Muscular Dystrophy         Muscular dystrophy is a disease of the muscles.

Muscular Dystrophy         Muscular dystrophy is a disease of the muscles. It can affect anyone from young kids to adults. Muscular dystrophy (MD) has many different forms. A few of these are: Duchenne, Becker, limb-girdle, and congenital. The two that were most often found while researching were Duchenne and Becker. These two types of muscular dystrophy are most commonly found among young kids.

        A basic description of MD is the weakening and damage to muscles. More specifically, muscular dystrophy is characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of voluntary muscles used for movement. MD occurs when membranes that surround and protect our muscles aren’t getting enough proteins.

Because of this, the muscles develop holes and break many fibers. In cases of muscular dystrophy, over time, the person’s muscles will eventually quit working.

        The causes of muscular dystrophy are few. In fact, it’s not contagious and there is nothing you can do to stop yourself from getting it. MD is simply caused by your genetics.

It happens when the genes that provide your muscles with proteins don’t work right.

        Muscular dystrophy isn’t unlike other diseases. This is because there ultimately is no cure. There is no specific treatment for muscular dystrophy.

However, there are things that can be done to aid in the discomfort that it causes. Physical therapy, braces, medications, and surgery are all things that can be done to help the condition of MD.

The prognosis of muscular dystrophy pretty much depends on the type and how fast it is progressing. In the case of Duchenne MD, death usually occurs in the late teens to early twenties.

        Overall, there are so many different kinds of muscular dystrophy, that it is somewhat hard to get all of the answers for one kind. The case studies are numerous and unhappy. There really is nothing good that can come of MD.

There are many programs to help support the person and their families. Muscular dystrophy is continuously being researched. Let’s hope a cure of a way of prevention is one day discovered.