What is Myasthenia Gravis that President Duterte claims to have?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE – The current President Rodrigo Duterte has Myasthenia Gravis. What is this kind of disease?
The current and 16th president of the Philippines is Rodrigo Duterte. Before obtaining the highest political position, he is formerly a Davao City Mayor who is known to have condemned drugs, abuses, and corruption.
And just recently, based on a report from Rappler, Duterte said he has the rare muscle disease called myasthenia gravis. He shared that one of his eyes has uncontrollable movement and added, “Actually my – that’s myasthenia gravis. It’s a nerve malfunction. I got it from my, exactly from my grandfather, ganun rin siya (he’s like that also). So, I believe really in genetics.”
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
Myasthenia Gravis is a neuromuscular disorder that weakens the skeletal muscles and according to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, MG is the most common primary disorder of neuromuscular transmission. It is rare that in every 100,000 people in the United States, it affects 14 to 20 people only.
Here are some of its symptoms according to Health Line:
- trouble talking
- problems walking up stairs or lifting objects
- facial paralysis
- difficulty breathing due to muscle weakness
- difficulty swallowing or chewing
- fatigue
- hoarse voice
- drooping of eyelids
- double vision
Meanwhile, other medical conditions of the president are: polyp in intestines, Buerger’s disease, Barrett’s esophagus a complication of GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease, and spinal issues.
US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states, “With treatment, most individuals with myasthenia can significantly improve their muscle weakness and lead full lives. Sometimes, the severe weakness of myasthenia gravis may cause respiratory failure, which requires immediate emergency medical care.”
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