Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

Today’s June Awareness Tip is for parents: School Issues: Informal discussions with the school, a Modification Plan under Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act or an Individualized Education Plan under Federal Law 108-446 are different ways that a child’s daily school schedule can be changed in response to medical needs. Many things can be done, as needed, to support the education of children with myasthenia gravis. These include: altering PE requirements (modified PE or temporary or long term exclusion), late starts, use of elevators between floors, transportation to school, allowing additional time between classes, providing a second set of books to be kept at home to prevent heavy backpacks that cannot be carried from affecting schoolwork, changing the number of repetitions of math problems, allowing computer access for classroom work or testing, changing nutrition/lunch times, providing OT/PT/Speech therapy as necessary to allow children to benefit from their education. All or none of these modifications may be appropriate for an individual child with myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

Today's June Awareness Tip: Bathroom Safety: Limit the time you spend in the shower or bath to avoid weakness. Have someone assist you with bathing if weakness is a problem. Put non-skid strips or a rubber mat in the tub or shower. Install grab bars on the wall or side of the tub or shower. Use a shower chair or bath seat with rubber grips if you are unsteady.

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

Today’s June Awareness Tip: Develop a Symptom Action Plan: Notify your doctor if you have a cold or respiratory infection that does not improve or worsens. Notify your doctor if you have chewing, swallowing, speech or breathing problems that do not improve with prescribed medication. Practicing safe swallowing can reduce the risk of aspiration, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia and MG crisis.

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

Today's June Awareness Tip: Choose a Sensible Diet: Choose a healthful diet with a variety of foods containing the nutrients that you need. Your age, gender, size and activity level determine the number of calories that you require daily. A nutritious daily diet includes foods from five food groups with 6-11 grain group servings, 3-5 vegetable group servings, 2-4 fruit group servings, 2-3 milk/dairy group servings and 2-3 meat group servings. Limit fats, oils, sweets and salt. Choose sensible portion sizes. Avoid empty calorie foods

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. 

Popsicles for a Cure "Never Tasted so Cool"
June is Myasthenia Gravis awareness month. Cool down with a popsicle created in just 7 minutes with the ZOKU quick popsicle maker. ZOKU is donating 20% of each popsicle maker sold on their site www.zokuhome.com with the use of the promo code MGFA at checkout.

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

Today's June Awareness Tip: Scheduled Rest: Planning for quiet rest periods throughout a busy day or week is very helpful for individuals with myasthenia gravis. For example, try not to overschedule yourself. Listen to your body. Stay rested...stay healthy!

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

Today's June Awareness Tip: Meet/Greet EMS teams: Myasthenia gravis is a relatively uncommon disorder. Therefore, in large cities, the emergency medical system may be familiar with this disorder. However, in small communities, particularly ones that depend on volunteer EMS teams, the initial responders may not be familiar with myasthenia and the possible, urgent health issues that can arise. In that setting, some myasthenic patients have felt that their care was delayed while an extended history or interview was attempted while their shortness of breath or weakness made it difficult to respond

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

Today's June Awareness Tip:

Kitchen Safety

Slide heavy containers of food along the counter (or use a cart) instead of lifting them when arms are weak. Put food in smaller containers, which are easier to lift and handle. Place items that you use frequently within easy reach so there is no need to climb.

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

Today's June Awareness Tip: Bedroom Safety: Place your bed within easy reach of lights and telephone. Remove wheels or casters from your bed and chairs. Use a night light to light the way between your bed and the toilet.

Thymic Neoplasms and Myasthenia Gravis Overview

Thymic neoplasms are tumors that develop in the thymus gland.
People with thymic neoplasms frequently have myasthenia gravis — a chronic, progressive autoimmune disorder that causes the muscles of the head, face, and body to become weak and easily fatigued.

About the thymus gland and thymic neoplasms

The thymus gland sits in the upper chest area just behind the breastbone (sternum). Its purpose is to make white blood cells (lymphocytes) that protect against infection.
Different types of tumors can develop in the thymus. Doctors refer to these as thymic neoplasms.
Types of thymic neoplasms:

• Thymoma — the most common tumor of the thymus involving the cells on the outside surface of the thymus gland. Thymomas grow slowly and rarely spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. The tumor cells in thymomas have a similar appearance to normal thymus gland cells. Thymomas are easier to treat than thymic carcinomas.
• Thymic carcinoma — a rare type of thymic gland cancer with cells that look radically different from normal thymus gland cells. This type of thymic neoplasm grows more rapidly and frequently spreads to other parts of the body by the time a doctor discovers the cancer. Thymic carcinomas are more difficult to treat than thymomas.

People with thymic neoplasms frequently have an autoimmune disease — such as myasthenia gravis — that causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissues and organs.
Learn more about thymic neoplasms at UPMC CancerCenter.

About myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic and progressive autoimmune disease in which the cranial, facial, and body muscles become very weak and easily fatigued. It can occur in people of any age, but commonly occurs in women under 40 and men over 60.

Causes of myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder that causes your body’s immune system to attack healthy organs and tissues in your body, resulting in their destruction.
Normally, your nerves send your muscles messages through a receptor. Nerves use a chemical called acetylcholine to deliver these messages. When the acetylcholine binds to the receptor area of a nerve, the muscle contracts.
With myasthenia gravis, the immune system attacks the muscle's receptor for acetylcholine.
Experts don’t understand exactly why the body begins to produce immune antibodies that attack the acetylcholine receptors. However, it seems to relate in some way to the thymus gland, which assists the body in producing antibodies.
Approximately 15 percent of those with myasthenia gravis also have a thymoma.