A. I usually tell patients that they can do what they want, but that as soon as they're tired, they should stop. An extra five minutes or half hour might have serious adverse effects. When a person feels myasthenic symptoms coming back, he or she should rest. If people push themselves too far, they could develop more weakness or breathing problems. A. Avoiding exposure to excessive heat is important for people with myasthenia, so they should not exercise in hot environments or do exercise that raises body temperature a lot.
Swimming is best, because the water cools the body while the person is exercising.
Gentle walking is also all right. Most activities that require vigorous and repetitive use of muscles are not good. Most patients with myasthenia have an increased sleep requirement. One of the earliest symptoms of myasthenia gravis is increasingly frequent napping. In the early stages of the disease, a nap may make all the symptoms go away.