Guide To The Symptoms Of Myasthenia Gravis

Dysphagia

Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) is a common manifestation of myasthenia gravis in affected individuals. Swallowing is an individual's action of moving food from the mouth, through the throat, down the esophagus, and into the stomach. The action of swallowing occurs in three stages. After food is chewed and blended with saliva, it is placed on the back of the tongue. The individual closes their mouth, and the soft palate elevates to close off the passage between the nasal and oral cavities. Next, the tongue rolls in a backward motion to move food into the channel behind the mouth that both air and food move through. The voice box shifts upward to close off the opening to the air passage, and pressure propels the food into the individual's esophagus. When the food approaches the upper esophageal sphincter, it relaxes to allow food through and closes immediately to inhibit food from moving back into the mouth. From there, rhythmic muscle movements propel the food down the rest of the esophagus into the stomach. Weakness in the muscles that move the tongue, soft palate, pharynx, larynx, esophageal sphincter, or esophagus can cause an individual with myasthenia gravis to experience dysphagia.

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