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Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited diseases that damage and weaken your muscles over time. This damage and weakness is due to the lack of a protein called dystrophin, which is necessary for normalmuscle function. The absence of this protein can cause problems with walking, swallowing, and muscle coordination.Muscular dystrophy can occur at any age, but most diagnoses occur in childhood. Young boys are more likely to have this disease than girls.

The prognosis for muscular dystrophy depends on the type and the severity of symptoms. However, most individuals with muscular dystrophy do lose the ability to walk and eventually require a wheelchair. There’s no known cure for muscular dystrophy, but certain treatments may help.

Important Types of Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Becker muscular dystrophy
Congenital muscular dystrophy
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD)
Myotonic dystrophy
Distal muscular dystrophy
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
This type of muscular dystrophy is the most common among children. The majority of individuals affected are boys. It’s rare for girls to develop it. The symptoms include:

Difficulty in walking,loss of reflexes,difficulty standing up,poor posture,bone thinning, scoliosis, which is an abnormal curvature of spine,mild intellectual impairment,breathing difficulties,swallowing problems,lung and heart weakness

Becker muscular dystrophy
Becker muscular dystrophy is similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but it’s less severe. This type of muscular dystrophy also more commonly affects boys. Muscle weakness occurs mostly in your arms and legs, with symptoms appearing between age 11 and 25.

Other symptoms of Becker muscular dystrophy include:

Walking on your toes,frequent falls,muscle cramps, and rouble getting up from the floor

Many with this disease don’t need a wheelchair until they’re in their mid-30s or older, and a small percentage of people with this disease never require one. Most people with Becker muscular dystrophy live until middle age or later.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy causes weakening of the muscles and a loss of muscle bulk. This type of muscular dystrophy usually begins in your shoulders and hips, but it may also occur in your legs and neck. You may find it hard to get up out of a chair, walk up and down stairs, and carry heavy items if you have limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. You may also stumble and fall more easily.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy affects both males and females. Most people with this form of muscular dystrophy are disabled by age 20. However, many have a normal life expectancy.

It may also affect your respiratory system and heart muscles. The symptoms tend to progress slowly and include a loss of fine motor skills and difficulty walking. Most people, both male and female, are diagnosed with distal muscular dystrophy between the ages of 40 and 60.

Congenital muscular dystrophy
Congenital muscular dystrophies are often apparent between birth and age 2. This is when parents begin to notice that their child’s motor functions and muscle control aren’t developing as they should. Symptoms vary and may include Muscle weakness,poor motor control,inability to sit or stand without support,scoliosis,foot deformities,trouble swallowing,respiratory problems,vision problems,speech problems and intellectual impairment

While symptoms vary from mild to severe, the majority of people with congenital muscular dystrophy are unable to sit or stand without help. The lifespan of someone with this type also varies, depending on the symptoms

Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD)
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is also known as Landouzy-Dejerine disease. This type of muscular dystrophy affects the muscles in your face, shoulders, and upper arms. FSHD may cause:

Difficulty chewing or swallowing,slanted shoulders,a crooked appearance of the mouth,a wing-like appearance of the shoulder blades

A smaller number of people with FSHD may develop hearing and respiratory problems.

FSHD tends to progress slowly. Symptoms usually appear during your teenage years, but they sometimes don’t appear until your 40s. Most people with this condition live a full life span.

How is muscular dystrophy diagnosed?
A number of different tests can help your doctor diagnose a muscular dystrophy. Your doctor can:

Test your blood for the enzymes released by damaged muscles
Test your blood for the genetic markers of muscular dystrophy
Perform an electromyography test on your muscle’s electrical activity using an electrode needle that enters your muscle
Perform a muscle biopsy to test a sample of your muscle for muscular dystrophy
How is muscular dystrophy treated?
There’s currently no cure for muscular dystrophy, but treatments can help manage your symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. Treatments depend on your symptoms.

Therapy has proven to be effective. You can strengthen your muscles and maintain your range of motion using physical therapy. Occupational therapy can help you:

Become more independent
Improve your coping skills
Improve your social skills
Gain access to community services

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