Myasthenia Gravis: Symptoms
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
Myasthenia Gravis
Many people may have the question, what is Myasthenia Gravis? Well, Myasthenia Gravis is a disorder that is caused by an abnormal defect in the transmission of nerves to the muscle. In Latin and Greek this is translated into “grave muscle weakness” although this disorder does not lead to the grave but the total opposite of that. This means that the communication between the nerves are not connecting nor working as they should be. (Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet. (2010 September, 1)) (Retrieved February 9, 2016). This disorder is a is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease which is or relating to a disease caused by antibodies in the nerves and muscles. Nerve signals have to go back and forth …show more content…
and while they do this they drop off a chemical called acetylcholine. Once this chemical reaches the membrane of your muscle the nerve contract. This causing your muscles to not function properly. When you have Myasthenia Gravis you have a normal life expectancy. Myasthenia Gravis usually affects the muscles that control the eye and eyelid and other things like facial expressions or everyday talking or chewing (Myasthenia gravis - Causes . (n.d.)) (Retrieved February 10, 2016).
Those are just some of the most common forms of Myasthenia Gravis although those are not the only parts it could affect.
. This is just the basics of what Myasthenia Gravis is but now here comes the warning and signs of this disorder.
Symptoms:
There are many symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis. One of the biggest symptoms are difficulty with facial expressions and movement, which was mentioned in paragraph one, another key symptom is weakness of the eye muscle and sometimes having slurred speech. Many people have this disorder but when they go to the doctor this is not what they expect at first but later on recognized as Myasthenia Gravis. (Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet. (2010 September, 1)) Retrieved February 11, 2016). The symptoms of this varies depending on the patient who has it. Myasthenia Gravis looks like a severely bad “lazy eye” this lazy eye could happen in both eyes making it difficult to see, also making people have shortness of breath. (Myasthenia gravis. (n.d.)). Retrieved February 11, 2016). This could also lead to weakness in the arms, hands, fingers, legs, and neck. With all of these symptoms there are also many diagnostics. …show more content…
Diagnostics:
There are many ways to prove if you have Myasthenia Gravis.
This disorder is most of the time looked over so the diagnosis is often delayed or just missed all together. The first steps in diagnosing Myasthenia Gravis is checking an individuals medical history and after that they take physical and neurological examinations. When doctors are more than certain the disorder is characterized as Myasthenia Gravis they can preform a special blood test that can detect the immune molecules or acetylcholine receptors antibodies. They check for this because Myasthenia Gravis has a abnormally high levels of the antibodies. Most of the test can be configured through your blood but another test is the edrophonium test which uses edrophonium chloride to briefly relieve the weakness in the patients. This drug blocks the breakdown of acetylcholine and increases the levels tremendously. (Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet. (2010 September, 1)). (Retrieved February 8, 2016). Myasthenia Gravis can affect anyone of any age but it is most common in women that are younger than 60. (Myasthenia gravis. (n.d.)). (Retrieved February 11, 2016,). Although there are many test
that
can be ran there is no cure for Myasthenia Gravis, but treatments can help relieve some of the symptoms.
Treatment and Prognosis:
Myasthenia Gravis can be treated by several therapy visits, many different medications and by Thymectomy. Thymectomy is a surgical removal of the thymus gland, the thymus gland is usually abnormal when you have Myasthenia Gravis, most doctors suggest Thymectomy if the individual has thymoma. (Myasthenia Gravis. (n.d.)). (Retrieved February 11, 2016). This also may be true to someone who doesn't have Thymoma by re-balancing the immune system. Be careful as to what type of medications you are taking. Make sure you are taking only the medicine that is prescribed to you directly from your doctor. If your doctor chooses to send you through therapy complete all assignments and go to all of your designated appointments. For if you choose not go to your appointments, than it is going to take longer for your Myasthenia Gravis to go away. After all of the treatment methods you go through most individuals can improve their muscle fatigue and weakness and this will soon lead to living a normal life. (Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet. (n.d.)). (Retrieved February 11, 2016).
Although Myasthenia Gravis can go away it can also come back. So be aware if muscle fatigues come back or weakness anywhere because it can happen to another muscle in your body. If you ever have or see these symptoms make sure you call your local family doctor to schedule an appointment about whatever is going on. Myasthenia Gravis is not a life threatening disorder, but still try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and always be aware of what is happening to your body and what you are consuming into your body.
