Question

A 65-year-old male is experiencing weakness in his neck and arm muscles of both sides of the body. He said that his muscle weakness gets worse the more he uses the affected muscles and that rest helps. He complains that lately his jaw gets tired when eating a meal. Lately he has been experiencing double vision. He recently retired and is looking forward to spending more time with his young grandchildren, so his symptoms are extremely frustrating. He has had no memory issues and completes the Sunday crossword puzzle every week. He has no significant medical history. What does he have?

Answer 1

The 65-year-old male is likely experiencing myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, and difficulty swallowing. Treatment may include medications to counter the effects of the mutant gene or suppress the immune system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms described suggest that the 65-year-old male has myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction's motor endplate. This condition is characterized by muscle weakness, which can start with drooping eyelids and progress to overall muscle weakness and fatigue. Other symptoms include difficulty swallowing, chewing, speaking, and breathing.

Myasthenia gravis is more common in women and typically begins between the ages of 20 and 40. Treatment may involve medications to counter the effects of the mutant gene or suppress the immune system. In advanced cases, myasthenia crises may occur, which require emergency medical care for assisted ventilation.