June Is Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month -- National Campaign: Uniting For A Cure Of Rare Disease

The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) announces its ninth annual "MG Awareness Month" during the month of June, to raise awareness of the often misunderstood and under-diagnosed disease, myasthenia gravis (MG). MG Awareness Month is an effort by MGFA and its local chapters to raise awareness of MG to patients and caregivers, medical professionals and the general public. MG Awareness Month activities will take place throughout the country, urging patients, caregivers, medical professionals and communities across the country to take action in "Uniting for a Cure."

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 22, 2009 -- The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) announces its ninth annual "MG Awareness Month" during the month of June, to raise awareness of the often misunderstood and under-diagnosed disease, myasthenia gravis (MG). MG Awareness Month is an effort by MGFA and its local chapters to raise awareness of MG to patients and caregivers, medical professionals and the general public. MG Awareness Month activities will take place throughout the country, urging patients, caregivers, medical professionals and communities across the country to take action in "Uniting for a Cure."

MG is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease that affects voluntary muscles. Common symptoms can include slurred speech, difficulty chewing and swallowing, blurred or double vision, weakness in the arms and legs, chronic muscle fatigue and difficulty breathing. Approximately 20 out of 100,000 individuals in the U.S. have been diagnosed with MG. However, MG is considered under-diagnosed due to symptoms similar to other diseases and a lack of awareness among the medical community; the prevalence is thought to be much higher.

There are many effective treatments that allow many patients with MG to lead full lives; however, there is currently no known cure. A key priority for MGFA is to raise funds for research to find a cure and improve treatments for those with this disease.

This year's MG Awareness Month theme, "Uniting for a Cure…Together We Are Stronger," is a call to action to those within the MG community and beyond to step up, with the ultimate goal of a world without MG. The vital goals of this campaign are to promote an understanding of the scope of this disease, and to further MGFA's mission in providing information and support to people with MG through research, education, community programs, and advocacy.

MGFA is the only national volunteer health agency dedicated solely to the fight against the debilitating disease, myasthenia gravis. MGFA currently has a network of chapters throughout the United States, forming MG support communities in many local areas. For information on local chapter activities, visit www.myasthenia.org or call MGFA at 1-800-541-5454.   

About The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America
Founded in 1952, the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) is the only national volunteer health agency dedicated solely to the fight against the debilitating disease, myasthenia gravis. MGFA is committed to finding a cure for myasthenia gravis and closely related diseases, improving treatment options and providing information and support to people with myasthenia gravis through research, education, community programs, and advocacy. MGFA has 25 chapters in the United States serving patients, their families and caregivers through support groups and educational programs. For more information, please visit http://www.myasthenia.org/

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