What Is Myasthenia Gravis?

Myasthenia gravis often results in loss of facial expression, among other things. Let’s see what this disorder is exactly.

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterized primarily by weakness in muscles that control themselves on a voluntary basis.

It is a condition in which the immune system attacks the receptors in the muscles that allow them to move normally. That is, the connection between the nerves and the muscles is interrupted, so that they cannot function properly.

The term “myasthenia gravis” comes from Latin and means “muscle weakness”. It is estimated to affect one in 5,000 people. Although it can occur at any age, it most commonly appears before the age of 40 in women and after the age of 50 in men.

It is a very debilitating and complex pathology that still has no cure. However, there are certain treatments that can ease its symptoms. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about myasthenia gravis.

What is myasthenia gravis?

To understand this pathology, we must first understand a little how the muscles work. Muscles have receptors that receive chemical signals from nerves. Normally, when we want to make voluntary movement, these substances are released at the nerve ends. These substances act in muscle receptors and movement is produced with the desired force and precision.

However, what happens in myasthenia gravis is that the immune system is altered and attacks these muscle receptors. As a result, the chemicals are unable to activate the muscles, resulting in weakness and fatigue.

Muscle weakness increases with a period of activity. Myasthenia gravis often affects muscles such as those that control facial expressions, chewing, or swallowing. The respiratory muscles can even be affected.

What are the symptoms of myasthenia gravis?

As mentioned above, the main symptom is muscle weakness. This weakness increases when a muscle is used repeatedly and improves at rest. Unfortunately, the symptoms tend to get worse over time, and within a few years of the onset of the disease they are quite severe.

Many muscle groups can be affected, but the most common are:

• Eye muscles : Most people with myasthenia gravis have vision problems, such as double vision. In addition, they often have a droopy eyelid, or both
• Many patients have difficulty speaking:  the voice is usually nasal and soft
• The swallowing process is affected: simple movements like chewing or swallowing become weak and complex. This leads to a risk of drowning when you eat or drink food
• Facial expressions are lost : people with myasthenia gravis often cannot smile normally
• On the other hand, weakness may appear in the extremities or in the neck:  when this occurs, the ability to walk or keep the head in a natural position is impaired and the head tends to fall sideways.

How is the disease diagnosed?

In order to diagnose myasthenia gravis, the doctor must first know all the symptoms and all aspects of the patient’s medical history. He will then perform a thorough physical examination. In addition, many additional tests are usually required to confirm the diagnosis. For example, doctors do a neurological exam to check for muscle strength and tone, reflexes, coordination, etc.

Blood tests also provide useful diagnostic information. As we have explained, this is an autoimmune disease, so specific antibodies are often present in the patient’s blood. Other tests are also used:

• Ice pack test, which is useful when the patient has a droopy eyelid. The pocket is placed on the eyelid for about two minutes, then it is analyzed if there is movement in this area.
• Repeated stimulation of a nerve. This test sends impulses through the nerves to see if they can stimulate the muscle.

In conclusion

Myasthenia gravis is a complex disease that consists of muscle weakness. It can affect different parts of the body such as the eyes, limbs or respiratory muscles.

It is a serious illness that puts the life of the affected person in danger. In addition, there is still no cure, so it is essential to consult a doctor with any symptoms so that they can establish the most appropriate treatment to control the situation.