🔅 MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
– This is a condition that causes weakness and fatigue in the muscles that control voluntary movements, such as the eyes, face, mouth, throat, limbs, or breathing.
– It is a type of neuromuscular disorder that affects the communication between nerve cells and muscle cells.
– The cause of myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder that produces antibodies that block or destroy the receptors for acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that stimulates muscle contraction.
– The symptoms of myasthenia gravis include: drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty swallowing or speaking, facial expressions, chewing, breathing, or holding up the head, weakness in the arms or legs, or fatigue.
– The diagnosis of myasthenia gravis is based on the medical history, physical examination, neurological tests (such as edrophonium test or ice pack test), blood tests (such as acetylcholine receptor antibodies or muscle-specific kinase antibodies), electromyography (measuring the electrical activity of the muscles), or imaging tests (such as CT scan or MRI).
– The treatment of myasthenia gravis involves medications (such as anticholinesterase drugs or immunosuppressants), surgery (to remove the thymus gland, which may be abnormal or cancerous), plasma exchange (to remove harmful antibodies from the blood), or intravenous immunoglobulin (to reduce inflammation and immune response).
– The prevention of myasthenia gravis is not possible in most cases, but it may help to avoid triggers (such as stress, infections, extreme temperatures, or certain drugs) that may worsen the condition.
– The dietary recommendations for myasthenia gravis are: to eat small and frequent meals that are easy to swallow and chew; avoid foods that may cause allergies or inflammation (such as gluten or dairy); and take supplements if needed.
