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.
The key is to make movement something you do regularly without turning every workout into a test of how much your muscles can tolerate. Start at a level your healthcare team considers safe, and choose a time of day when your strength tends to be better.
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.
That could look like:
- 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:
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.
Pay attention to which parts of your day consistently take the most out of you and where small adjustments make things easier. That could mean doing an errand earlier in the day, adding a rest break before or after a demanding activity, or exercising during a part of the day when you tend to have more strength.
“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.
Read the full article here
