Muscular dystrophy is defined as a group of genetic muscle diseases that are hereditary and that weaken the muscles that help to move the body. Muscular dystrophy occurs with the death of muscle cells and tissues in the human body, which in turn causes skeletal muscle weakness and defects in muscle proteins. Doctors have discovered more than 100 diseases that are considered or classified as muscular dystrophy. Some of the most common disease are Duchenne, Becker, limb girdle, congenital, facioscapulohuneral, myotonic, oculopharyngeal, distal and Emery Dreifuss. The majority of the 100 diseases that are classified as muscular dystrophy are multi symptom disorders that cause problems in the heart, the gastrointestinal and nervous systems, the endocrine glands, the skin, the eyes and other major organs within the body.
Muscular dystrophy is an inherited disease that occurs via a mutation on one of the X chromosomes of the human body. Males have only one X chromosome so the mutation can occur quite simply in men but since females have two X chromosomes the mutation must be present on both of their X chromosomes for muscular dystrophy to occur. The most common form of muscular dystrophy is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, also referred to as DMD. The main symptoms of muscular dystrophy include walking difficulty, weakness, waddling gait, calf pain, respiratory difficulty, limited range of movement, poor balance, frequent falls and eventually the inability to walk at all.
When patients are suffering from one or more of the symptoms mentioned above they should consult their physician immediately to have their body examined. Testing for muscular dystrophy is incredibly easy. All it takes is a DNA test or a muscle biopsy. More often than not the doctor will perform a simple DNA test to determine whether or not the patient has developed muscular dystrophy. Once the disease has been diagnosed the doctor will examine the medical history of the patient to determine what type of muscular dystrophy the patient is suffering from. Each different form of muscular dystrophy affects specific muscle groups of the body.
Muscular dystrophy commonly affects adults but some of the most severe cases occur in infants, which can lead to death. Adults that are diagnosed with muscular dystrophy tend to suffer from the inability to walk, a loss of their range of movements, and problems feeding themselves. The disease can progress rather slowly in some patients and quite quickly in others. The progression of the disease depends on which type of muscular dystrophy the patient has been diagnosed with and where in the body the disease first developed. Muscular dystrophy can occur in the area of the pelvis, the shoulder, or the face.
This is one disease that still does not have a known cure. Doctors do tell their patients that inactivity can lead to worsening of the disease. Patients that are diagnosed with this disease should not sit for long periods of time or lie in bed for long periods of time either. They should try to remain active for as long as possible. Doctors recommend physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and orthopedic instruments might help patients prevent the disease from progressing more and more.
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