Q. What system is affected by muscular dystrophy?
The disease causes muscle weakness and also affects the central nervous system, heart, gastrointestinal tract, eyes, and hormone-producing glands. In most cases, daily living isn’t restricted for many years. Those with myotonic MD have a decreased life expectancy.
Q. Does muscular dystrophy affect the intestines?
Myotonic dystrophy (MD) is characterized by myotonic phenomena and progressive muscular weakness. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is frequent and may occur at any level.
Q. What body systems are affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
In the early stages, DMD affects the shoulder and upper arm muscles and the muscles of the hips and thighs. These weaknesses lead to difficulty in rising from the floor, climbing stairs, maintaining balance and raising the arms.
Q. Does muscular dystrophy skip a generation?
It does not skip generations because the genetic errors may be present in any one of the 46 chromosomes that carry the genes, except for the sex chromosomes. Only one parent needs to transmit the abnormal gene, so the child has a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder.
Q. Does muscular dystrophy shorten lifespan?
While some cases may be mild and progress slowly, others can cause severe muscle weakness and disability. Some people with muscular dystrophy may have reduced life expectancy while others have a normal lifespan.
Q. Why can’t females get muscular dystrophy?
Because boys only have only one X-chromosome (and one Y-chromosome), they will have Duchenne if there is a mutation in the dystrophin gene. However, girls have TWO X-chromosomes, which means they have TWO dystrophin genes.
Q. What gender is affected by muscular dystrophy?
DMD is primarily seen in boys and occurs in about 1 of 3500 to 5000 newborn males; it affects girls at a much lower rate. It occurs in all ethnic groups. Female DMD carriers — Most female carriers of the abnormal dystrophin gene have few or no symptoms of their disease.
Q. Can a baby be born with muscular dystrophy?
Because a congenital muscular dystrophy is present at birth, babies often exhibit signs of a muscle disorder early in life.
Q. Does muscular dystrophy run in families?
There are many kinds of muscular dystrophy, each affecting specific muscle groups, with signs and symptoms appearing at different ages, and varying in severity. Muscular dystrophy can run in families, or a person can be the first in their family to have a muscular dystrophy.
Q. Can Muscular Dystrophy be prevented?
Unfortunately, there isn’t anything you can do to prevent getting muscular dystrophy. If you have the disease, these steps can help you enjoy a better quality of life: Eat a healthy diet to prevent malnutrition.
Q. Does exercise help muscular dystrophy?
Low- and moderate-intensity exercise improved muscle, heart and breathing function in an animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, according to a Northwestern Medicine study.
