Muscular Dystrophy

This paper intends to define tidy muscular dystrophy, enumerate whatever of the most common kinds, state its characteristics or symptoms, indicate the tests, treatment as wellhead as its prognosis earlier finally reintroducing its complications and prevention.Muscular muscular dystrophy DefinedMuscular Dystrophy is rattling still of thirty plus genetic diseases (National.., 2007). Otherwise known as inherited myopathy, Muscular Dystrophy includes the pursuance inherited sickness or medical conditions 1) Beckers muscular dystrophy 2) Duchenne muscular dystrophy 3) Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy 4) Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 5) Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy 6) Myotonic Dystrophy and 7) Myotonia Congenita (Kantor, 2006). Furthermore, Muscular Dystrophys characteristics include the fol depressive disordering 1) feeling weak 2) losing control of skeletal ponderousnesss as well as 3) affecting all ages (National.., 2007).Kinds of Muscular DystrophyThe kinds of Mus cular Dystrophy be the following1) Duchenne Muscular DystrophyThis kind occurs in approximately three out of three thousand five hundred boys (The.., 2007). It happens when the genes are ineffectual to produce dystrophin which is responsible for the strength of the muscles (The.., 2007). This kind emerges at the age of 5 and by 12, the patient is expected to use a wheelchair (The.., 2007). First, their pelvic muscles are affected, and following that, his or her raises, back, arms, as well as, legs will be the next (The.., 2007). With this kind of Muscular Dystrophy, a person will only live for approximately cardinal years (The.., 2007).2) Becker Muscular DystrophyThis kind happens in one in every 30,000 boys and just like the counterbalance kins, it is likewise due to the absence of dystrophin (The.., 2007). However, it is milder than the first and that patients suffering from it whitethorn live without a wheelchair (The.., 2007).3) Myotonic DystrophyThis is caused by a gene th at should not be as large as it is (The.., 2007). It occurs before a person turns twenty years old (The.., 2007). Its major symptoms include the following weakening & shrinking of the muscles (The.., 2007).4) Limb-Girdle Muscular DystrophyThis kind emerges in two genders (Limb.., 2006). The muscles in the back, pelvis, as well as, shoulders are usually affected in this kind (Limb.., 2006).5) Facioscapulohumeral Muscular DystrophyWith this kind, weakening of the muscles begin in the face, then the shoulder and back comes next, and finally the muscles located in the legs and pelvis may lose strength (Muscular.., 2006).SymptomsFor Muscular Dystrophy, the symptoms are the followingFirst of all is weakness of the muscles which actually gets worse gradually (Kantor, 2006). This is very much noticeable especially if the patient suffering from it experiences recurrent and numerous falls (Kantor, 2006). In addition to that, the patient may be confronted with interrupted development of what is technically referred to as muscular motor skills (Kantor, 2006). Moreover, if the patient is already delayed in base on balls or if he or she experiences problems with walking then it is highly possible that he or she suffers from Muscular Dystrophy (Kantor, 2006).Furthermore, if the patient finds it difficult to utilize even just one of the muscle groups, then it is time to ask the doctor to check on the patient to confirm occurrence and emergence of Muscular Dystrophy (Kantor, 2006). Also, the patient who has Muscular Dystrophy will experience drooping of the eyelid (Kantor, 2006). Last besides not least, the patient suffering from Muscular Dystrophy will exhibit drooling as well (Kantor, 2006).Secondly, there are types of Muscular Dystrophy wherein a patient may signify mental retardation (Kantor, 2006).Thirdly, Muscular Dystrophy patients also suffer from low muscle tone or that which is technically referred to as hypotonia (Kantor, 2006).Fourthly, a patient who is diagnosed to confound Muscular Dystrophy exhibits joint contractures like clubfoot, clawhand, etc (Kantor, 2006).Last but not least, someone who has Muscular Dystrophy may also have a spine thats curved which means that he or she also has scoliosis (Kantor, 2006).TestsFor Muscular Dystrophy to be diagnosed as a medical condition suffered from by the patient, there are several tests that could be carried out and some of these are the followingFirst in the list is to have a physical examination including a look at the patients medical accounting (Kantor, 2006).The second one is to undergo muscle biopsy (Kantor, 2006). This will already confirm if the patient indeed suffers from Muscular Dystrophy (Kantor, 2006).The third is to perform what is technically referred to as Serum CPK (Kantor, 2006).The fourth is for the patient to be checked and tested through electromyography or EMG, for short (Kantor, 2006).Last but not least is for the patient to go through ECG or electrocardiography (Kantor, 2006).Other tests that the patient could go through to confirm Muscular Dystrophy include the following 1) Aldolase 2) AST 3) Creatinine 4) LDH and 5) Myoglobin (Kantor, 2006).TreatmentUnfortunately, experts have yet to discover ways on how to address this particular medical condition (Kantor, 2006). However, they presented techniques on how to manage the symptoms exhibited by the patients diagnosed to have Muscular Dystrophy (Kantor, 2006). both(prenominal) of these are the followingFirst of all, physical therapy may be carried out to help sustain the strength of the muscles, as well as, in keeping the muscles operational (Kantor, 2006).Second is the utilization of braces and wheelchair (Kantor, 2006). This enables the patient to do some of the things on his or her own, for instance, moving around etc (Kantor, 2006).Third is for the patient to undergo spine or leg surgery (Kantor, 2006). This action may keep, if not improve the functions of the aforementioned parts of the body (Ka ntor, 2006).Fourth, some doctors prescribe corticosteroids to children so as to keep them walking (Kantor, 2006).Fifth, medical experts advice that patients suffering from Muscular Dystrophy should avoid complete inactivity since this will make the condition much worse (Kantor, 2006). They should try to move or be active as much as possible (Kantor, 2006).PrognosisMuscular Dystrophies worsen as time goes by and this goes for all kinds (Kantor, 2006). However, how severe it is dwells on the kind of Muscular Dystrophy suffered from by the patient (Kantor, 2006). How fast it occurs also depends upon its kind and on the person suffering from it (Kantor, 2006). There are also some kinds of Muscular Dystrophy which have been proven as fatal (Kantor, 2006).ComplicationsMuscular Dystrophy also has some complications and these are 1) cardiomyopathy decreased ability to deal care of oneself decreased mobility failure of the respiratory system joint contractures mental disability as well as, scoliosis (Kantor, 2006).PreventionMedical experts say that in cases where a family member from the previous generations had Muscular Dystrophy, the members from the current generation should seek for what is technically referred to as genetic counseling (Kantor, 2006).ReferencesKantor, D. (2006). Muscular Dystrophy. Retrieved May 6, 2007 fromhttp//www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001190.htmLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. (2006). Retrieved May 6, 2007 fromhttp//www.emedicine.com/PMR/topic65.htmMuscular Dystrophy Association. (2006). Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy.Retrieved May 6, 2007 fromhttp//www.mdausa.org/disease/fshd.htmlNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2007). Muscular Dystrophy.Retrieved May 6, 2007 fromhttp//www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/md/md.htmThe Nemours Foundation. (2007). Muscular Dystrophy. Retrieved May 6, 2007 fromhttp//www.kidshealth.org/ cite/medical/bones/muscular_dystrophy.html