What Are The Early Symptoms Of Myasthenia Gravis?

Posted by naa on 4:05 AM in

Myasthenia gravis refers to a condition in which there is a weakness and quick fatigue or tiredness of voluntary muscles. Myasthenia gravis occurs when there is a loss of communication between muscles and nerves.

What Are The Early Symptoms Of Myasthenia Gravis?

Myasthenia gravis can affect any of the voluntary muscles. However, some muscle groups are more affected than others. The early signs and symptoms of myasthenia gravis are usually associated with eye movements
  • There may be ptosis, which is a drooping of one or both the eyelids
  • There may also be diplopia, which is also known as double vision and can be vertical or horizontal. This condition gets better when one eye is closed
  • Apart from these signs and symptoms, other early signs and symptoms involve facial movements. This can include the face and throat muscles.
  • There may be a change in your speaking. Your voice may fell nasal or very soft. It depends on which muscles are affected.
  • There may be a difficulty in swallowing, which may make you choke on the food. Due to this, it is difficulty in eating, drinking or taking medicines. Sometimes, it may so happen that the fluids that you are attempting to drink may come out from your nose
  • You may experience problems in chewing. While eating a meal, the muscles may tire themselves out half way in between
  • There may be a loss of your facial expressions, such as you may lose your smile if your facial muscles are affected
  • Your neck and limbs may get affected too
  • However, this happens together with other muscles being affected in the body, like muscles of eyes, face and throat
  • Generally, arms are commonly affected than legs. If legs are affected, you could face problems with walking
  • If neck is affected, you may find it difficult to hold your head.

Causes Of Myasthenia Gravis

The nerves interact with the muscles through neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that appropriately fit in the receptors on the muscles. These receptors are situated at the junction where nerves and muscles meet. In myasthenia gravis your own immune system creates antibodies that destroy or block the receptors for a neurotransmitter by the name acetylcholine. As the muscles lack in the receptors, they receive inadequate signals for communication and thereby become weak. These antibodies may also block tyrosine kinase, a type of protein which builds the nerve-muscle junction. This can lead to myasthenia gravis.
According to some studies, the thymus gland may be responsible for the triggering of antibodies that block the neurotransmitters. Some people with myasthenia gravis may also have tumors of the thymus gland. These tumors are not usually cancerous.
There may be other causes for myasthenia gravis, apart from those mentioned above. These may include genetic factors and hereditary conditions
Some factors can make myasthenia gravis worse. These may include-
  • Extreme tiredness or fatigue
  • A medical condition or a disease
  • Stress, anxiety and depression
  • Certain medications like quinine, beta blockers, anesthetics and antibiotics (1)

Complications Seen In Myasthenia Gravis

The complications seen in myasthenia gravis can be usually treated. However, sometimes there might be complications that might be life threatening.

Myasthenic Crisis-

  • This is a life-threatening condition that is seen when the muscles responsible for breathing are affected and cannot perform their jobs effectively.
  • This condition requires an emergency medical attention and sometimes may require mechanical breathing

Tumors Of The Thymus Gland-

  • Tumors of thymus gland are seen in several people affected with myasthenia gravis
  • These tumors are usually not cancerous
  • Other disorders are seen in people with myasthenia gravis. These may include a hyperactive or hypoactive thyroid gland and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Conclusion

The early symptoms of myasthenia gravis are usually associated with eye movements and face and throat movements. Neck and limbs may also get affected; however, it happens together with other muscles in the body.
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How I Fight the Apathy That Can Come With Parkinson's Disease

