10 Unseen Signals Your Body Might Be Battling Myasthenia Gravis

3. Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing): The Protracted Meal

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a critical and often distressing symptom of Myasthenia Gravis. The weakness affects the pharyngeal and esophageal muscles, making it arduous to initiate and propel food down the throat. Its insidious nature is its fatigability: swallowing may be fine at the start of a meal but becomes increasingly difficult and effortful as eating continues, leading to prolonged meal times, choking, or regurgitation. This progressive difficulty with basic sustenance is a profound indicator of vital muscle weakness impacting daily function.

4. Jaw Muscle Weakness: The Dropping Jaw

Weakness in the jaw muscles (masseter, temporalis, pterygoids) is a distinct, often telling, sign of Myasthenia Gravis. Individuals may experience difficulty chewing, especially during prolonged meals, leading to an inability to finish food. More strikingly, the jaw might literally "drop" open after chewing for a while, requiring manual support. This fatigable weakness specifically affects the muscles crucial for maintaining jaw closure against gravity and chewing force, presenting a clear, often alarming, signal of the neuromuscular junction's compromised function.