Know Muscle Dystrophy, Abnormalities in Muscle Threatening Life

Muscular dystrophy is a form of muscle disorder. In general, muscular dystrophy is caused by genetic disorders inherited from parents to children, even though the father or mother does not experience any symptoms. However, muscular dystrophy can also be the result of an inherited genetic mutation. The human body consists of various types of muscles, each of which has a different role. These muscles allow the body to move and make humans move. Any abnormality in the muscles can interfere with the body's performance and be fatal. This disorder generally causes muscle pain, weakness, or even paralysis. Abnormalities in muscles can be caused by various factors, such as injuries, inflammation, infections, neurological diseases, side effects of drugs consumed, cancer, genetic disorders, and other unknown causes. Muscle dystrophy is a type of muscle disorder caused by genetic disorders.

Main Types of Muscle Dystrophy

One of the abnormalities in the muscles caused by genetic factors is muscular dystrophy. Symptoms of muscular dystrophy in general can be seen since childhood, especially in boys. Abnormalities in these muscles cause muscle weakness and gradual loss of muscle tissue, even to the point of being unable to walk, difficulty swallowing, scoliosis, and difficulty breathing. There are nine main types of muscular dystrophy. The following are the most common types of muscular dystrophy:

• Duchenne muscular dystrophy

This is the most common type of muscle disorder or muscular dystrophy in boys. This rare disease whose symptoms are seen at age 2-6 years causes muscles to weaken and shrink, or vice versa to enlarge. The spine, arms and legs are generally paralyzed slowly so that sufferers need to use a wheelchair. Usually it starts around the age of 12 years and will experience a worsening condition until he dies in his early 20s. Respiratory and cardiac disorders are symptoms experienced by end-stage sufferers. This disease can generally be detected in toddlers with symptoms, including walking on tiptoes or resting on your toes, frequent falls, difficulty jumping and running, difficulty rising from a sitting or lying position, impaired growth and development, large calf muscles, and muscles feel stiff and painful.

• Miotonic

The disease, also called Steinert's disease or MMD, is the most muscular dystrophy in adult men or women, but can also occur in children. Abnormalities in muscles that can cause the life expectancy of sufferers is reduced, causing muscle spasms or stiffness after activity. In the long run, this disease can disrupt the working system of the heart, eyes, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and producing glands

• Limb-girdle

This type of muscle disorder is characterized by the condition of muscle weakness gradually starting from the hips, then to the legs, arms and shoulders. Within 20 years, abnormalities in the muscles that can attack both men and women, can cause sufferers unable to walk.

• Becker muscular dystrophy

The symptoms resemble Duchenne with a much lighter severity and slower disease development, so that it still allows the sufferer to live to the age of 30 years and over. Abnormalities in the muscles that can cause heart problems are generally experienced by symptoms generally appear at around 11 years of age, but can also only appear in the age of 20 years.

• Facioscapulohumeral

This is the name of the muscle that moves the bones of the upper arm, shoulder blade, and face. Another name for this disease is Landouzy-Dejerine's disease. Symptoms of abnormalities in these muscles begin to appear in adolescence, and will gradually cause sufferers to swallow, talk, and the impact of the disease varies according to the severity. But about 50 percent of sufferers can still walk and live according to the average age of humans.

In some very rare cases, muscular dystrophy is not hereditary and is formed from gene mutations or changes in the nature of new genes that are not normal. Some genetic mutations occur spontaneously at the embryonic stage or in the mother's egg. Blood tests, urine tests, electromyography (EMG), muscle biopsy, electrocardiography, MRI scanning and muscle ultrasound, and genetic tests are some of the procedures commonly performed to aid in diagnosis.

Management of muscular dystrophy

So far there have been no specific treatment or treatment steps that can cure abnormalities in muscles caused by muscular dystrophy. However, several ways can be done to prevent further complications and help people with this muscle disorder to be able to move as normal as possible. As a treatment, corticosteroid medications can be given to help increase muscle strength and slow down the development of certain types of abnormalities in the muscles. The step of administering drugs can be used to treat dystrophy that disturbs the heart. Various therapies can also be given to improve the quality of life of sufferers, including low impact aerobics (such as walking and swimming), stretching exercises, physiotherapy, and speech therapy. Some patients also need a variety of supporting equipment, such as braces, wheelchairs, and breathing aids namely ventilator machines. Improved diet by eating foods rich in nutrients, rich in fiber, rich in protein, and low in calories, has also been shown to slow the development of muscular dystrophy. The good news, thanks to advances in the medical world, some sufferers can survive to an average age, but some can only live until their 20s.