Identifying 4 Symptoms Of Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia Gravis is a neuromuscular disease which affects a person’s body muscles by making them weak. It is a kind of autoimmune disorder. In this disease the nerves stops functioning properly which leads to early weakening of the muscles.Body’s immune system starts attacking itself. Women under the age group of 40 years and men who are above 60 years of age are likely to get affected from Myasthenia Gravis.

1 out of every 20,000 people all over the world gets affected from this disease.Women are more prone to this disease as compared to men. Eye muscles are the first and the foremost muscles to get affected by the disease. To know about the symptoms leading to Myasthenia Gravis in detail, please read this article.

Common Symptoms Of Myasthenia Gravis

Some of the common symptoms you will notice in a person suffering from Myasthenia Gravis include difficulty in breathing, chewing and swallowing problem, fatigue, tiredness, weakness, difficulty in lifting objects as well as in climbing stairs, drooping head, difficulty in speaking and talking, joking, double vision, drooping eyelids, and difficulty in controlling movement of voluntary muscles like hands and legs. Symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis may not be same in every person; they fluctuate depending on its type.

Eye Symptoms

The eyes are the first to get affected by Myasthenia Gravis. You will find that the eye muscles of the affected person start to weaken.Eye problems including drooping of the eyelids, double vision, blurred vision, uncontrollable eye movements, and unstable gait can be noticed in person suffering from Myasthenia Gravis. If any of the mentioned eye symptoms persist, it will be a better option to consult a doctor immediately.

Symptoms Associated With Facial Muscles And Throat

An individual person suffering from Myasthenia Gravis will notice difficulty in swallowing food, chewing, breathing and talking. Depending upon the affected muscle, the person’s speech may sound soft or nasal. Choking is very common, this makes it difficult to eat and drink.

Sometimes liquid swallowed may even come out of the nose. The affected person may find it difficult to chew meals as the chewing muscles get weaken while eating. The facial muscles get affected by Myasthenia Gravis and a result the person will have no control over facial expressions.

Arms And Legs Muscles Become Weak

Myasthenia Gravis can weaken the person’s arm and leg muscles. Loss of control on the arm and leg movements can be noticed.

The affected person may find it difficult to lift objects, to comb one’s hair, to shave, to put make up, walking distances, climb stairs, getting out of chairs, and loss of balance. It may not be a good idea to drive a car in such a position as the person may suddenly lose control over his/her arms and legs which may lead to an accident.

Shallow Respiration

The respiratory system of the person affected by myasthenia gravis becomes weak, which leads to difficulty in breathing as well as respiration. If the breathing problem becomes very severe, it will be advisable to immediately consult a doctor.