Top Therapies for Those With Myasthenia Gravis

Top Therapies for Those With Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis is characterized by weakness in the muscles used for basic motor functions. Such a condition occurs because of poor transmission of signals between the nerve cells and muscles. While the main symptom of this rare disorder is weakness in skeletal muscles, it is known to also affect the eyes, face, chest, arms, and legs. Here are the various treatment options one can consider when dealing with myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia Gravis Treatment
Several treatment options for myasthenia gravis could be prescribed either  individually or in combination. There’s no cure for this condition, so most treatments focus on tackling the various symptoms as well as the disorder’s overall progression. Common treatment options for myasthenia gravis include,

Pharmaceuticals
Standard treatments for myasthenia gravis include options such as cholinesterase inhibitors, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants. Cholinesterase inhibitors help improve muscle contractions and even muscle strength in some individuals. Common side effects of this treatment include diarrhea, sweating, and excessive salivation. Corticosteroids control the immune system and prevent the production and release of antibodies into the bloodstream. Corticosteroids typically have serious side effects such as bone thinning. Immunosuppressants alter the immune system and can take a long time to work. Side effects of this treatment include a high risk of infection that could damage the liver or kidneys.

Surgery
Another treatment for myasthenia gravis is surgery; it’s mainly an option for those with a thymoma tumor in their thymus gland. Doctors can also suggest surgery for those who do not have a tumor in their thymus gland, as removing the thymus can actually help with the symptoms of myasthenia gravis. On the downside, these positive effects could take a long time to develop.

Individuals opt for open or minimally invasive surgery. The former involves splitting the central breastbone to open the chest and remove the gland. Minimally invasive surgery has very few incisions and can be done with the help of a robot or video assistance. Minimally invasive surgeries have lower mortality rates and less blood loss and pain.

Intravenous Therapy
Intravenous therapy is used when the individual is facing a sudden worsening of symptoms over a short period. There are two main forms of intravenous therapy: the first one is plasmapheresis, which filters blood and removes the antibodies that are blocking the transmission of signals from the nerve endings to the muscles. The positive effects of this treatment can last for a few weeks, after which the individual will have to go back to repeat the procedure. The second treatment option is intravenous immunoglobulin, wherein the body is provided with normal antibodies that alter the immune system’s response. The benefits of this treatment can last for three to six weeks.

Treatments prescribed by the healthcare professional will depend on the age of the individual, the severity of the condition, and how fast it is progressing. One can go to a treatment center for myasthenia gravis. These treatment centers can provide individuals with the latest treatment options and even give the best care.

Myasthenia Gravis Natural Treatment Options
Aside from the treatments prescribed by healthcare professionals, individuals can also try natural or holistic treatments. These alternative treatments provide support, help strengthen the body, and keep symptoms at bay. Some common holistic treatments for myasthenia gravis include,

Chinese Herb treatment
A popular natural treatment for myasthenia gravis is traditional Chinese herbs. While more studies are needed to understand this better, the few that have been conducted showed promising results when traditional Chinese treatments were supplemented with prescribed treatments. Ensure that you talk to your doctor as well as the natural herbal treatment practitioner about what kinds of treatments you are on before you start. Having such transparency will help both keep in mind any possible interactions between your western treatments and traditional supplements.

Respiratory Muscle Training
Another holistic treatment that can help with myasthenia is respiratory muscle training. Research has shown that those who receive any form of pulmonary training have better endurance and can tackle breathlessness better. Such training improves the coordination and the strength of the muscles required to breathe in and out. This practice also makes breathing easy as your muscles do not have to work as hard, lowering the chances of a myasthenic attack.

Changing Food Choices
When fighting myasthenia gravis, individuals need to focus on building overall health in the body by eating healthier and adding foods that can help alleviate symptoms. Add vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, as well as foods that are high in calcium and vitamin D. To maintain a healthy body-mass index and reduce the risk of other conditions, reduce or avoid any intake of fatty and spicy foods from daily meals.

