Myasthenia gravis is a neurological disorder that causes weakness in the muscles. It appears when communication between nerve cells and muscles is damaged. 

It is an autoimmune disease that usually affects women under the age of 40 and men above the age of 60. It affects your normal functions, such as walking and breathing. 

There is no cure for this disease, but there are treatments that will help relieve the symptoms. Early and proper treatment is critical here.

Your nerve cells release a chemical, Acetylcholine, which acts as neurotransmitters. They transmit signals to the muscles. 

Antibodies are proteins that help your immune system to fight against any foreign elements in your body. Sometimes as in this case with myasthenia gravis, they attack and destroy the neurotransmitters. It leads to a drop or loss of communication between the nerves and the muscles. You will feel muscle weakness due to this. However, we do not know what causes the immune system to behave in this manner.

Some factors can affect or worsen this disease. These are:

Genetics - People who have a family history of the disease are more likely to inherit it. 

Gender and age - Women are more likely to get it between the ages of 20 and 40, whereas men are more likely to get it after the age of 60.

Stress - Myasthenia gravis gets worse with stress and anxiety.

Pregnancy 

Menstrual periods

You will feel muscle weakness due to this disease. Initially, with rest, you may feel an improvement. However, the weakness tends to be more permanent as the disease progresses over time.

While it can affect any muscles, some muscle areas tend to have it more than others. 

Eye muscles are among those groups. You will feel

A weakness of eye muscles 

Drooping of eyelids

Double vision or diplopia

 

Your face, throat, neck, and limb muscles may also develop weakness. The signs here include

Change in your vocal tone - you may have a soft or nasal tone.

Trouble while swallowing food

Not able to chew hard food properly

Change in facial expressions

Change in your walking style

Difficulty in holding up your head

The most severe complication is the myasthenic crisis. It is a life-threatening condition where your muscles become so weak that you have problems breathing. You need to see a doctor immediately if you have this condition.

Other complications include a tumor in the thymus gland, thyroid issues. It can also lead to rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. 

Your doctor will ask you to take several tests. These include:

A complete physical examination - Your doctor will  

check your reflexes

look for any weakness in your muscles

check your eyes

A blood test to check the presence of antibodies. 

Repetitive nerve stimulation tests

CT and MRI scans to check for tumors

Ayurveda is an old medical system with a history of more than 3000 years. It has been in practice in India ever since that time.

Kerala Ayurveda, the form practiced in the state of Kerala in India, is famous worldwide. It has to do with the skilled doctors and the unbroken link with the old Ayurveda way. 

As per Ayurveda, you will feel healthy if the three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, are in balance. Many internal and external factors cause these doshas to go out of balance. You will be sick if these doshas are not in balance. 

There are treatments for myasthenia gravis in Ayurveda. With Ayurvedic treatments, the fast progression of the disease can be arrested. Myasthenia gravis is a Vata disorder as per Ayurveda, which means Vata dosha is not in balance. 

The goals of Ayurvedic treatment for myasthenia gravis are

Correct the Vata imbalance

Mend the pathways of Vata.

Rejuvenate your muscles and nervous system

Remove the toxins from your body using suitable panchakarma therapies

 

Your doctor will decide the actual plan after a personal consultation. It will be as per your dosha type, body condition, and the severity of the disease. 

A specific diet is also prescribed during and after treatment to avoid any aggravating factors through food. The patients should continue the medication and diet even after the in- house treatments for the best results

You will need to be in the hospital for around 28 days for the treatment.

The main aim is to ease the pain and symptoms. The options include

Medications to enhance muscle contraction and muscle strength, limit antibodies production and suppress your immune system

IV therapies

Thymus gland removal surgery 

As we do not know the reason behind this disease, we cannot prevent it also. There are some steps you can take to reduce the pain and other signs. These include

Rest- taking rest helps to ease the pain

Wearing eye patches can help with double vision

Avoid stress 

Yoga and meditation

Limit exposure to heat