6 Daily Habits to Help You Manage Myasthenia Gravis

While you can’t control every fluctuation in MG symptoms, you can make some choices that help you use your energy and strength more effectively. And though these six habits don’t replace treatment, they can help you conserve strength, work around symptom fluctuations, and make daily tasks a little more manageable.

1. Schedule Activities for Specific Times of Day

“Depending on the level of physical activity throughout the day, the degree of weakness can vary significantly,” says Xinli Du, MD, PhD, a neurologist at VCU Health in Henrico, Virginia.

2. Strategize to Conserve Your Energy

“Taking strategic rest [breaks] to recover is often necessary,” she says.

• Sit rather than stand while showering, brushing your teeth, or getting ready.
• Use electric appliances, such as an electric toothbrush or can opener, when they make a task easier.
• Keep frequently used items within easy reach so you don't have to bend, reach, or walk farther than necessary.

“The patients that pace themselves better tend to do best,” says Ricardo Roda, MD, PhD, the director of the myasthenia gravis center at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

If fatigue or weakness is building, Dr. Roda recommends resting rather than simply trying to push through it.

3. Move Your Body Regularly

You need to listen to your body in terms of how much activity you aim to do, but once your condition starts to stabilize, regular exercise is important, says Richard Nowak, MD, an associate professor of neurology and the director of the Yale myasthenia gravis clinic in New Haven, Connecticut.

4. Stay Cool

Hot weather aggravates symptoms of myasthenia gravis, says Du. “Keeping the environment at a cool temperature helps, especially during the summer months,” she says.

• Scheduling outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day
• Using air-conditioning or spending time in a cool public place when your home gets too warm
• Keeping a cooling towel or cold compress handy for your neck or forehead

If you notice that hot weather consistently brings on weakness or other symptoms, factor that into how you plan exercise, errands, and outdoor activities.

5. Get Consistent Sleep

Even when MG muscle weakness is well-managed, some people continue to experience fatigue that feels more like exhaustion or low energy than fatigable muscle weakness, says Du.

Poor sleep is one of several issues doctors may consider when that happens, says Roda. He recommends basic sleep habits that can make restorative sleep more likely:

• Go to bed at about the same time each night.
• Avoid screens around bedtime.
• Skip caffeine after 2 p.m.

6. Develop a Daily Reset Practice

Living with a condition that can change from day to day can be stressful. “Having one simple way to unwind or manage anxiety and practicing it regularly can make it easier to use when you’re having a harder day, says Stephanie Towns, PsyD, an associate professor of neurology and a neuropsychologist at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.

Dr. Towns gives a few examples of short daily practices you might try:

• Deep or paced breathing
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Guided imagery or another mindfulness exercise

How to Build a Habit Routine That Sticks

There isn’t one daily routine that works for everyone with MG; everyone’s a little bit different, says Roda. The habits that help most should be tailored to your symptoms, schedule, and treatment plan, he says.

“Most people with MG gradually learn which activities are most taxing and settle into a rhythm that alternates activity with rest,” says Roda.

Keep your healthcare team involved as you figure out what works. “It is a team effort; your feedback to your doctor is equally important as the information your doctor provides to you,” says Du.