What are the symptoms of myasthenia gravis?
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Myasthenia gravis causes muscle weakness. Although the weakness can involve any and all of the muscles that you have voluntary control over, it most commonly affects the muscles of the eye, face, throat, arm, and leg. Symptoms may include:
- Eyelids that seem to droop
- Double vision and blurred vision
- Labored speaking, chewing, and swallowing
- Difficulty with breathing
- Difficulty with walking
Myasthenia gravis causes muscle weakness. Although the weakness can involve any and all of the muscles that you have voluntary control over, it most commonly affects the muscles of the eye, face, throat, arm, and leg. Symptoms may include: Eyelids... More -
Piedmont Heart Institute answered:Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expressions, and swallowing are most frequently affected. The onset of the disorder may be sudden. Symptoms often are not immediately recognized as myasthenia gravis.
In most cases, the first noticeable symptom is weakness of the eye muscles. In others, difficulty in swallowing and slurred speech may be the first signs. The degree of muscle weakness involved in myasthenia gravis varies greatly among patients, ranging from a localized form, limited to eye muscles (ocular myasthenia), to a severe or generalized form in which many muscles-sometimes including those that control breathing-are affected. Symptoms, which vary in type and severity, may include a drooping of one or both eyelids (ptosis), blurred or double vision (diplopia) due to weakness of the muscles that control eye movements, an unstable or waddling gait, weakness in the arms, hands, fingers, legs, and neck, a change in facial expressions, difficulty in swallowing and shortness of breath, and impaired speech (dysarthria).
This answer is based upon information from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expressions, and swallowing are most frequently affected. The onset of the disorder may be sudden. Symptoms often are not immediately... More -
General: Although myasthenia gravis can develop at any age, it is most common in women younger than 40 or older than 70 and in men older than 50 years of age. Symptoms may develop suddenly or gradually over 1-2 years. Symptoms tend to worsen with physical activity and improve with rest. Several factors may worsen the symptoms of myasthenia gravis, including illnesses or infections, stress, extreme heat, and some medications (e.g., quinine, aminoglycoside antibiotics, phenothiazines, methoxyflurane, calcium channel blockers, and beta blockers). Symptoms vary considerably among patients. In some patients, weakness may be limited to the eye muscles (a condition called ocular myasthenia gravis) or it may be generalized.
Common symptoms: Symptoms vary depending on the severity and specific muscles that are affected. Myasthenia gravis can affect any voluntary (skeletal) muscle. The most commonly affected muscles include the eye muscles, facial muscles, the arm muscles, the leg muscles, as well as the muscles involved in swallowing, chewing, and talking. The muscles involved in breathing may also be affected. For instance, weakened eye muscles may lead to blurred or double vision, while facial muscle weakness may lead to drooping eyelids, slurred speech/difficulty talking, and difficulty making facial expressions. If the limbs are affected, people may have difficulty walking or performing daily tasks.
Less common symptoms: In rare cases, breathing or swallowing problems may worsen suddenly and require urgent medical treatment.General: Although myasthenia gravis can develop at any age, it is most common in women younger than 40 or older than 70 and in men older than 50 years of age. Symptoms may develop suddenly or gradually over 1-2 years. Symptoms tend to worsen with... More
