What is Myasthenia Gravis?
There are complex medical definitions of Myasthenia Gravis (MG) and I’m not a doctor – so here’s how I understand MG, explained in simple terms:
Your brain sends electrical signals to your muscles to tell them what to do. For those signals to activate a muscle – such as making it contract – your body uses a chemical called acetylcholine receptor (ACHR), which acts as a kind of messenger between the nerves and the muscles.
In people with Myasthenia Gravis, the immune system mistakenly thinks ACHR is a threat and starts attacking it. The body essentially becomes confused and begins shutting down what it considers ‘non-essential’ muscle groups – such as those used for eye movement, arms, or legs – to protect vital areas such as the lungs and diaphragm.
In more severe cases, even core functions like breathing can be affected, which is an admission to hospital, and potentially the requirement of a ventilator.
To manage MG, treatments like steroids or Azathioprine are used to suppress the immune system. This helps reduce the mistaken attack on ACHR, but it also comes with risks, such as weakening the body’s ability to fight off actual infections.
So, in layman’s terms, that’s what Myasthenia Gravis is: a condition where the immune system targets the very things it shouldn’t, affecting how your muscles respond.
I also recorded a short video explaining this topic in my own words – you can watch it here: [Insert Video Link].
If you’d like a more detailed analysis description of Myasthenia Gravis, written by medical professionals you can find it on the NHS website.