Facts About Muscle Disease

Muscle helps us to accomplish a series of tasks in our day-to-day activities. The human body contains 600 muscles that perform various functions. As the human body is, it has 3 types of muscles which are:

• Skeletal muscles: it is associated with the bones with the help of the tendon, which forms the skeletal system. It is controlled voluntarily.
• Cardiac muscle: these muscles are found in the heart and are controlled involuntarily.
• Smooth muscle: also called visceral muscle. It forms the main contractile units of the wall of various visceral organs, e.g., the intestinal lining.

Skeletal muscle would be an area of concentration in this article. Majorly, the locomotor activity of the body is coordinated by the skeletal muscle. Several factors contribute to your muscle conditions: diet, exercise, age, and sex. Furthermore, there is a variation in the muscle mass of males and females. Male has the higher muscle mass. Thus, it is responsible for the extra capacity in males.

Types, Symptoms, and Treatments of Muscle Disease

Muscle disease brings limitations to the movements and soundness of your muscle. Furthermore, it interferes with your daily endeavors, stimulating pain and weakness. Relating to the set of conditions that affects the entire body system, muscle illness applies to the larger group type of conditions.

These defects extend to the nervous system (ever since it is regulated by the nervous system), including all muscular organs. It affects your strength and muscle mass. Furthermore, it equally affects children, teenagers, and adults.

This article would take the obligation of enlightening you on the types, symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments with the required actions to take.

Muscular illness is classified based on its development.

• Primary muscle disease (caused by the detriment of the muscle itself)
• Secondary muscle disease (caused by another condition)
• Genetics

Types of Muscular Disorder

There are several types of neuromuscular conditions. They include:

Myositis

Myositis is a common muscle illness that is associated with rashes and weakness. It is the inflammation of the muscles. It is difficult to diagnose, and no cure has been discovered.

Drugs, viruses, and autoimmune are considered to be the causes. It is divided into 5 types: polymyositis, dermatomyositis, sporadic inclusion body myositis, juvenile myositis, and necrotizing myositis.

Polymyositis

This myopathy occurs as a result of autoimmune diseases. It affects every component linked with the affected muscles.

It is coupled with fatigue, falling, difficulty performing daily tasks, dysphagia, and problems with breathing. Individuals above the age of 20 years of age are mostly affected by polymyositis, and it is a rare illness.

Dermatomyositis

it is a rare condition that is common in black women. It indiscriminately affects every age and gender. The symptoms are the appearance of rashes on the eyelids, cheeks, nose, back, and chest, painful muscle, tiredness, dry skin, and hardened lumps on the skin.

Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis

This is an exclusive type of myositis that differs from others. Adults of age 50 are more susceptible to SIBM, which occurs in men than women.

Weakness progresses slowly and causes difficulty in writing, weak fingers, and inability to walk around. The small muscles of the thigh, hips, fingers, wrist, upper arm, neck, shoulder, and back are usually weakened.

Juvenile Myositis

Infants, toddlers, and teenagers are mostly affected. It is found in children under 18 years of age, better still, minors. It begins with muscle weakness and rashes.

There’s the appearance of reddish rashes, irritation, lumps, abdominal aches, and affected voice: the voice gradually changes into a rough sound. It is a rare condition.

Toxic Myositis

As the name implies, it is caused by the toxic substances introduced into your body. Its symptoms are related to others. Majorly drugs (either prescribed or unauthorized).

Some drugs are cholesterol medications such as omeprazole, autoimmune depressants, cocaine, and more.

Sarcopenia (Geriatric Muscle Disease)

This illness is commonly found in older adults. Adults of age 65 to 80 years are mostly affected. It is somewhat associated with aging. This disorder is associated with malnutrition and other medical conditions. Also, it causes weakness in older people with uncontrolled muscle and strength loss.

You can experience falling, inability to climb stairs, or even get a good grip with your fingers. Hence, causing discomfort. The symptoms show variations. It might occur slowly to you or suddenly.

