10 Ways to Support Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia Gravis

June is Myasthenia Gravis awareness month.

Ten ways for you to get involved in Myasthenia Gravis support:

10. Attend the National Conference for Myasthenia Gravis(MG).

09.  Find a MGlocal chapter to help raise money in your community.

08. Donate money to the MG.

07. Register to participate in the MG Walk, to find out how to sign up and what areas are left to participate go to www.mgwalk.org.

06. Become a sponsor to MG Walk.

05. Attend a support group forMGin your area.

04. Join a hotline for helping those with MG.

03. Help with Fund raising efforts for MG.

02. Help with MG by offering your professional services, whether it is legal or computer skills see what you can do to help.

And the number 1 way to help with MG this month:

01. Spend time with someone who hasMG and get to know them personally.

The word Myasthenia Gravis comes from Greek and Latin origins meaning “grave muscle weakness.” Myasthenia Gravis is an autoimmune disease. The definition of an autoimmune disease is when the immune system attacks healthy tissue in the body. The known cause of Myasthenia Gravis is unknown, however we do know that the immune system produces antibodies that block muscle cells from receiving messages from the nerve cell. Myasthenia Gravis attacks the voluntary muscles, muscles that we control, and they worsen with activity and improve with rest. Myasthenia Gravis can attack any one at any age, but usually attacks young women and older men. There are a number of symptoms that are associated with this disease they include, but not limited to; eye lid drooping, difficulty breathing, difficult in speech, difficult in climbing stairs, difficult in chewing. Although there is no known cure for Myasthenia Gravis there are many ways that a doctor can help to bring the disease into remission or prolonged periods of time without symptoms.

The Thymus Gland plays an important role in the development of the  immune system in infants, located in the chest area the Thymus Gland is a large cell in early life growing gradually through puberty and then beginning to shrink and turn into fat tissue when an individual ages into adulthood. The Thymus Gland in Myasthenia Gravis patients remains large and is  abnormal. The relationship between the Thymus Gland and Myasthenia is not yet fully known, but scientists believe that the Thymus Gland may be giving the immune system incorrect instructions on developing the immune cells, resulting in autoimmunity and creating antibodies to block muscle cells from functioning properly.

Myasthenia Gravis was first recognized by Samuel Wilks describing bulbar and peripheral muscular weakness as a clinical study in the Lancet medical journal in 1877.  A remarkable discovery for systematic treatment became available in the Lancet Journal in 1934 written by Dr. Mary Broadfoot Walker. The journal stated that in February a patient named Mrs. M. noticed that she was having problems holding her shopping bag, when she would kneel down she her head would fall forward. By March of the same year she had to remain in bed and had difficulty sitting up, her jaw began to droop, and her left eye lid also began to droop, talking became indistinct and swallowing foods became difficult. In April she was administered the medicine physostigmine salicylate and within half an hour her eyelid began to go up, her jaw did not droop quite as much, swallowing became easier and some strength came back to her muscles.  The effects were temporary lasting only 2 – 4 hours, but the breakthrough was tremendous, sighting that this medicine although temporary could save a patient’s life from choking on food. These breakthroughs caused doctors from around the world to begin to work on a cure for this disease.

Research is ongoing for this disease and treatment is available to lead a normal to semi normal life. Anyone experiencing the symptoms stated above should visit their doctor for a more complete exam. Although you may find this article informative it is inconclusive for more information on neurological disorders or research programs funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, contact the Institute's Brain Resources and Information Network (BRAIN) at:

BRAIN

P.O. Box 5801

Bethesda, MD 20824

(800) 352-9424

Information is also available from the following organizations:

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

355 Lexington Avenue

15th Floor

New York, NY   10017-6603

mgfa@myasthenia.org

http://www.myasthenia.org

Tel: 800-541-5454 212-297-2156

Fax: 212-370-9047

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association

22100 Gratiot Avenue

Eastpointe, MI   48021-2227

aarda@aarda.org

http://www.aarda.org

Tel: 586-776-3900 800-598-4668

Fax: 586-776-3903