Myasthenia Gravis Symptoms

Early myasthenia gravis signs and symptoms include weakness of the eye muscles, difficulty swallowing, and slurred speech. Other symptoms, which vary in type and severity, may include drooping of one or both eyelids, blurred or double vision, and unstable or waddling gait. A myasthenic crisis (respiratory failure) is a symptom that may occur in people with weak respiratory muscles.

Myasthenia Gravis Disease

An Overview of Myasthenia Gravis Signs Symptoms

The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Myasthenia gravis symptoms may affect any voluntary muscle. However, they usually affect the muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and swallowing. Symptoms may appear suddenly and may not be immediately recognizable as symptoms of myasthenia gravis.

Early Symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis

Early myasthenia gravis symptoms include:

Weakness of the eye muscles
Difficulty swallowing
Slurred speech.

Early symptoms can also include difficulty with breathing, but this is rare. The degree of muscle weakness involved in myasthenia gravis varies greatly among people with this disease.

Other Myasthenia Gravis Symptoms

Other symptoms of myasthenia gravis, which vary in type and severity, may include:

Drooping of one or both eyelids (ptosis)
Blurred or double vision (diplopia)
Unstable or waddling gait
Weakness in arms, hands, fingers, legs, and neck
Change in facial expression
Difficulty swallowing and shortness of breath
Impaired speech (dysarthria)
Shortness of breath.

(Myasthenia Gravis Symptoms Continued: Page 2)