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Prevention and awareness are key essentials in maintaining our physical bodies. Many resources may be found here including: statistics, demographics, and basic health regulations to assist you in a lifelong journey of whole health focusing on the first component of wholeness, the body. The health and faith resources found on this site combined can bring balance between our body, soul (mind, will and emotions) and spirit. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.
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Wondering how you can be more health conscious and are unsure where to start? You can check the National Health Observances calendar and see how you and your congregation celebrate health and honor those you love by making them aware of resources and agencies that provide support and materials to help you succeed!
Focus on health observances throughout the year.
Timely Topics:
Here's how to fight the "flu"...
Use this guide to discover the most common causes of the most common symptoms for your illnesses...
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Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
Description: A disorder in which messages are not conducted properly between the nerves and muscles, resulting in muscle fatigue and weakness because the signals are blocked. This disease is commonly heralded by weakness of the eyelids, causing them to droop.
Incidence: Three per 100,000 in the US
Prevalence: Females more than males; diagnosed most often between ages twenty and forty
Signs and symptoms:
- Droopy eyelids
- Double vision
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Trouble swallowing and chewing
Risk factors:
- Females ages twenty to forty
- Family history
Usual treatment:
- Medication (to prevent formation of substances in the body that block the nerve conduction to the muscles)
- Continued monitoring (exacerbations often require hospitalization)
- Surgery in some cases (remove thymus gland)
- Plasmapheresis (to cleanse the blood plasma)
Usual course: Varies greatly; chronic and characterized by remissions and exacerbations that can be mild to life-threatening. The exacerbation may last hours to days. Disease may progress to partial paralysis of the arms and legs and even the respiratory muscles to cause death.
Spiritual considerations: People with MG are often dependent upon medication for the duration of their lives. Since patients are mainly women of childbearing age, the faith community should make child care a priority. This disease can be discouraging Flare-ups can even result in being put on a ventilator. Provide a hopeful, calm and supportive environment. Plan to visit the hospital frequently and help the family cope during these times. Let the person know that they are not alone.
Suggested scriptures: Lamentations 3:22-26
Resources:
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation
5481 Cedar Lake Road, Suite 204
Minneapolis, MN 55416
1-800-541-5454
www.myasthenia.org
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Faith, hope, and love coupled with wisdom assists the believer in achieving health harmony in the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and spirit. Strengthen your inner man's soul and spirit by the associated articles, resources, and inspiration in our faith section. May the Lord prosper you with whole health. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.
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We welcome collaboration with any professional health care agencies, as well as, church leaders. Also, if you are interested in linking, contributing or assisting Congregational Health ReSource with content, please contact us.
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