Myasthenia gravis is an incurable disease that can be confused with fatigue, stress or exhaustion: symptoms, causes and treatment
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He is known throughout the world as severe muscle fatigue. Medical reports and health articles claim that myasthenia gravis was discovered just over four centuries ago. diagnosed for the first time in a male patient and was classified at the time as a mental disorder. Although this disease is a silent disease in the sense that it can go unnoticed as fatigue or tiredness, this disease currently affects thousands of people around the world.
myasthenia gravis It is a neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness. This disorder can seriously affect the quality of life of those who suffer from it, altering their ability to carry out daily activities.
According to him Neuro-Metabolic InstituteSymptoms of myasthenia gravis vary and depend on factors such as age, activity level or sedentary lifestyle, and the severity of the disease. One of the most characteristic signs of this condition is severe fatigue: patients experience increasing weakness during the day and temporary improvement after periods of rest or sleep.
“This is a rare neurological disease whose main characteristic is fatigue, understood as the onset of muscle weakness that improves with rest and worsens with activity. When people with myasthenia gravis wake up in the morning, they tend to feel much better than as the day passes and bedtime approaches, says neurologist Dr. Alejandro Calvo.
Ocular myasthenia:
An important aspect myasthenia gravis This is its tendency to affect the eye muscles, causing eyelid ptosis (drooping eyelids) and diplopia (double vision) due to weakness of eye movements.
In some cases, this weakness is limited to the eyes, a condition known as “ocular myasthenia.” However, in other cases, the weakness spreads to the muscles of the limbs, progressing to a more severe form of the disease known as myasthenia gravis.
When myasthenia gravis affects the muscles of the limbs, and patients may have difficulty walking or lifting objects. In severe forms of the disease, it can even affect the ability to swallow, interfering with normal nutrition. In the most critical cases, called myasthenic crises, weakness of the respiratory muscles can be so severe that patients require mechanical respiratory assistance.
Myasthenia gravis primarily affects voluntary muscles, i.e. under conscious controland causes debilitating symptoms. The condition worsens with activity and improves with rest.
As detailed in Medline Plus, myasthenia gravis usually does not affect autonomic muscles such as the heart and digestive tract. However, symptoms may vary and include double vision, drooping eyelids (ptosis), and difficulty breathing due to weakness. chest wall muscleand problems swallowing or chewing, which can cause frequent gagging, choking, or drooling.
It may also interfere with the ability to climb stairs, lift objects, or rise from a sitting position. Other symptoms reported include fatigue, facial paralysis, hoarseness, voice changes, and difficulty holding gaze. As if this were not enough, those affected may have difficulty speaking and lifting their heads.
These symptoms are the result of a communication problem between nerves and muscles. Muscle weakness worsens with exercise and goes away with rest, which is a characteristic feature of this disease.
myasthenia gravis, also affects the population of Peru. In 2019 alone, 1,102 cases were reported in Lima, representing 61.9% of the total, according to official data. In 2020, Lima continued to be the worst-affected region, with 596 cases of myasthenia gravis reported there, representing 64.1% of the total 930 cases reported that year.
According to him Ministry of Health (Minsa) The most affected age groups are 30 to 59 years old, with 331 cases reported in 2020. Cases have been reported in most regions of the country, with the exception of Mother of Godwhich did not register any in 2019.
During 2021, 959 cases of myasthenia gravis were reported, with a higher prevalence in women (641 cases) compared to men (315 cases). Pandemic COVID-19 The statistics were affected by a decrease in attendance at health care facilities (Ipress).
myasthenia gravis It can affect anyone, but is more common in women under 40 and men and women over 50.
Although there is no cure for myasthenia gravis, various treatments can reduce or improve patients’ symptoms. In Peru, Minsa set June 2 as “Day against myasthenia gravis.”
Symptoms of myasthenia gravis They focus on controlling conditions so they don’t There is currently a known cure. However, treatment, according to Medline Plus, lifestyle changes can help you continue with daily activities, such as resting all day, wearing an eye patch if double vision is bothersome, and avoiding stress and exposure to heat, which can worsen symptoms.