Common signs of muscular dystrophy

Common signs of muscular dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a group of debilitating health conditions that progressively cause muscle mass loss and weakness. It is caused by abnormal gene mutations which disrupt the production of natural proteins in the body. This makes building healthy muscle mass difficult. Most hidden signs of muscular dystrophy start in childhood. But for some types of muscular dystrophy, the symptoms do not show up until adulthood. Here are some common signs based on the type of muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne type muscular dystrophy
This is one of the most common types of muscular dystrophy. The symptoms start showing during childhood. Some of the known signs include the following:

Falling frequently
Finding it difficult to get up from a sitting or lying down position
Difficulty in jumping or running
Waddling gait
Walking on the toes
Enlarged calf muscles
Muscular stiffness and pain
Delayed growth

Becker muscular dystrophy
The symptoms of this type are mostly the same as that of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. However, the severity of the symptoms is mild. Moreover, the symptoms progress slowly over time compared to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Also, these symptoms are usually experienced during the teen years. But in some cases, there are no symptoms until the mid-20s or later.

Myotonic muscular dystrophy
This type of muscular dystrophy has symptoms such as the inability to relax the muscles after contractions. In this, the muscles of the face and neck are affected in the initial stage. It is characterized by a long and thin face structure with drooping eyelids and swanlike necks.

Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD) muscular dystrophy
In this type, muscle weakness begins in the shoulders, hip, and face. The shoulder blades tend to bulge whenever the arms are raised upwards. These symptoms usually start during the teen years. But in some cases, the symptoms may become evident during childhood or even after 50 years of age.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
The muscles of the hips and the shoulders become weak over time. In addition, it becomes harder to lift the front part of the foot, which causes frequent falling and tripping. The onset of these symptoms usually starts in the childhood or teenage years.

Popular Reads

You Will Not Believe This Common Condition Is One of the Brain Tumor Symptoms

You Will Not Believe This Common Condition Is One of the Brain Tumor Symptoms

You know about headaches and seizures, but did you know that this common condition is one of the brain tumor symptoms you ought to watch out for? Brain tumors manifest in symptoms for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, the brain is a very compact organ, and there is little to no space to accommodate the growth of other tissue inside the brain. Secondly, depending on exactly where they are growing inside the brain, these tumors push against and impose pressure on certain parts, and cause varying symptoms. Perhaps, the most common early warning symptom of brain tumors is a headache . Headaches may be severe to start off with, or may have a tendency to worsen early in the morning or after any activity. The second most commonly reported symptom of brain tumors is seizures or fits. Also known as convulsion, motor seizures are characterized by sudden involuntary movements of the muscles in a person’s body. Depending on the area that the tumor is pushing against, you may experience different types of seizures. The most common ones are myoclonic and tonic-clonic or Grand Mal seizures. Less common brain tumor symptoms include changes in sensory perceptions without being unconscious, personality/memory changes, nausea and vomiting and fatigue .
Everything You Need to Know About Haemophilia in Children

Everything You Need to Know About Haemophilia in Children

Get all your questions pertaining to haemophilia in children answered here. A first aid kit is your best friend as a parent. Children seem to know just how to walk in an unbalanced gait and topple over without any external help. The result is an extraordinary number of bumps and bruises that need more than a mother’s kiss to make better. While bruises and scrapes are a normal part of childhood, haemophilia children need extra care. A bruise or cut would heal and scab over for others, but for haemophilia children, even the smallest cuts are a cause of concern. If you are a parent with haemophilia children or would just like to know more about the condition to help your loved ones handle it better, here are the answer to the most common questions when it comes to haemophilia in children. What is Haemophilia? When you get a cut, there are clotting agents in your blood that act quickly to curb the bleeding. However, for haemophilia children, the disease actively stops blood from clotting properly. The result is an excessive loss of blood, which can be very dangerous to the health of haemophilia children. This genetic disorder tends to affect more boys than girls.
Do You Suffer from These Bladder Control Problems in Women?

Do You Suffer from These Bladder Control Problems in Women?

Do not just live with urinary incontinence – learn what causes it so you can improve bladder control problems in women. If you think that urinary incontinence is a problem that only older women and men deal with, think again. Bladder control problems in women are common, and they affect women of all age groups. Sometimes, there is a clear starting point for bladder control problems in women. You may have just delivered a baby, and are getting back to your active lifestyle, when you suffer through an “accident”. Owing to how embarrassing bladder control problems in women can be, a lot of women never seek help for this treatable condition. Regardless of age, many across the globe are living with bladder control problems in women, and shrouding the condition in secrecy. However, the truth is that more than 13 million people in the United States have incontinence issues. Bladder control problems in women are twice as likely as men. According to the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality, 30 percent of young women suffer incontinence. The rates of bladder control problems in women increase with age, with 40 percent of middle-aged women, and 50 percent of older women suffering from urinary incontinence.