Tennis Legend Monica Seles Shares Warning Signs That Led to Her Myasthenia Gravis Diagnosis: Exploring Its Causes

Tennis legend Monica Seles has recently revealed her struggle with myasthenia gravis, a rare neuromuscular autoimmune disease that has significantly impacted her life. Seles, a nine-time Grand Slam champion and International Tennis Hall of Famer, shared her journey publicly for the first time to raise awareness about this challenging condition. She explained how her in-depth attachment with her body as a professional athlete made her more aware of abnormal symptoms, so she sought medical assistance at an early enough stage and received her diagnosis three years ago.

Monica Seles on Her Myasthenia Gravis Diagnosis 

Monica Seles revealed that her symptoms began with muscle weakness and double vision while playing tennis with family and friends. “I would miss a ball and think, ‘Yeah, I see two balls.’ These were obviously signs you can’t ignore,” she said. She also found that simple daily tasks, like blowing out her hair, became difficult. The diagnosis was a shock, but also a relief in a way. “It took me quite some time to absorb it and speak openly because it’s a difficult condition that affects my day-to-day life quite a lot,” Seles shared. She hopes that by speaking out, she can help others dealing with similar struggles and raise awareness for myasthenia gravis (MG).

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Warning Signs Shared by Monica Seles

Among the warning signs that Monica observed before her diagnosis were:

• Muscle weakness in her arms and legs, which worsened with activity
• The instances of a phenomenon known as double vision
• Problems playing tennis or performing the simple things they used to easily do such as basic grooming
• Sudden fatigue and muscle tiredness after exertion

She stressed that it is critical to be able to listen to the body and take action when it seems that things are really out of the ordinary. These are some of the initial signs which prompted her to see specialists and finally get the kind of diagnosis that altered her life.

What Is Myasthenia Gravis? 

Dr. Pavan Pai, Consultant Interventional Neurologist at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mira Road, Mumbai, explains: “Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that primarily affects the skeletal muscles responsible for voluntary movements. In this condition, the body’s immune system mistakenly targets the communication between nerves and muscles, leading to muscle weakness.”

Dr Pai further notes, “This weakness typically worsens with activity and improves with rest, creating a unique pattern of symptoms. MG can affect muscles involved in speaking, swallowing, eye movement, and limb function.” The fluctuating nature of this disorder makes it difficult to diagnose early as symptoms can mimic other conditions. MG is rare but serious, requiring timely diagnosis and careful management to improve a patient’s quality of life.

Causes of Myasthenia Gravis

This disorder occurs when the immune system disrupts the interaction between nerves and muscles in a manner that causes weakness.

• Antibodies manufactured by the immune system stop or kill acetylcholine receptors on muscles.
• This prevents the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles effectively.
• These harmful antibodies may be caused by the thymus gland.
• The cause is not precisely known, but infections, other autoimmune diseases or certain medicines may contribute to the cause.
• There is also the possibility of people being predisposed to it by genetic factors.

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Takeaway

The case of Monica Seles demonstrates the significance of paying attention to early symptoms such as muscle weakness or double vision, which may be symptoms of myasthenia gravis. Early diagnosis and treatment of MG can be achieved through the perception of the same as an autoimmune diseases that interfere with nerve-muscle communication. Experts like Dr. Pavan Pai emphasise the unique pattern of muscle weakness that worsens with activity but improves with rest. Seles’ journey of acceptance and advocacy shines a light on living well with this rare disease and inspires others facing similar health challenges.