Myasthenia gravis describes an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder which disturbs the communication between the muscles and nerves. People with the disease suffer from a progressive weakness of their voluntary controlled muscles. Medication such as anticholinesterase agents and immunosuppressive drugs may help to reduce the symptoms. Sometimes surgery can be performed to control the disease.
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease that causes a progressive weakness in the muscles under voluntary control. It occurs when the immune system attacks the n-acetylcholine receptor, an essential structure in the communication between nerves and muscles.
Myasthenia gravis is a type of autoimmune disorder that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In people with myasthenia gravis, the immune system produces antibodies that mistakenly block the muscle cells from receiving messages from the nerve cells. However, the exact cause of the misguidance of the immune system is unknown. Antibodies against the thymus, which often occur due to a tumor in the thymus, seem to play a role in certain cases. It may affect people at any age. It is more prevalent in women than in men. The main symptom of myasthenia gravis is weakness of all voluntary controlled muscles (the heart muscle and smooth muscle cells, which are located in a variety of inner organs, do not count as such). It therefore may lead to symptoms such as general loss of muscle strength, difficulty with breathing, chewing, talking, swallowing, further a drooping head, facial paralysis, fatigue, and hoarseness. At early stage the disease typically causes first trouble with the eye muscles such as double vision and drooping of the eyelids.
There is no complete cure for Myasthenia gravis. However, proper medical treatment can help to reduce associated symptoms. Some doctors suggest changes in lifestyle, for example having adequate rest and avoiding stress and heat exposure which can worsen the symptoms. Medication is often used to relieve symptoms. For example, anticholinesterase agents like pyridostigmine or neostigmine may improve neuromuscular transmission and increase muscle strength. Immunosuppressive drugs like prednisone, cyclosporin, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine and tacrolimus can be used to suppress the production of abnormal antibodies. In some cases a surgical removal of the thymus can change the process for the better.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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