Myasthenia Gravis
Many people may have the question, what is Myasthenia Gravis? Well, Myasthenia Gravis is a disorder that is caused by an abnormal defect in the transmission of nerves to the muscle. In Latin and Greek this is translated into “grave muscle weakness” although this disorder does not lead to the grave but the total opposite of that. This means that the communication between the nerves are not connecting nor working as they should be. (Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet. (2010 September, 1)) (Retrieved February 9, 2016). This disorder is a is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease which is or relating to a disease caused by antibodies in the nerves and muscles. Nerve signals have to go back and forth …show more content…
and while they do this they drop off a chemical called acetylcholine. Once this chemical reaches the membrane of your muscle the nerve contract. This causing your muscles to not function properly. When you have Myasthenia Gravis you have a normal life expectancy. Myasthenia Gravis usually affects the muscles that control the eye and eyelid and other things like facial expressions or everyday talking or chewing (Myasthenia gravis - Causes . (n.d.)) (Retrieved February 10, 2016).
Those are just some of the most common forms of Myasthenia Gravis although those are not the only parts it could affect.
. This is just the basics of what Myasthenia Gravis is but now here comes the warning and signs of this disorder.
Symptoms:
There are many symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis. One of the biggest symptoms are difficulty with facial expressions and movement, which was mentioned in paragraph one, another key symptom is weakness of the eye muscle and sometimes having slurred speech. Many people have this disorder but when they go to the doctor this is not what they expect at first but later on recognized as Myasthenia Gravis. (Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet. (2010 September, 1)) Retrieved February 11, 2016). The symptoms of this varies depending on the patient who has it. Myasthenia Gravis looks like a severely bad “lazy eye” this lazy eye could happen in both eyes making it difficult to see, also making people have shortness of breath. (Myasthenia gravis. (n.d.)). Retrieved February 11, 2016). This could also lead to weakness in the arms, hands, fingers, legs, and neck. With all of these symptoms there are also many diagnostics. …show more content…
Diagnostics:
There are many ways to prove if you have Myasthenia Gravis.
This disorder is most of the time looked over so the diagnosis is often delayed or just missed all together. The first steps in diagnosing Myasthenia Gravis is checking an individuals medical history and after that they take physical and neurological examinations. When doctors are more than certain the disorder is characterized as Myasthenia Gravis they can preform a special blood test that can detect the immune molecules or acetylcholine receptors antibodies. They check for this because Myasthenia Gravis has a abnormally high levels of the antibodies. Most of the test can be configured through your blood but another test is the edrophonium test which uses edrophonium chloride to briefly relieve the weakness in the patients. This drug blocks the breakdown of acetylcholine and increases the levels tremendously. (Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet. (2010 September, 1)). (Retrieved February 8, 2016). Myasthenia Gravis can affect anyone of any age but it is most common in women that are younger than 60. (Myasthenia gravis. (n.d.)). (Retrieved February 11, 2016,). Although there are many test
that
can be ran there is no cure for Myasthenia Gravis, but treatments can help relieve some of the symptoms.
Treatment and Prognosis:
Myasthenia Gravis can be treated by several therapy visits, many different medications and by Thymectomy. Thymectomy is a surgical removal of the thymus gland, the thymus gland is usually abnormal when you have Myasthenia Gravis, most doctors suggest Thymectomy if the individual has thymoma. (Myasthenia Gravis. (n.d.)). (Retrieved February 11, 2016). This also may be true to someone who doesn't have Thymoma by re-balancing the immune system. Be careful as to what type of medications you are taking. Make sure you are taking only the medicine that is prescribed to you directly from your doctor. If your doctor chooses to send you through therapy complete all assignments and go to all of your designated appointments. For if you choose not go to your appointments, than it is going to take longer for your Myasthenia Gravis to go away. After all of the treatment methods you go through most individuals can improve their muscle fatigue and weakness and this will soon lead to living a normal life. (Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet. (n.d.)). (Retrieved February 11, 2016).
Although Myasthenia Gravis can go away it can also come back. So be aware if muscle fatigues come back or weakness anywhere because it can happen to another muscle in your body. If you ever have or see these symptoms make sure you call your local family doctor to schedule an appointment about whatever is going on. Myasthenia Gravis is not a life threatening disorder, but still try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and always be aware of what is happening to your body and what you are consuming into your body.