MD is caused by mutations in genes. These specific genes are responsible for the structure and functioning of a person's muscles. The muscles' ability to function is affected. These mutations are normally inherited from a person's parents. People with MD have incorrect or missing information in their genes, which prevents them from making the proteins they need for healthy muscles. MD weakens muscles over time, so children, teens, and adults who have the disease can gradually lose the ability to do the things most people take for granted, like walking or sitting up.
MD is a condition that affects a particular group of muscles and can lead on to other muscles as well. The worst part of the condition is that it always worsens and a person's health deteriorates with time. It never gets better. If MD in any way affects the heart or the muscles used for breathing, there can be fatal consequences. As a result anyone with muscular dystrophy whose ventilation or heart has been affected has to be very closely supported and visited by heart specialists.
There are over 30 different types of MD and they all involve different symptoms. Duchenne MD is the most common type of MD and affects around one boy in every 3500 in the UK.
There are over 30 different types of MD and they all involve different symptoms. Duchenne MD is the most common type of MD and affects around one boy in every 3500 in the UK.
There is no cure for MD, but doctors and scientists are working hard to find one. Some scientists are trying to fix the defective genes that lead to MD so they will make the right proteins. Others are trying to make chemicals that will act like these proteins in the body. They hope that this will help the muscles to work properly in people with MD. Doctors are also dedicated to finding the best ways to treat the symptoms of MD so that kids, teens, and adults with the disease can live as comfortably and happily as possible.
Hope you found this article interesting!
Have a good half term!
Ah, you do have a blog! This is actually really useful, I'm doing the pathology paper on muscular dystrophy :) Are you doing the stem cell paper?
ReplyDeleteYes I do! haha, and ahh, i'm glad you like it and found it useful! :) and how's the paper going? I actually applied for the paper, but still haven't gotten round to even starting it! :( (it's on stem cells, yes :) ) Just been too busy! Do you know when the deadline is by the way?? :)
ReplyDeleteThe deadline's march 18th I think. I know, there's just so much work at the moment, although I am starting to hate stem cells intensely. I'm just trying not to over-complicate the paper at the moment, there's so much interesting stuff out there on stem cells. And I might be able to cure MD now. Well, slightly.
ReplyDeleteMarch the 18th! Oh noooooooo :( That's awful! Literally have no time to do it :( (would it be really bad if I didn't do it? :S) How did you start it? an hahaha, I'm sure you must hate stem cells by now! Ahhhh well, I guess it's a good thing to know at least :) and yes! The last thing you want to do is make it far too complicated! And haha, well if you know the cure.... Spread the word!! :)
ReplyDeleteI say cure. I mean throwing chemicals at them until the cells get fed up and obey you. I'm doing it with someone from school, they started it and then asked me why I hadn't done anything yet, so I got a move on with it. Don't think I'd have done it otherwise, so that's probably a good thing :) It wouldn't be the end of the world if you don't, probably don't have enough time to do all of it now (unless you worked with someone else?) Good luck if you do it, have a nice tuesday if you don't :)
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