Posted by naa on 3:52 AM in

When you have Parkinson’s disease, apathy can be a constant struggle. This appears to be due to the loss of dopamine, neurepinephrine and serotonin. The lack of these neurotransmitters are not only related to the development of Parkinson’s but are also related to depression and anxiety. When we are depressed, we are apathetic about life.  What is apathy? To put it simply, it is feeling “meh” about life and feeling detached and unmotivated. This is probably why apathy is one of the biggest complaints from people with Parkinson’s. Trust me, I know this because I have Parkinson’s. I was diagnosed over a year ago when I was 50 years old. I knew something was wrong for years, so this diagnosis wasn’t a big surprise. In fact, it was almost a relief because it explained so much including the apathy albatross that was around my neck.
Unfortunately, with Parkinson’s, the motor symptoms are often what are treated but many doctors neglect the “softer” symptoms or the more uncomfortable ones are left unspoken by the patient. These symptoms including apathy, the lovely bedfellow of depression, that most of us fight off on a daily basis. How else can we combat apathy?  Your physician can prescribe antidepressants, but some people cannot tolerate them. I am one of those people because I have dystonia (uncontrollable muscle contractions) and these types of medications can make my spasms worse. You can exercise, but you need the gumption to do that, and apathy really can keep you shackled to the couch or bed for days on end. You can make other dietary changes like going gluten-free — this may help because some feel gluten is neurotoxic. I found this helpful but the apathy was still present. So I decided I would try mindfulness and use daily intentions as a way to set up my day and give me small goals to achieve and boost my morale. The small tasks I created each morning made big changes in my day and reduced my feeling like “meh” overtime.
What is an intention, and why set a daily one? Because this little reminder done first-thing in the morning can set the course for your day. It is like charting a new path every morning. Intentions are purposeful and less daunting than big goals or resolutions.  Intentions resonate into your consciousness and affect your entire day. When you set an intention, you open yourself up to limitless possibilities. Intentions are not about getting to the goal post; they are about the amazing journey in between and the change you can have within yourself and on those around you.
What do I mean? Let’s look at setting a resolution or a larger goal versus setting a daily intention. With a resolution or goal, you are setting up a static goalpost like losing weight or getting more fit to fight off Parkinson’s. This may not help your day-to-day struggle with apathy. That’s because you write down the goal and often forget about it like the pretty journal you wrote it in that is collecting dust on your nightstand. You may even chat about your goals the following weeks. You may join a gym or start working with a trainer and then your might motivation fade away because that static goal doesn’t resonate with you each day. Before you know it, a year passed and you’re still out of shape (or as I like to say, you are in a shape) and you are still struggling with the day-to-day battle with apathy. But with daily intentions, you invoke small positive changes each and every day. You write down how you will be better and you meditate on that intention throughout the day. You engage in the process more consciously and you are more mindful of how you want to evolve. This small intention motivates you throughout your day on a subconscious level. Each decision you make is filtered through the intention you create first thing in the morning.
Each morning, set an intention to take care of your self each day. Your intention might be, “Today, I will respect and nourish my body” or “I will honor my body today and sit less on the couch.” So even if you only eat one piece of organic fruit, used the stairs instead of the elevator or stood up just once to stretch when you normally would have sat, you honored your intention! Every day is started with a small, meaningful intent that allows you to implement simple changes so the day doesn’t feel like a failure.  Feelings of failure only fuel the vicious cycle of apathy. You short-circuit the guilt trap that apathy causes because now you can see these small victories throughout your day even if it’s just one victory!
What if you want your intentions to be more global? Maybe you want to be a better person or have better relationships. Set small intentions that will enhance you as a person. For example, “Today, I will be more kind to those around me” or “Today, I intend to be more open to love and abundance.” These intentions will be in your subconscious and may prompt you during your interactions, making you more mindful and considerate. When we are better to ourselves and love ourselves, we interrupt the self-loathing that apathy can create. Also, people around us may interact with us more positively and lovingly. Most of us with Parkinson’s are hard on ourselves because of our illness and the day-to-day struggle. With intentions of self-love, we reframe those limitations into possibilities each day and honor and appreciate ourselves just as we are. When you add up all of these daily intentions and small victories, by the end of the year if you stick to this, I guarantee you will see appreciable and rewarding changes.  These changes will promote healing mentally, spiritually and physically and give you more energy and focus to pursue your dreams in spite of apathy and Parkinson’s!
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Why "High Functioning" Autism Is So Challenging

Posted by naa on 2:38 AM in

At this point in history, there is disagreement about how many people on the autism spectrum are on the high or low end of the spectrum (or whether most people with autism are "somewhere in the middle"). It is clear, however, that the lion's share of media attention goes to folks at the high and the low ends of the spectrum—that is, the profoundly disabled and the very high functioning.
The fact is that life with severe autism is extraordinarily difficult. Logic would suggest that people on the high end of the spectrum have it easy—as do their families and teachers. After all, people with high functioning autism are often very bright and may have impressive talents. But the reality is quite different.

