Any motion, whether we are conscious of it or not, depends on muscles. When problems arise due to muscular disorders the body can feel weak and painful. Muscle disorders, also known as myopathy, can create difficulty for those dealing with certain muscular diseases.
Overview
Humans have three types of muscles: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscle is the only type of muscle in the body that is under voluntary control. Additionally, it is the muscle attached to bones by tendons. Smooth muscles are involuntary and can be found in the stomach, intestine, and blood vessels. They operate regardless of any decisions you make. Also, cardiac muscle, which refers to your heart, are involuntary.
Muscle diseases can occur at all ages and can be complicated and severe. Additionally, there are two different categories of muscle diseases: genetic and non-genetic. Genetic muscular diseases include disorders that are related to a gene disorder and involve muscular dystrophies. Other genetic muscle diseases include storage myopathies, mitochondrial diseases, periodic paralysis, and congenital myopathies. Unlike genetic diseases, non-genetic disorders are not genetic (hence the term “non” genetic). Instead, non-genetic conditions are acquired. Inflammatory muscle diseases, myasthenia gravis, and drugs or hormonal disorders involve non-genetic muscular diseases.
Causes
The following are causes of muscular disorders:
- sprains or strains
- cramps or tendinitis
- genetic disorder
- infections
- inflammation
- some cancers
- diseases of nerves that can affect muscle function
Symptoms
The following are a few general symptoms that people may experience if they have muscular diseases:
- Weakness and Fatigue: muscle weakness tends to be progressive and involves muscles located near the hip or shoulder
- Trouble Moving: difficulty moving, such as walking, running, climbing stairs, or attempting to stand from a seated position
- Trouble with Shoulder Muscles: difficulty in using shoulder muscles, such as lifting or carrying heavy loads, reaching above the head, or holding heavy items
- Muscle Atrophy: shrinking muscle mass
- Pain: defects in blood circulation, injury, or inflammation may cause pain in the muscles
Muscular Diseases
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that involves musculoskeletal pain. Researchers have determined the disease is caused by amplified pain sensations that are perceived by the brain. Fibromyalgia is more common among women. Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, there are ways to manage symptoms, such as medications, exercise, and relaxation techniques.
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, known as polio, is an infectious disease that strikes any age, but especially targets young children. There is no cure, although a polio vaccination can prevent the disease. It causes headache, fatigue, stiffness and pain and, in some cases, permanent paralysis.
Cerebral Palsy
As a result of brain damage, cerebral palsy involves an impairment or loss of motor function. People who have cerebral palsy are either born with the condition or it develops soon after birth. Problems associated with cerebral palsy include lack of muscle control, body movement, muscle coordination, and difficulty balancing.
Mitochondrial Myopathies
Mitochondria are known as the energy factories of the cell. Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy involves muscular and neurological problems, such as muscle weakness, difficulty exercising, hearing loss, difficulty balancing, seizures, and learning deficits.
Muscular Dystrophy
Usually caused by abnormal gene mutations, muscular dystrophy is a group of 30 genetic diseases that involve the loss and degeneration of muscle mass. Muscular dystrophy leads to muscle weakness. It is used as a broader term associated with genetic diseases due to the gene mutations that interfere with healthy muscle proteins. The most common types of muscular dystrophy include those that affect individuals in early childhood and males. Problems and symptoms include difficulty walking, losing the ability to walk, and difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Major forms of muscular dystrophy include:
- Myotonic
- Duchenne
- Becker
- Limb-girdle
- Facioscapulohumeral
- Congenital
- Oculopharyngeal
- Distal
- Emery-Dreifuss
Although there is no cure for muscular dystrophy, certain medication and therapy can help to slow down the disease.
References:
https://www.nni.com.sg/patient-care/conditions-treatments/muscle%20diseases
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19841.htm
https://www.nni.com.sg/patient-care/conditions-treatments/muscle%20diseases
https://medlineplus.gov/muscledisorders.html
https://www.webmd.com/parenting/understanding-muscular-dystrophy-basics#1
https://www.who.int/topics/poliomyelitis/en/
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