Learning to Live With Myasthenia Gravis
By Brandi Goodman
June is deemed Myasthenia Gravis Month. Take this time to learn more about the autoimmune disease with a name that essentially means grave muscle weakness. Living with the disease can be difficult, but you can learn to live with it and get by with a few tips in mind.
Join a Support Group
A support group is a great way to connect with others who understand what you're going through. There aren't as many people living with the disease as other major disorders, but some groups do exist throughout the U.S. You'll have to check to see if regular group meetings are still available. A Palo Alto MG support group is less than an hour away from Milpitas. Check in with Stanford Hospital, which is the last known meeting place for the group, to see if new sessions are taking place soon or where you might find one. An online support group may be the next best option if a physical location is not available that's close to you.
Manage Your Diet
Your body is already weak because of the disease. You don't want to make matters worse by eating unhealthy and gaining excessive weight that puts more pressure on the body. Manage your diet and keep your weight in check if you want to avoid additional problems. A healthy diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is important for overall health. Avoid sugary foods and processed junk that weakens the immune system.
Exercise Within Your Limits
Some days it may seem impossible to get any exercise. Your muscles are weak and you may feel as if you can't even move much, let alone work out. You don't have to perform some strenuous workout each day. Just exercise within your limits, doing what you can to move your body and keep it from becoming even more weak than it already is. Sitting down and trying some chair exercises may be all you can manage one day, while another you could find yourself swimming.
See a Chiropractor
Myasthenia Gravis causes weakness to the skeletal muscles. Regular care from a chiropractor can keep the muscles, bones, and joints as strong as possible. It may also help to alleviate some of the pain felt. Balance and coordination are two problems chiropractic may help, and these are two of the issues the disease sometimes causes for some patients. Routine care may not cure the disease, but it does have the ability to improve the quality of life.
Living with any disorder can be difficult, but finding ways to cope and manage symptoms are key in making it through life with debilitating symptoms. Do what you can to make the most of the life you have and experience better overall well-being.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Milpitas, Calif.