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Journalism of Courage
Tennis champion Monica Seles, 51, who began her career at 16 and played her last match in 2003, has revealed she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago and is now living with the condition. She said she first experienced symptoms of the neuromuscular autoimmune disease while swinging a racket.
“I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, ‘Yeah, I see two balls.’ These are obviously symptoms that you can’t ignore… It took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it’s a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot,” said Seles, who decided to go public with her condition to raise awareness. Back home, actor Amitabh Bachchan has been dealing with the condition, too, for a long time.
“This disorder most commonly impacts young adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60) but can occur at any age, including childhood. Seles reported double vision and weakness in her arms — the most common symptoms,” says Dr Raju Vaishya, senior consultant, orthopaedic and joint replacement surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
Myasthenia Gravis is a rare, chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the way nerves communicate with muscles. In a healthy body, nerve impulses trigger muscles to contract through the release of a chemical messenger called acetylcholine. In this disorder, the immune system mistakenly produces antibodies that block or destroy the receptors for acetylcholine at the muscle–nerve junction. So, muscle fibres cannot contract effectively, leading to muscle weakness.
What are signs and symptoms?
Usually, it is muscle weakness that gets worse with continued activity and improves with rest. Symptoms can vary depending on which muscles are affected, and they may develop gradually or appear suddenly.
· Eye-related symptoms: Double vision and drooping eyelids are often among the first signs.
· Facial and throat weakness: Difficulty speaking, swallowing and chewing for extended periods.
· Limb and neck weakness: Trouble holding up the head, lifting objects or climbing stairs.
· Breathing difficulties: In severe cases, respiratory muscles may be affected, leading to a medical emergency known as a myasthenic crisis.
Who is most likely to develop this condition?
Anybody, even an athlete, can get it. This condition can occur at any age, but it most commonly affects women under 40 and men over 60. It is not contagious or inherited in a simple pattern, though genetic and environmental factors may influence its development.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis often involves a combination of clinical evaluation, antibody blood tests, electromyography (EMG) to measure muscle response, and imaging tests to check for associated conditions such as thymus gland abnormalities.
Can it be treated?
Although there is currently no cure, Myasthenia Gravis can be managed effectively. There are medications that improve nerve-to-muscle communication and immunosuppressive drugs to reduce the autoimmune response.
In extreme cases, plasmapheresis, which removes toxins and antibodies from a patient’s blood plasma and reinfuses the treated plasma, is required. Sometimes surgery to remove the thymus gland is required if it is enlarged or abnormal.
How to live with this disorder?
With appropriate treatment, many people can lead active, fulfilling lives. Early diagnosis, ongoing medical care and lifestyle adjustments — such as balancing activity with rest—can greatly improve quality of life and reduce the risk of complications. Exercise is still important with a guided approach.
