Understanding and Overcoming Muscular Dystrophy

Hereditary Muscular Dystrophy

In this paper, I would like to research and discuss Hereditary Muscular Dystrophy disorder that had changed my whole opinion, and living sense on this planet. In today days there are so many diseases that cause humans to suffer pain and experience a feeling of being exceptional. Muscular Dystrophy is one of the toughest disorders that require lots of patience and inspiration to fight to endure until the end. I would like to introduce in depth any available resources and cure for people who belong to the MD category to find better quality of life and encouragement to stay alive. I personally choose this topic, because I have been observing my mom fighting with the Muscular Dystrophy disorder all my life. We all

know that there are no cure and treatment, but all we can do is be strong and hope for better tomorrow.
Muscular Dystrophy is a general designation of a group of more than 30 inherited diseases, characterized by the progressive degeneration and weakness of voluntary muscles, which controls movement (CDC). There are two most common types, Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. Duchenne MD, which mostly affects males and it is faster progressing muscular dystrophy, where boys loose ability to walk between ages 7 and 13 years and death in the teens or early 20s. Becker MD is much similar too, but show less weakness and more variable progression of symptoms. I would like to include graph from “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” interpreting population based prevalence data in the United States of males with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. Retrieved from: http://www.mda.org.au/Disorders/Dystrophies/LatterOnset.asp.
According to this data, percentage of Males with DMD three times higher than the prevalence of BMD.
IDEA act helps states and local neighborhoods to protect the rights of, and the meet needs of infants, toddlers, children with disabilities and their families (U.S. Department of Education). Thankfully to the IDEA act that was established in 1975, each and every exceptional child can get special intervention and care, which helps children to attend general classroom and accomplish a higher level of knowledge and be a part of the society, which we all know was unavailable to us in past generations. Children with physical disabilities required to get special education, some of them able to get education in general classroom with minimal accommodations, whereas others require specialized instructions, environmental modifications, therapy and related services (Heward, p. 397).
First of all, MD is caused by a deficit of protein called “Dystrophin” this muscle is responsible to keep muscle cells intact, but when mutated gene miscarry to produce protein, muscle becomes weaker and lose it’s strength. To determine the stage and progressiveness of MD many blood tests being assigned to determine levels of protein, since in most of the cases MD belongs to Hereditary disease, genetic testing also very important to be done and figure genetic mutation of the muscle protein “dystrophin”. Also, Electromyography (EMG) to measure muscles strength. Final step is to obtain more detailed diagnosis, to have muscle biopsy, which will help to define MD degree and category of the disease (MDA).
In addition, Muscular Dystrophy in most of the cases demonstrates muscle weakness by in early childhood or teen years, might also appear at the adulthood and usually found in boys, but in very rare cases it can affect girls. Depending on the effected age spam some might experience slight weakness of the muscle and continue a normal life span with few restrictions and slow progress like, walk with unusual gait difficulty in running and other mild symptoms. On the other hand, unexpectedly some rapidly move with severe muscle weakness and waste, they can’t walk at all, their upper and lower extremities being affected muscle power no longer exist its being replaced by fatty tissue (Heward, p.397). Predominantly, boys might have some severity of learning disabilities, even though MD does not affect the brain, since the brain is not a muscle, but dystrophin abnormalities might cause behavioral problems and emotional interaction. The worst part of MD is the final stage, when heart and lung muscle being affected and the condition can become life-threatening (The Muscular Dystrophy Association) Retrieved from: https://www.mda.org
This is when assistive technology comes to help.

MD requires the use of low-tech assistive devices, as well as high-tech assistive devices. Wheelchair, power wheelchair, standing walker is a great mobility devices that help MD children to move freely and explore places without restrictions. Being able to go places and be part of the society is very important, especially for children with physical disabilities that are why wheelchair is number one assistive technology for Muscular Dystrophy patients. Since MD predominantly affects males depending on their gradual weakness many of them starts using a wheelchair as early as five years old. This graph indicates percentage use of a wheelchair in boys with Muscular dystrophy ages 5 through 25, as we can see usage increases as the child gets older in age and more progressed weakness appears. (Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention).

Muscular Dystrophy Association provides enormous help, support and increases better quality of life for people who has any neuromuscular diseases, they maintain close contact with their patients as well as affording different types of research in order to break through and find treatments and cures. Once the patient is registered with MDA they are get monthly magazines with new services, and invitations to join and any available activities for people with exceptionalities. Also, Centers for Disease Control and prevention is a great resource for people with any disabilities. They provide more physicians, nurses and professionals to help, care for people living. Especially people with limited strength require extra partnership with families to fulfill and provide best care for our loved once. Retrieved from: https://www.mda.org and http://www.cdc.gov.
Sadly, in today’s days there is not specific cure to stop or overturn from any Muscular Dystrophy disorder.

Some of the medical treatments can help maintain comfort and function of a child. Sooner or later, Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Speech therapy and Respiratory therapy all required breaking through and retaining courage to fight until the end. Drug treatment also used in all of the cases to reduce stress and pain of the patients, like corticosteroids to slow muscle degeneration, pain relievers sometimes use of antibiotics necessary to fight any infections. Retrieved from: http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/muscular-dystrophy.html.

In conclusion, Muscular Dystrophy belongs to one of the rare disorders in the world, but even though people who live with it are suffering from pain and abnormality. MD is different for everyone, some may show slow progress and weakness, which is much easier to handle and live with, whereas, others rapidly move with huge dystrophy and become fully immobilize. Nevertheless, families and patients with Muscular Dystrophy should find effective ways through available resources and institutions to come to light, because MD should not keep any child from enjoying their live and being part of the

world.