10 Symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis
Caused by a communications breakdown between nerves and muscles, myasthenia gravis is a condition characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. This chronic condition affects the muscles under one’s voluntary control, whose efficacy worsens with use and improves with rest. Myasthenia gravis is most common in women aged 20 to 40 and men 50 to 70. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this ailment. Treatment seeks to relieve the symptoms and aid routine functioning of the body in daily life.
1. Ptosis
Myasthenia gravis causes ptosis, or drooping of the upper eyelid. This is among the first signs to present in most patient. It occurs due to the weakness of the levator palpebrae superioris. The eyelids becoe excessively droopy when the affected individual is experiencing a lack of sleep. The condition gets progressively worse if left unchecked.
2. Double Vision
A majority of those with myasthenia gravis develop symptoms in the eye. Double vision, or diplopia, occurs due to the weakness of the extraocular muscles. Affected individuals see two images of a single object, each slightly displaced from the other. This causes problems with accurate visual perception. The tendency toward double vision is worse when reading, driving or watching TV.
3. Dysphagia
Dysphagia is difficulty in swallowing. Myasthenia gravis patients experience this when the muscles that aid swallowing begins to weaken. Some patients take a long while to develop awareness of their disability. With this condition, food stays in one’s mouth despite the attempt to swallow. Sometimes patients regurgitate food into the nose rather than the food pipe. This may lead to choking.
4. Problems in Chewing
When myasthenia gravis causes the muscles responsible for chewing to weaken, problems occur. People may begin to swallow smaller bites of foods whole. They may start to prefer a liquid diet. Eating tough, fibrous foods becomes all the more problematic. Often, this leads to digestive issues as well.
5. Facial Weakness
The weakness of muscles used for chewing and facial expression may lead to overall facial weakness. In this condition, it becomes increasingly difficult to hold the mouth closed. Myasthenia gravis patients may develop a snarling appearance when attempting to smile. They may end up with a blank, expressionless face. In extreme cases, complete facial paralysis may occur.
6. The weakness of Proximal Muscles
Myasthenia gravis often affects the muscles of the limbs most severely. This can lead to a wide range of functional disabilities stemming from the weakness of proximal muscles. Affected people may have an altered gait or drooping head. They may find it difficult to perform ordinary tasks such as lifting objects. Actions involving repetitive motion, such as brushing teeth, washing hair, and climbing stairs also become difficult.
7. Dyspnea
Those with myasthenia gravis may also experience shortness of breath, or dyspnea. This occurs when muscles involved in the breathing process become weak or fatigued. In most instances, dyspnea occurs in the aftermath of physically intensive activities such as exercise. Some people even complain of difficulty in drawing breaths and a sense of tightness in the chest.
8. Change in Voice
When myasthenia gravis affects the muscles responsible for speech production, a change in voice may result. The affected individual’s voice may become hoarse or nasal, depending upon which muscle group is compromised. Sometimes the change of voice does not reverse ever after treatment and medication.
9. Slurred, Low Speech
In some individuals experiencing from myasthenia gravis, the condition leads to dysarthria and/or hypophonia. Dysarthria is a difficulty in pronouncing phonemes resulting from the weakening of certain speech-regulating muscles. Hypophonia is very low-toned speech that isn’t highly audible. Some individuals fall into the habit of talking slowly and deliberately on account of their slurred, low speech. By doing this, they’re trying to articulate more precisely for the sake of others.
10. Other Signs
Most signs of myasthenia gravis begin small and worsen over time. Constant fatigue in limbs, very low levels of physical strength, and slight problems with eyesight may be dismissed as non-serious. However, if left untreated, these problems become more severe over time. Consult a doctor when symptoms combine to indicate possible myasthenia gravis.
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