Health series: Myasthenia Gravis

Greetings to everyone and a wonderful welcome to my blog. I've been very occupied recently with the engagement challenge stuff and some inherent activities that I couldn't bring the health series for the last two weeks, but I'm glad to make a return this week.

So today, I'll be writing on a not so common disease, one that can affect ones ability of locomotion, this disease is known as myasthenia gravis.

What is myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterised by weakness, lethargy and fatigue. Its a neuromuscular disorder that arises when the antibodies starts to attack the muscle receptor sites of acetylcholine, this results in loss of contractility of the muscles.

Acetylcholine is one of the body's neurotransmitter that controls movement of the skeletal as well as the smooth muscles. It exerts this effect by binding to specific receptor sites on the muscles, causing contraction of the muscles. When this receptor sites are depleted by antibodies such that acetylcholine binding effect on the muscles is reduced, myasthenia gravis manifests.

This disease is more common in women than in men. In the united state, it affects 20 out 100,000 persons, thus highlighting its uncommonness.

Symptoms

The symptoms of myasthenia gravis ranges from mild (lethargy) to more severe ones like respiratory depression. Although, not everyone will have same symptoms, but it severity tends to increase with time. Some of the likely symptoms includes;

• Weakness of the upper and lower limbs
• Difficulty in swallowing(disphagia)
• blurry or double vision(diplopia)
• Drooping of the eyelids(ptosis)
• shortness of breath
• difficulty in speech
• lethargy and fatigue
• changes in facial expression
• facial paralysis

Causes

There are no known causes of myasthenia gravis, however, this disease is said to occur when antibodies begins to attack the muscle receptor sites of acetylcholine.

Antibodies are body's internal agents that protects the body against invading harmful pathogens like bacteria and fungi. In the case of MG, this antibodies inadvertently attacks and damage the harmless receptor cells of the muscles, leading to a reduction in the binding ability of acetylcholine and subsequent damage of the neuromuscular membrane, resulting in generalise muscular weakness.

Management

Although there are no cure for myasthenia gravis, effective management of the disease may result in permanent remission. Some medications like corticosteriods(prednisolone and dexamethasone), cholinesterase inhibitors (pyridostigmine), and azathioprine are used in this regards.

The corticosteriods can help suppress the immune system, hence reducing the effects of the antibodies on the receptor sites.

Pyridostigmine can help stabilize the individual by increasing communication between the nerves and muscles.

Conclusion

Myasthenia gravis might not be a very common disease, but its effect can be very detrimental if not diagnosed early.
Just like mist autoimmune diseases, the real cause of MG is unknown, however family history and age can play a major role in the onset of this disease.

In any case, early diagnosis is the key to managing it effectively. If anyone comes down with any of the aforementioned symptoms, he/she should visit the hospital immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Thanks for reading.
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