What is myotonic dystrophy?

myotonic dystrophy is often also called Steinert's disease or myotonic muscle dystrophy (MMD). It is a type of muscle dystrophy. This disease affects human muscles, so it is gradually weaker and more prone to damage. The primary symptom of myotonic dystrophy is myotonia . This means that while the muscles are unusual stiff, the patient is unable to relax them voluntarily.

mmd is inherited diseases. In other words, patients who have myotonic dystrophy may have inherited her from her father or mother. This is due to one or two mutated genes. Patients who have a mutation in chromosome 19 have a mmd form called type 1. Mmd type 2 is caused by mutation in chromosome three.

The severity of symptoms from this disease can vary very much. Myotonic dystrophy is a progressive disease, which means that as a person ages, symptoms usually get worse. Some patients progress faster than others. In other cases, however, the patient may live 50 or 60 years withDiseases before many debilitating symptoms experience. Many patients with MMD also develop cataracts - clouds in the eye that causes impaired vision.

patients can also experience the heart of arrhythmia . This condition causes abnormality in the rhythm of the heart. In some patients, however, this is often a harmless condition. Patients with heart arrhythmia due to MMD may require medication, pacemaker or regular heart monitoring.

In addition to involuntary muscle tension or myotonia, other possible symptoms and complications of MMD are a weak muscle tone or hypotonia and developmental delay. Men suffering from MMD can experience DUE baldness for hormonal changes rather than aging. They may also suffer infertility.

Some patients have been developed from birth myotonic dystrophy, also known as congenital myotonic dystrophy . These children do not have to survive past childhood because of breathing problemsM and extreme weakness of muscles. If they live in childhood, they expose the risk of learning disabilities.

There is no known cure for myotonic dystrophy or other form of muscle dystrophy. Rather, treatment is generally intended to alleviate symptoms. For example, the patient may undergo surgery to correct the cataract to improve his vision. Physical therapy can help improve the tone and strength of muscles and also maintain flexibility in joints. Some medicines can also alleviate myotonia and slowed muscle degeneration.