The abovementioned options are normally considered when treating myasthenia gravis. One must consult a doctor before considering any of the treatments to avoid any side effects. 

Related Reading

Tips for Buying the Best Dog Food

Tips for Buying the Best Dog Food

Most of the dogs do not have a food fuss and may eat almost anything that you feed them. Dogs are not choosy at all when it comes to food and nutrition. Hence, it is important to make sure that the food that you are purchasing for your dog is healthy. The landscape of dog food has been developing by leaps and bounds in recent times. There is a wide variety of options to choose from in the online and offline market. Given the wide range of options that are available today, buying the best dog food might seem to be a confusing task indeed. All the commercial pet food that is available in the market today is regulated by the FDA. Therefore, most of the products do contain nutritious, healthy, and safe ingredients. But it does help to know certain basic factors you should look for while buying food for your dog. Prioritize on the nutritional guarantee The best dog food, which meets the dog’s needs adequately has a statement written on the label of the product, from the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Buy from some of the best dog food brands, such as Fromm Family Foods, Earthborn Holistic, Nature’s Variety Instinct, and The Honest Kitchen.
Different Types of Kitchen Cabinets Available for Your Home

Different Types of Kitchen Cabinets Available for Your Home

The most important aspect when designing your kitchen is deciding on the type of cabinets. In addition to functionality, kitchen cabinets score on aesthetics as well. Once the layout is planned, you can go ahead with choosing the cabinets. If you’re remodeling your home or just the kitchen, what you need to consider are the types of cabinets that furnish your kitchen. Here are a few types of kitchen cabinets that you can choose from. Base cabinets These kitchen cabinets are mounted on the floor and they are placed after checking out the floor plan. A major part of your job in the kitchen is on these base cabinets, which hold and support the countertops. These base cabinets are combined to carve out kitchen islands. A number of base cabinets are fused/set against one another and installed on site. The base cabinets, in addition to supporting the countertops, serve as drawers to hold your cutlery and appliances. Wall cabinets Mounted on the walls, these cabinets can store everything, right from your cookware to cookbooks. In terms of design, they offer utmost flexibility. Wall cabinet kitchen is available in varying heights, multiple widths, and custom depth options. This customization helps you to fit in your stuff of varying shapes and sizes into the wall cabinets.
How to Pick the Right Dog Food for a Sensitive Stomach

How to Pick the Right Dog Food for a Sensitive Stomach

In today’s world, where you are presented with over a dozen choices for every item you would purchase for your own kitchen, it is not surprising that you have an equal number of options for your dog’s food. However, choosing the perfect brand and formula for your dog out of a range of options in the market is not an easy job. Your pet depends on you and trusts you to make the right choice for them. Therefore, it is imperative that you do your research about the products available in the market, understand what your dog needs, know what might be your pet’s problems, and then make a sound decision. What is a sensitive stomach? Dogs are known to have voracious and large appetites. Keeping that in mind, it is normal to assume that they have strong stomachs. They can eat close to anything be it sweets, bakes, chewy gum, hard leather or even woolen socks for that matter! It always so happens that the strongest of them are prone to allergies and can develop a disorder which is medically translated as a sensitive stomach. This might be due to a sudden change in the food habits or even due an infection picked up from somewhere.
All You Need to Know about Cat Food

All You Need to Know about Cat Food

For cat owners, cat food is a hot topic. You need to think about it in different aspects. The best thing is to know which ingredients are good for cat food and which are harmful. If you are aware of this, you can get an idea about the quality of the cat food just by going through the label. It is always sensible to stick to one brand of cat food. However, you may also want to try and prepare cat food yourself. There are also various options for wet cat food as well. Cat’s love for fish is universal, so you can do without going for expensive cat food. Nevertheless, whether you buy it or prepare cat food at home, you need to ensure that the food contains enough nutrition and calories. You would need to have some idea about the ingredients that must be present in cat food and make a worthy selection for your cat. Basic ingredients present in good cat foods Cats need a variety of nutrients to stay healthy and active; they need various vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and oils. The following is a brief explanation of the basic ingredients that should be present in cat foods.