Muscular Dystrophy Essay

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Muscular Dystrophy Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder that weakens the muscles that help the body move. People that have muscular dystrophy have missing or incorrect information in their genes, which prevents them from making proteins for healthy muscles. Muscular Dystrophy weakens the muscles overtime, so whoever has the disease gradually lose the ability to do certain things, like walking or sitting up. Some people develop muscular dystrophy as adults, or they start having muscular problems as a baby. There are several different forms of muscular dystrophy, each of which weakens different muscle groups in various ways. The first type is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the most common type of the disease, is caused by a problem with the gene that makes the protein, dystropin. The second type is Becker Muscular Dystrophy, which is similar to Duchenne’s, but it’s symptoms like muscle breakdown and weakness occur at age 10 or even as an adult. The third type is Emery-Driefuss Muscular Dystrophy which affects mostly boys, involves joint problems in muscles, upper arms, and shins. There are also many other types, but these are the most common. The life expectancy for many of these forms depends on the degree to which a person’s muscles are weakening. While there are many different kinds of Muscular Dystrophy, symptoms include trouble breathing, or swallowing. Their limbs may also become drawn inward and become fixed in that position. They also can affect the heart and organs. There is still no for Muscular dystrophy, but medications and therapy may slow the course of this disease. Seek medical advice immediately if you notice signs of muscular weakness, such as clumsiness and falling , in you or your child. Work Citied 1. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/muscular-dystrophy/DS00200 2. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/md/md.htm 3.

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