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Can You Prevent Myasthenia Gravis?

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by weakness and tiring of the muscles. It affects the peripheral nervous system. It occurs due to the disturbed flow of information from nerve fibers to muscles. The muscles that are most affected by this disorder are skeletal muscles and eye muscles. These muscles are involved in the movement of the body parts. This disorder affects women more than men in the age of 20-40 years. Its causes are not known. Its symptoms are diplopia, ptosis, double vision, trouble in walking, breathing problems and many more. It is incurable. It cannot be prevented.

Myasthenia gravis cannot be cured and its exact causes are also not clear. There is no specific way to prevent this disease. The progress of the disease can be prevented by certain measures. The preventive measures help to cope up with disease so that a normal quality of life can be maintained.

The preventive measures that can be adopted for myasthenia gravis are-

Healthy Diet And Weight– healthy eating habits can assist in reducing the weakness and fatigue of muscles. There is also a tendency of people with this disease to gain weight due to reduced physical activity. Mediterranean diet is recommended for them to maintain a healthy weight and proper nutrition in the body. The diet must have fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, herbs, and certain spices. Introduction of omega-3 fats derived from fatty fish boosts various healthy nutrients in the body. Grass-fed meats can also be included in this diet but its quantity should be moderate. Plenty of water should be consumed. Probiotic food like yogurt prepared from raw milk should be consumed to enhance the health of the intestines. ⁽¹⁾

Healthy Mind– socialization is extremely essential to avoid stress in the mind. It helps to generate positive thinking and mood. Sharing your problems related to the disease to other persons who have similar problems may release your stress and your overall health may be enhanced.

Healthy Lifestyle– avoidance of smoking and limitation of alcohol intake should be adapted to lead a healthy life. It also contributes to the reduction of problems related to this disorder. Physiotherapy can help in maintaining the health of the muscles and bones and maintaining a healthy weight. It should be noted that exercises should be limited to conserve strength as this disorder causes weakness.

Assistive Devices In Daily Routine– specific tools can be used in our daily life to ease the strain on muscles and conserve energy for important activities. For example, the utensil sizes should select small or medium-sized to have easy handling and cleaning without extra efforts. A shower chair can be used to sit while bathing to save energy.

Avoidance Of Infections– any bacterial or viral infections or any other infections should be prevented through vaccines to avoid any stress on the muscles.

Avoidance Of Exposure To Extreme Temperatures– exposure to extreme temperatures of heat and cold leads to extreme stress on the muscles resulting in contraction and relaxation of muscles.

Avoidance Of Dehydration– dehydration in the body may lead to depletion of sodium, potassium and other minerals from the body may cause stress and exhaustion of the muscles. So, going out in extreme heat, food poisoning, diarrhea and vomiting should be avoided by maintaining personal hygiene and other measures.

Avoidance Of Certain Medicines– certain medicines like anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, certain antibiotics, etc. can induce excess stress on the muscles leading to more weakness in the muscles. Such medicines are avoided in persons who suffer from myasthenia gravis. ^{(1) (2)}

Conclusion

Myasthenia gravis is a disease that affects the muscular system due to impaired communication between muscles and nerves. This disease cannot be prevented from its happening. There are certain preventive measures discussed above that can help in improving the quality of life and preventing the progress of the disease.

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Can You Prevent Myasthenia Gravis?