June is Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month

MYASTHENIA GRAVIS (MG), which means “grave muscle weakness,” is an often misunderstood and underdiagnosed autoimmune neuromuscular disease that affects voluntary muscles. It strikes people of all ages, races and genders—currently at least 70,000 people in the U.S.—and while treatments are available to
improve muscle strength, there is no known cure.

Symptoms include weakness in muscles that control eye movements and eyelids, chewing, swallowing, coughing, facial expressions, arm and leg movements and breathing. A rare disease, it is frequently not diagnosed correctly because many of its symptoms are similar to those of other disorders. A doctor can confirm a diagnosis of MG via several types of diagnostic tests.

This is the 12th year that the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America has conducted an awareness campaign in June. The theme this year, “Uniting for a Cure: Together we are Stronger,” is geared to promote an understanding of the scope of this disease, to further the foundation’s mission of facilitating the
timely diagnosis and optimal care of individuals affected by MG and to fund research to find a cure. To learn more about this disease and about ways you can help, visit www.myasthenia.org.