What Is Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy is one of the most popular disorders directly affecting the muscles. It is very common yet a lot of people do not seem to be familiar with it. If you are wondering what this disorder is all about, some important facts are written below.

What is muscular dystrophy? This is a disorder that affects the muscles by making them weak. When your muscles become weak, it will be difficult for you to move. It is degenerative because it prevents the muscles from growing. Experts believe that this condition is hereditary and has something to do with your genes. Some people have genes that do not allow the body to produce sufficient amount of protein for the muscles. When your muscles do not get protein, they become weak and they start to get damaged.

What are the symptoms? Symptoms of muscular dystrophy usually appear early in life. However, for some, it could appear much later. Symptoms include weakening of the muscles and difficulty in getting up after sitting or lying on the bed. Some people may also experiencing frequent falls and difficult in running.

There are many types and categories of muscular dystrophy. One type is known as the limb-girdle disorder which generally affects your hips and shoulders. When you have this type, it will be difficult for you to lift your legs or hands. You may also experiencing tripping often as your body will have a difficult time controlling your feet's movements. The other type is known as the congenital muscle dystrophy. This type is usually detected very early in life - as early as 2 years old. It can progress slowly or quickly depending on the person. The next type is the oculopharyngeal type. From its name, you can already assume that it affects the eyes and the throat. People who have this type of muscular dystrophy experience weakness of the eye muscles. The neck and throat muscles are also affected so it is very difficult to eat and swallow food and drinks. The symptoms, however, can appear very late in life - around the age of 50.

There are risk factors involved in muscular dystrophy. Because it is genetic in nature, you will have a higher chance of getting this disorder if anyone in your family has experienced it. According to some studies, men are more susceptible to experience this condition than women.

If you notice that your muscles or your child's muscles are becoming particularly weak, you should immediately contact your doctor. Your doctor will help you prevent the condition from affecting the other muscles in your body. He will also be able to suggest treatments and self-care tips. It is very important to deal with this problem immediately because it can put your life in danger. For instance, if it affects the muscles of your face, you may not be able to eat or breathe properly. There are certain medications that can slow down the degeneration of the muscles. For serious cases, breathing assistance may be given to the patient.

Hi. I'm Karen. Ever since my friend introduced me to osteopathy, I've been a huge fan. My osteopathy practitioner helps me get back on track when I visit. This has inspired me to understand more about my body and how I can get the best from it.

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