Cardiomyopathy

The heart is a favorite organ that plays a significant role in the body. It is a muscular dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. It affects the myocardium: the middle layer of the heart containing cardiac muscle. It causes thickening and enlargement of the walls of the heart.

The blood circulation in the heart gets hindered, which can result in heart failure and unusual heart beating. Symptoms include aching of the heart, arrhythmia, hypoxia, and difficulty breathing.

Rhabdomyolysis

This disorder kills the muscle tissues and releases a critical protein (myoglobin) into the bloodstream, which is harmful to the kidney and develops into kidney damage. It is a severe illness that causes muscle discomfort.

In most cases, rhabdomyolysis is caused by trauma, injuries, surgery, medications, and poisons. Muscle wasting, malaria, stained urine, nausea, vomiting, and cardiac illness are symptoms.

Muscular Dystrophy

The skeletal muscle continuously disintegrates, which results in impaired motor movement. It is genetically transmitted from parent to children; A result of gene mutation. Likewise, different types of muscular dystrophy are classified according to their variations.

Becker Muscular Dystrophy

This is a childhood muscle illness that occurs especially in boys. Furthermore, it has less severe symptoms.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

This occurs more often in boys aged 5 to 30 years. It is more severe. It causes discomfort.

Congenital Muscular Dystrophy

The muscle gets affected immediately or 2 years after birth. It shortens the life of the patient with life-threatening symptoms. This disease can develop into other conditions in the body.

Distal Muscular Dystrophy

The muscles of the lower parts of the body are often affected, and it is commonly found in adults of age 40 to 65 years.

Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

This renders the facial muscle together with the muscle of the upper parts of the body weak. Gradually, it damages the muscle. Individuals around 17 to 40 years are more susceptible to it.

Limb-girdle Muscular Dystrophy

Just like other illnesses, it disintegrates the upper arms and legs, causing difficulty in motor coordination. Adults and teenagers in their 20s are more likely to be affected.

Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy

This is a rare muscle condition that is assigned to affect males often. Despite all its complications, it also contributes to heart failure.

Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy

There are several complications related to myotonic muscular dystrophy. It prolongs or delays the relaxation of your muscle after contraction. It can result in heart and lung problems. Also, it affects the reproductive system.

Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy

Individuals of age 40 to 50 years who experience this have weakened facial, shoulder, and neck muscles.

Likewise, weight loss, impaired voice, uncontrolled sweating, cognitive issues, bone disease, and slanted shoulders are also possible signs and symptoms of muscle disorder.

Diagnosis of Muscular Disease

Here are 3 effective methods of examining your muscle wellness. They include:

Electromyography EMG

It studies the electrical activities of your muscle, thereby measuring the potency of the signal received from nerves. Electromyography is usually carried out with the Nerve Conduction Velocity NCV.

It helps to find out mechanical and electrical impairment of dysfunction in your muscle system. It diagnoses tingling in the arm, numbness, and paralysis.

Biopsy Test

This is the extraction of your muscle sample with the help of anesthesia to eliminate pain. The sample is comprehensively examined under a microscope.

There might be unpleasant reactions after a biopsy test, such as fever, pain, bleeding, and swelling on the extraction site.

MRI Scan

Magnetic wave coupled with radio wave is used to examine the details of your affected muscle. To choose the right treatment and lifestyle.

Take note: instructions from your medical doctor must be followed properly to avoid difficulties.

Treatment of Muscle Diseases

Muscle illness cannot be cured, but there are a series of treatments that aim at treating the symptoms, continuity of the disorder, and a healthy body system.

The use of medications like oral corticosteroids helps relieve muscle pains and cramps. Likewise, immunosuppressant drugs inhibit the overreaction of your immune system.

Physical therapy is also an effective approach to treating muscle diseases. Their variety of routes to manage muscle illness include:

• Pain Management
• Regular exercise
• Rehabilitation program
• Balance training

Conclusion

The muscle is responsible for most of the important activities in the body. Take adequate check-ups with your doctor and seek medical advice often before making decisions on your health.

Ensure you eat a healthy meal. A healthy lifestyle guarantees a quality life. So, consider your muscles and employ what you’ve read. Stay safe, stay healthy.