CDC – Treatments, Muscular Dystrophy – NCBDDD

No two people with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy (DBMD) are exactly alike. Therefore, the health issues will be different for each individual. Living a full life with DBMD may involve health care providers who know about different parts of the body all working together to address the needs of each individual. Most people who have Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) receive treatments similar to those people who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

It is important that a health professional be available to help coordinate care for anyone with muscular dystrophy. Depending on local services, any one of a wide range of health care professionals can serve as a coordinator of clinical care.

These health care professionals can include:

The care coordinator should understand muscular dystrophy and the treatments that are needed.

Care for DMD includes monitoring muscle health. Muscle weakness happens in BMD as well, but usually at a slower rate. People who have DMD experience progressive muscle weakness because they do not have enough dystrophin (a protein) to help keep the muscles strong and healthy. Although every person is different, the muscle weakness in DMD often follows a certain path. The problems caused by muscle weakness can include difficulty learning to crawl and walk, trouble getting up off the floor, trouble climbing stairs, difficulty falling more often than other children, and difficulty with joints locking in one position.

Regular medical check-ups are important to measure how well the muscles are working, and find out if treatments are needed. Treatments can include steroid medications to maintain muscle strength as long as possible; stretching and other exercises specifically designed for people with muscular dystrophy; braces and splints; assistive devices such as wheelchairs, computer technology, and lifting devices to help people with DBMD continue their daily activities; and surgery to prolong walking.

Doctors can use different types of steroid medications to help maintain muscle strength as long as possible. These medications are the only ones currently available that can help slow the muscle damage caused by DBMD. A doctor might prescribe steroids when a person with DBMD is still active, or when he becomes less active. Steroids can have serious side effects. It is important that people with DBMD tell all of their health care providers that they are taking steroids. This is especially important when people who have DBMD are having surgery, have an infection, or are injured.

Muscle weakness, lack of movement, and taking steroid medicines to help maintain muscle strength can cause bones to be weaker among people who have DBMD. Bone problems can include the spine curving to one or both sides, which might cause breathing difficulties; bones becoming weaker and thinner, which increases the chances of a fracture (breaking a bone); and fractures in the legs and spine. Doctors can test for bone strength and spine health, and can prescribe medications and vitamins.

DBMD affects muscles in the heart. As people with the condition grow older, their heart muscles get weaker. The heart muscle becomes weak and might not pump blood into the body properly. The heart also might beat either too fast or too slow. People with DBMD should have their heart checked regularly. Cardiologistsdoctors who specialize in caring for the heartcan perform tests to monitor heart health. Medications can be prescribed to prevent or treat heart problems.

As people with DBMD grow older, the muscles that support breathing get weaker. Signs of trouble with breathing can include shortness of breath, fatigue (that is, being very tired all the time), headaches, and trouble sleeping. People with DBMD might have trouble breathing at night and might need to use a machine to help take a deep breath. Over time, they might find it difficult to breathe during the day, and might need a machine to help them both day and night.

Read the original here:
CDC - Treatments, Muscular Dystrophy - NCBDDD