How does heat affect MG symptoms?

Hi. I hope I don't make this too complicated.

In MG, antibodies attack the neuromuscular junction, destroying muscle receptors. It's the place where the nerve meets the muscle. Acetylcholine, kind of like our bodies "muscle gas," then doesn't have as many muscle receptors to go into.

When acetylcholine is done "feeding" our muscles with energy, there is an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase that comes in and "mops up" the acetylcholine. Mestinon, one of the drugs used for MG, helps "fend off" the enzyme and keeps more acetylcholine in our neuromuscular junction longer, so we can use more of it.

When your body gets hot from a fever from an infection or hot weather or anything else that heats the body up, that little enzyme gets much greater in number. That also happens when we get too cold. The enzyme "eats up" even more acetylcholine. Then we have even less muscle gas and our muscles get weaker.

People without MG have this happen too but they don't notice it as much. They may get "tired" after being out in the heat for too long.

Just stay the heck out of the heat AND humidity! Oh, the humidity makes it worse because when it's humid, your body can't sweat. Sweating cools off the body. So if you can't cool down, you can get even worse.

Annie

The heat and humidity are hitting me hard. My MG has not been bothering me too bad since I have been on summer vacation from teaching. For most of June our high temps have been in the 60's. Well that changed!!!! Temps in 90s, heat indexs in the 100s. I have been crumbling. I am beat. I umpire at youth softball games twice a week, 3 hours a night. Just standing in the field knocks me out, it is so HOT!!!! I come home, shower, and crash.

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/v...-Cooling-Wraps

Tbarney, These are cooling bands to wear around your head or neck. No, I'm not affilated with QVC!

A lot of companies also make cooling vests that you can wear under shirts.

You need to do everything you can to stay cool outside!!! Heat is the one thing that will tank MG really quickly.

Giving up what you like to do is usually not an option. So try to stay as cool as you can.

HEllo all! I've been stuk inside my home since Tuesday since it has been so flippin hot here!

The heat makes my face SWELL and I'm am worn out in a matter of minutes - and I live in and LOVE Texas but wonder where Mike and I are going to retire - this staying inside is not a long term option for me!

HATE, HATE, HATE the heat!

Erin

Erin,
I agree we live in a great state, but with the greatest HOT temps around! Ugh, the heat is killing me this week. 104 yesterday and I spent 6 hours in the sun. I'm nuts!!!.....but still kickin!! Love my A/C and Blue Bell Ice Cream!!

Hi,

Where can I find this information that acetylcholinesterase increases with heat?

Thanks,

HI