For our first blog on the topic of Muscular Dystophy (MD),
we wanted to give an overview of the disease and how it can be categorized.
MD is an inherited disease that damages and weakens your
muscles over time due to a lack of protein called dystrophin. Without dystrophin, the body cannot maintain
normal muscle function. This will lead
to abnormalities with walking, swallowing, and other coordinated muscular
activities. Most people will lose the
ability to walk eventually, and there is no known cure for MD. A copyrighted picture can be seen below that
shows the effects of MD on normal muscles.
There are over 30 different types of muscular dystrophies
and the symptoms can vary. The types can be included in the 9 categories listed
below:
-
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
-
Becker Muscular Dystrophy
-
Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
-
Myotonic Dystrophy
-
Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD)
-
Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
-
Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD)
-
Distal Muscular Dystrophy
-
Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy
MD is usually diagnosed while in childhood, but can occur at
any age. Males are more likely to be
diagnosed than females. In order for a
person to be diagnosed with MD, blood tests, electromyography tests, or a
muscle biopsy must be done. These tests
can confirm the presence of certain enzymes released by the damaged muscles.
While MD cannot be cured, there are treatment options to
manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. These options include:
- corticosteroid
drugs
- assisted
ventilation
- medication
for heart problems
- surgery
to help correct the shortening of your muscles
- surgery
to repair cataracts
- surgery
to treat scoliosis
- surgery
to treat cardiac problems
More detailed information regarding an overview of MD can be
found at the link below:
http://www.healthline.com/health/muscular-dystrophy#Overview1
Written By: Adam B
Posted By: Josh W
01/01/2016 - 7:40 PM Eastern
Written By: Adam B
Posted By: Josh W
01/01/2016 - 7:40 PM Eastern
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