful antibodies from your blood plasma using a special filtering machine

Surgery – removal of the thymus

Note: Many people with myasthenia gravis find their symptoms are less severe after they have enjoyed a restful night’s sleep.


How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have a range of products to help aid restful sleep.



www.chemistonline.co.uk


Advice & Support
Myasthenia Gravis Association
Tel: 0800 919 922
Website: www.mgauk.org


This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.





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