Can people with myasthenia gravis smoke?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on May 27, 2025
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
56sec home-news-image

What should people with myasthenia gravis pay attention to in their daily lives?

Patients with myasthenia gravis should be careful to continue taking their medications after being discharged from the hospital and must not change the dosage or administration of their medication on their own. It is important to avoid overexertion and emotional stimuli in daily life. One should ensure to get enough rest, maintain adequate sleep, and consume fresh vegetables and fruits. Avoid spicy, stimulating, and excitatory foods. Do not be overly sad or experience excessive emotional fluctuations. Pay attention to the risk of catching a cold and upper respiratory infections. Take precautions against exposure to cold and prevent infections. Balance work and rest, maintain regular life patterns, keep in good spirits, ensure adequate sleep, and avoid excessive emotional disturbances and stimuli.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
56sec home-news-image

Can myasthenia gravis be cured completely?

Myasthenia gravis is a relatively common disease in neurology. Whether it can be completely cured mainly depends on the severity of the disease and some of its subtypes. For instance, patients with ocular myasthenia gravis only exhibit symptoms such as ptosis; by using some corticosteroids or acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, some patients can be cured. However, there are also patients who experience generalized muscle weakness, which is particularly severe and may even affect the respiratory muscles. These patients need long-term or even lifelong medication to prevent the recurrence of severe myasthenia gravis. Additionally, some patients with myasthenia gravis also have thymomas, and many patients can be cured after the removal of the thymoma. Therefore, most cases of myasthenia gravis cannot be completely cured and require long-term medication, though a small portion might be curable.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
56sec home-news-image

How to treat myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis falls under the category of neurological diseases, characterized as an immune disorder of the nervous system, primarily due to the presence of antibodies against acetylcholine receptors. This leads to impaired transmission of nerve impulses to muscles, resulting in various clinical symptoms. The treatment approaches for myasthenia gravis include the following. Firstly, the use of cholinesterase inhibitors is recommended. These medications increase acetylcholine levels and are effective in improving symptoms. Secondly, patients are treated with corticosteroids, typically starting with a low dose and gradually increasing to maintain for a period before reducing the dose again. Adjustments to medication should always be made under the guidance of a neurologist. Third, if the patient has a thymoma, surgical removal is advised.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Shi De Quan
Neurology
42sec home-news-image

What should I do if myasthenia gravis causes difficulty swallowing?

Myasthenia gravis primarily manifests as an inability to swallow, affecting the pharyngeal muscles or the muscles involved in swallowing. Thus, difficulty in swallowing is also a symptom of myasthenia gravis. At this time, the main treatment should focus on the primary disease, administering medications such as neostigmine for myasthenia gravis, and using steroids or immunosuppressants in severe cases. If there is difficulty in swallowing, or if it persists for more than two or three days, a gastric tube can be inserted for nasal feeding to maintain nutrition. Then, as the symptoms of myasthenia gravis subside with medication, swallowing function can recover.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
1min 2sec home-news-image

Does myasthenia gravis require hospitalization?

Myasthenia gravis in its early stages requires hospital treatment. It is an autoimmune disease characterized by a post-synaptic membrane failure at the neuromuscular junction due to decreased acetylcholine. It generally manifests as skeletal muscle weakness, with symptoms often being lighter in the morning and more severe by evening, and includes easy fatigability. In such cases, even without a definitive diagnosis, hospitalization is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment, which may involve steroids or pyridostigmine. Treatment must be directed by a doctor. Once the condition stabilizes, the patient can be discharged and continue with oral medication. However, if a myasthenic crisis or other critical conditions occur, immediate hospitalization is necessary to maintain vital signs, as these situations can be life-threatening.