Can people with myasthenia gravis smoke?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on May 27, 2025
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Patients with myasthenia gravis are advised not to smoke. It is best to avoid smoking because myasthenia gravis is a disease caused by an autoimmune disorder, and smoking can further damage the body's immune function, leading to an exacerbation of the disease. Additionally, patients with myasthenia gravis may experience disturbances in respiratory function, leading to insufficient breathing and are highly susceptible to complications like lung infections. They are particularly at risk of respiratory infections, which can trigger a myasthenia gravis crisis, and in severe cases, can endanger the patient's life. It is well known that smoking has a very negative impact on the lungs and respiratory tract, easily damaging bronchial cells and inducing bronchial infections. Therefore, smoking-induced infections can cause acute exacerbation in patients with myasthenia gravis, and in severe cases, even threaten the patient's life safety.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
1min 9sec home-news-image

Does myasthenia gravis hurt?

Myasthenia gravis does not cause pain. Initially, patients with myasthenia gravis may feel discomfort such as soreness or swelling in the eyes or limbs, blurred vision, or fatigue. As the condition progresses, skeletal muscles become noticeably fatigued and weak. A significant characteristic is muscle weakness, which worsens after exertion in the afternoon or evening and improves after rest in the morning, known as "morning better, evening worse." Patients with myasthenia gravis can experience involvement of skeletal muscles throughout the body, manifesting as drooping eyelids, blurred vision, double vision, strabismus, restricted eye movements, bland facial expressions, a "forced smile" appearance, speech impairments resembling a thick tongue often accompanied by a nasal sound. Additionally, they may have chewing difficulties, coughing or choking when drinking, swallowing difficulties, trouble raising the head, weak shoulder shrugging, difficulty lifting arms, combing hair, climbing stairs, squatting, and getting into vehicles, primarily due to muscle weakness, which does not lead to pain.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Causes of myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is a type of neurological autoimmune disease. The cause and mechanism of this disease are primarily due to disorders in the immune function of the body. Antibodies are produced in the body which attack the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction, leading to the failure of nerve impulses being transmitted to the muscles. This results in the clinical symptoms observed. Many patients may have thymic abnormalities, such as thymomas. Treatment of this disease involves the use of cholinesterase inhibitors and suppression of these abnormal immune responses, typically requiring the use of corticosteroids.

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Written by Shi De Quan
Neurology
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If myasthenia gravis is well controlled, will it still recur?

Myasthenia gravis is difficult to control, and even when controlled, it is prone to relapse. The characteristic of myasthenia gravis includes alleviation after rest, and a pattern of alternating episodes and remissions. Since there is no etiological treatment for myasthenia gravis at present, most medications are symptomatic treatments. However, some patients can find relief through plasmapheresis or immunoglobulin therapy, but most patients will experience relapses. Therefore, myasthenia gravis is a disease prone to relapse, and its recurrence is not greatly influenced by how well it is controlled; it depends on the specific circumstances.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What department is myasthenia gravis under?

Myasthenia gravis, this disease definitely requires registration with the Department of Neurology as it is a relatively common disease in neurology, and doctors in other departments are not particularly familiar with this disease, let alone diagnosis and treatment. Myasthenia gravis is an immune disease of the nervous system, and patients may experience generalized fatigue, which can be alleviated after rest. It is characterized by clinical symptoms that are lighter in the morning and more severe in the evening. Additionally, symptoms such as ptosis, double vision, and even some difficulties in swallowing and unclear speech, known as bulbar paralysis, may occur. This disease requires a thorough chest CT scan, as many patients have an associated thymoma. Furthermore, an electromyography examination is needed to check for antibodies related to myasthenia gravis, which is also important for guiding further treatment.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Can people with myasthenia gravis smoke?

Patients with myasthenia gravis are advised not to smoke. It is best to avoid smoking because myasthenia gravis is a disease caused by an autoimmune disorder, and smoking can further damage the body's immune function, leading to an exacerbation of the disease. Additionally, patients with myasthenia gravis may experience disturbances in respiratory function, leading to insufficient breathing and are highly susceptible to complications like lung infections. They are particularly at risk of respiratory infections, which can trigger a myasthenia gravis crisis, and in severe cases, can endanger the patient's life. It is well known that smoking has a very negative impact on the lungs and respiratory tract, easily damaging bronchial cells and inducing bronchial infections. Therefore, smoking-induced infections can cause acute exacerbation in patients with myasthenia gravis, and in severe cases, even threaten the patient's life safety.