Muscular Dystrophy Disease/MD

Iyana GiffordPsychology 3rd period

Cause

MD is a disease in which muscles of the body that gets weaker and weaker, and slowly stops working.

TransmissionThis disease affects both men and

women. Genetically inherited from parents and you were born with it. MD is a recessive trait. MD normally produces a protein called dystrophin, which helps muscle cells keep their normal shape and function. The gene that causes muscular dystrophies either does not produce enough dystrophin or produces dystrophin that doesn't work properly. This gene is located on the X chromosome. Women don't usually get it as much as men because Women have two X chromosomes,but men have only one X chromosome (men also have a Y chromosome, which

(men also have a Y chromosome, which does not have a copy of the dystrophin gene).

Girls don't usually get the disease because the healthy gene on one X chromosome can produce enough normal dystrophin to compensate for the defective gene on the other X chromosome.

SymptomsThere are nine different types of Muscular Dystrophies and

the symptoms usually appear in early/late childhood to early adulthood. Pain is sometimes a symptom of each, usually due to the effects of weakness on joint position. It can occur in your hips, legs, and feet, t

he weakness in the joints make it hard to walk and stand up sometimes. The calf may swell because of contractures (muscle tightness). It can also occur in the shoulders, upper-arm, and hands. Scoliosis may occur, but is usually milder and progresses more slowly .Respiratory weakness also occurs, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), problems may include irregular heartbeats and congestive heart failure. Other symptoms in the body may include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, and dizziness.

Prognosis Some patients have only mild symptoms with a

normal lifespan. Others have severe symptoms

and die at a young age.

Cure..

There's currently no cure for any form of muscular dystrophy.Research into gene therapy may eventually provide treatment to stop the progression of some types of muscular dystrophy. But of course there is therapy to make the joints and muscles stronger.

Citations Quercia, Nada. "Muscular Dystrophy." The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. Ed. Brigham Narins. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit:

Gale, 2005. 861-869. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 8 Mar. 2013

http://www.humanillnesses.com/original/images/hdc_0001_0002_0_img0183.jpg

http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/faculty/jfleitas/bandaides/jonprom.jpg

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/muscular-dystrophy/DS00200/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs