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Symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis: Myasthenia Gravis Is A Rare Long-Term Condition That Causes Muscle Weakness
Symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis: Myasthenia Gravis Is A Rare Long-Term Condition That Causes Muscle Weakness
It most commonly affects the muscles that control the eyes and eyelids, facial expressions,
chewing, swallowing and speaking. But it can affect most parts of the body.
It can affect people of any age, typically starting in women under 40 and men over 60.
droopy eyelids
double vision
difficulty making facial expressions
problems chewing and difficulty swallowing
slurred speech
weak arms, legs or neck
shortness of breath and occasionally serious breathing difficulties
The symptoms tend to get worse when you're tired. Many people find they're worse towards the
end of the day, and better the next morning after getting some sleep.
When to see a GP
See a GP if you have long-lasting or worrying symptoms that could be caused by myasthenia
gravis.
The GP may refer you to a specialist for tests to help diagnose myasthenia gravis or look for
other possible causes of your symptoms.
Tests you may have include a blood test, a test to see how well your nerves are working, and
some scans, such as a CT scan or MRI scan.
avoiding anything that triggers the symptoms – some people find that things such as
tiredness and stress make their symptoms worse
medicine to help improve muscle weakness
surgery to remove the thymus gland (a small gland in the chest linked to myasthenia
gravis)
If the symptoms suddenly get worse – for example, you develop severe breathing or swallowing
difficulties – you may need urgent treatment in hospital.
It usually affects most of the body, spreading from the eyes and face to other areas over weeks,
months or years. In about 1 in 5 people, only the eye muscles are affected.
Treatment can usually help keep the symptoms under control. Very occasionally, myasthenia
gravis gets better on its own.
If severe, myasthenia gravis can be life-threatening, but it does not have a significant impact on
life expectancy for most people.
It's an autoimmune condition, which means it's the result of the immune system (the body's
natural defence against infection) mistakenly attacking a healthy part of the body.
Many people with myasthenia gravis have a thymus gland that's larger than normal. Around 1 in
10 people have an abnormal growth of the thymus called a thymoma.
The NCARDRS helps scientists look for better ways to prevent and treat myasthenia gravis. You
can opt out of the register at any time.