Overview

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disorder primarily characterised by muscle weakness and fatigue. Although the disorder usually becomes apparent during adulthood, symptom onset may occur at any age. The condition may be restricted to certain muscle groups, particularly those of the eyes (ocular myasthenia), or may become more generalised (generalised myasthenia gravis), involving multiple muscle groups.

Causes

Myasthenia gravis (autoimmune type) happens when your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens. Studies suggest that certain immune system cells in your thymus gland have trouble identifying what’s a threat to your body (like bacteria or viruses) versus healthy components. A genetic change causes congenital myasthenia. Antibodies passed from a birthing parent to a fetus during pregnancy cause neonatal myasthenia.

Symptoms

• Double vision and drooping eyelids (ptosis) are the most common first symptoms.

• Breathing difficulty because of the weakness of the chest wall muscles 

• Chewing or swallowing difficulty causing frequent gagging, choking, or drooling 

• Difficulty climbing stairs, lifting objects, or rising from a seated position 

• Difficulty talking

• Drooping head 

• Facial paralysis or weakness of the facial muscles 

• Fatigue 

• Hoarseness or a changing voice 

• Difficulty maintaining a steady gaze

Ayurvedic View

Snayu gata vata - Due to practice of nidana (causes that aggravate vata dosha, this vikruta prakupita (aggravated), vyana vata dosha takes sthana samshraya (settles in), snayu (which is connected to motor movements), mamsa (muscle tissue), which causes twitching pain, weakness, which can cause difficulty in good functioning and movement of the body. This disease is myasthenia gravis. The Ayurveda way of approach is to bring dosha back to prakruta awastha (balance state) in guna (quality), sthana (place), karma (function), and help in the rehabilitation of the affected part by Ayurvedic panchakarma treatment.