Muscular Dystrophy Research Paper

Muscular Dystrophy Muscular Dystrophy is a group of disorders characterized by a progressive loss of muscle mass and consequent loss of strength. There are multiple types of muscular dystrophy, each type affecting a different part of the body. Examples would be Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which effects toddlers starting from their third birthday and causing them to be in a wheel chair by the time they are 12 and usually dying from respiratory failure in their late twenties, early thirties. Becker muscular dystrophy is similar to Duchenne, it just starts later on in life and has a slower attack, most die in their mid forties. There are many other types but Duchenne and Becker are two of the most common forms of muscle dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy can affect someone as early as birth to the age of 70. Each type of muscular dystrophy is different, but each of them prevents the body from producing Dystrophin, which is a protein that is essential for repairing and building muscles. It is mainly caused by a mutation on the bodies X chromosomes. Dystrophin is part of large group of proteins, which enable the muscles to function properly. It allows support from several parts of the …show more content…
Early symptoms may be pain and stiffness in your muscles, difficulty running and jumping, difficulty walking on your toes, difficulty being able to sit or stand up on your own, learning disabilities such as developing speech later on than an average person, and frequent falls. Later symptoms may be failure to walk, muscles and tendons become much shorter which results in limited movement, breathing problems may occur and if they become too serious, breathing treatment may be necessary, the spine may begin to curve because the muscles around the spine are not strong enough to support it, heart muscles weaken, and difficulty swallowing which can lead to a feeding tube if it does become