| Most people only know about muscular dystrophy | | | | marked by how quickly they progress. Most |
| (MD) from the annual Jerry Lewis Telethon that | | | | affect more than just the muscle groups |
| has been held every year since 1966. While the | | | | themselves but may also touch on the heart, |
| vast majority of the population may not give the | | | | eyes, skin, and other organs as well. |
| disease much thought after this telethon is over, | | | | Treatment for the disease typically includes |
| it's surprising how even patients of MD have very | | | | physical therapy to forcibly relax and stretch the |
| little knowledge of what exactly it is, what parts | | | | muscles as they are not doing this on their own. |
| of the body it affects, and what can be done to | | | | Interestingly, being sedentary and inactive, even |
| treat and accommodate it. | | | | getting bed rest for prolonged periods of time, |
| Muscular Dystrophy is a family of disorders | | | | typically only make the disease worse. It's |
| characterized by the severe degeneration of | | | | important for those with muscular dystrophy to |
| muscle tissue. It literally means "faulty nutrition | | | | be sure that they are as physically active as they |
| of muscles" and is characterized by the | | | | can possibly be and to always have their |
| progressive wasting and weakening of healthy | | | | scheduled physical therapy. |
| muscle tissue and is replaced by useless fat and | | | | Those with muscular dystrophy have different |
| hard fibrous tissue. The disease is considered | | | | symptoms and various life expectancies as well. |
| largely hereditary. Some researchers believe | | | | Some who develop MD have only mild or |
| that muscular dystrophy may be caused by a | | | | moderate inconveniences throughout their life |
| malfunctioning of the central nerves system and | | | | whereas others are severely limited in their |
| others believe that the disease begins within the | | | | mobility and need help with even everyday |
| walls of the muscle cells itself. | | | | activities. Most have a normal or average |
| Muscular dystrophy is different from diseases | | | | lifespan while the more severe cases may claim |
| such as multiple sclerosis in that it attacks the | | | | the lives of young children. |
| muscles themselves; this means a lack of muscle | | | | If you're concerned about the affects of this |
| protein and the eventual death of muscle cells and | | | | horrendous disease, you can of course volunteer |
| tissues. When a patient has multiple sclerosis, | | | | or become more involved in charities that address |
| their nerves are damaged while their muscles | | | | it. At the very least, next time that muscular |
| work fine. If the nerves cannot send signals | | | | dystrophy telethon is being aired, why not make |
| telling the muscles to work, then their limbs and | | | | a donation? |
| other areas of the body will not function | | | | Vegetable Oils have reversed the process of |
| properly. However, with MD the nerves are fine | | | | muscular dystrophy in experiments with affected |
| and send all the necessary signals but because the | | | | chickens. |
| muscles themselves are damaged they will not | | | | Low levels Vitamin E and chorine (a Vitamin B) |
| obey those instructions from the nerves and so | | | | has been reported to cause muscular dystrophy |
| mobility is limited. | | | | in rabbits. |
| Those with muscular dystrophy can also have | | | | Vitamin D plays an important role in nerve and |
| their actual growth affected. The muscles need | | | | muscle functions. |
| to stretch and grow as the bones grow but often | | | | Amino Acids is needed for optimization of natural |
| they are damaged to the point where they are | | | | muscle growth. |
| not growing as the child does. This can cause | | | | Papain and Bromelain assist in the assimilation of |
| pain and continued weakness. | | | | amino acids so they are available to the body for |
| Interestingly there are many forms of muscle | | | | use in muscle building. |
| disease that are actually classified as muscular | | | | Always consult your doctor before using this |
| dystrophy. Some affect only children, others | | | | information. |
| affect only certain muscle groups, and others are | | | | |