Myth: People With High Functioning Autism Are Unusually Intelligent and Successful

If the media is to believed, the high end of the autism spectrum is peopled largely by eccentric geniuses—Bill Gates and Albert Einstein are often mentioned, along with Dan Aykroyd and Daryl Hannah—who by and large do very well indeed, though they march to the beat of their own drummer. The reality, however, is that "high functioning autistic" and "genius," "business tycoon," and "Hollywood star" rarely go together. In fact:
  • People with high functioning autism, while they may or may not be unusually intelligent, rarely have the kind of intense motivation for public success that sends a Bill Gates to find funders or an Einstein to find a publisher.
  • They may also have significant challenges which stand in the way of living a comfortable life, succeeding in work or romance, or achieving a sense of self-worth. Those issues are made more challenging, in part, because they surprise and upset others who don't anticipate odd behaviors or reactions from people who "pass for normal" in many situations.
  • While people with more severe autism are not generally expected to just suck it up and get through difficult moments, people on the higher end of the spectrum are expected to do just that.

  • Fact: High Functioning Autism Is Very Challenging Every Day

    Here are just a few of the issues that get between people on the high end of the autism spectrum (including those diagnosed with the now-outdated Asperger syndrome) and personal success and happiness:

    1. Extreme sensory issues. People at the higher end of the spectrum are just as susceptible as people in the middle or lower end of the spectrum to sensory dysfunctions. These include mild, moderate, or extreme sensitivity to noise, crowds, bright lights, strong tastes, smells, and touch. This means that a person who is bright, verbal, and capable may be unable to walk into a crowded restaurant, attend a movie, or cope with the sensory assaults associated with malls, stadiums, or other venues.
    2. Social "cluelessness." What's the difference between a civil greeting and a signal of romantic interest? How loud is too loud? When is okay to talk about your personal issues or interests? When is it important to stop doing what you enjoy in order to attend to another person's needs? These are tough questions for anyone, but for a person on the high end of the autism spectrum they can become overwhelming obstacles to social connections, employment, and romance.
    3. Anxiety and depression. Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders are more common among people with high functioning autism than they are among the general population. We don't know whether the autism causes the mood disorders, or whether the disorders are the result of social rejection and frustration—but whatever their causes, mood disorders can be disabling in themselves.

    4. Lack of executive planning skills. Executive functioning describes the skills we use to organize and plan our lives. They allow typical adults to plan schedules in advance, notice that the shampoo is running low, or create and follow a timeline in order to complete a long-term project. Most people with high functioning autism have compromised executive functioning skills, making it very tough to plan and manage a household, cope with minor schedule changes at school or at work, and so forth.
  • Emotional dysregulation. Contrary to popular opinion, people with autism have plenty of emotions. In fact, people with autism can become far too emotional in the wrong situations. Imagine a 16-year-old bursting into tears because of a change in plans, or a grown woman melting down completely because her car won't start. These are the types of issues that can arise for people with high functioning autism, who are capable of doing a great many things ONLY when the situation is predictable, and no obstacles arise.
  • Difficulty with transitions and change. Lots of people have a hard time with change, but people with high functioning autism take the issue to a whole new level. Once a pattern is established and comfortable, people with autism (by and large) want to maintain that pattern forever. If a group of friends goes out on Wednesdays for nachos, the idea of going out on Thursdays for chicken wings can throw an autistic adult into a state of anxiety or even anger.
  • Difficulty with following verbal communication. A person with high functioning autism may be more than capable of doing a task—but unable to follow the spoken instructions provided. In other words, if a policeman says "stay in your car and give me your license and registration," the person with autism may process only "stay in your car," or only "give me your license." The same goes for instructions given, say, at a ballroom dance class, at the doctor's office, or by a manager in an office setting. As you can imagine, this can cause any number of issues, ranging from serious problems with the police to inadvertent mistakes at work.
    • As you can see, the term "high functioning" does mean what it says. But high functioning autism is not an easy or simple diagnosis to live with. For those caring for, employing, teaching, or working with people on the higher end of the spectrum, it's important to remember that autism is autism.
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