Muscle degeneration starts with these early symptoms. Don't ignore them

Muscular dystrophy is the umbrella term for more than 150 neuromuscular diseases caused by genetic mutations or issues with the immune system, explains Muscular Dystrophy Canada. These diseases cause muscle degeneration. They often begin with mild symptoms and slowly progress until the patient is no longer able to walk or swallow.

Although muscular dystrophy is most often characterized as a childhood illness, several types of muscular dystrophy appear later in life. Myotonic dystrophy, for example, is the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy, notes the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Even though muscular dystrophy is a relatively rare disease, it is still smart to be aware of the early signs and symptoms, whether for you or a loved one.

We will first go over the symptoms in children and then talk about what adults see. Mayo Clinic describes the most common symptoms in children ages 2 to 3 afflicted with the most common form of muscular dystrophy, Duchenne:

• Frequent falls
• Difficulty getting up from a lying or sitting position
• Trouble running and jumping
• Waddling gait

• Walking on the toes
• Large calf muscles
• Muscle pain and stiffness
• Learning disabilities

Symptoms of adult-onset myotonic dystrophy, as explained by the National Human Genome Research Institute, are as follows:

1. General weaknesses in muscles in lower legs, hands, neck or face. This could mean difficulty in getting up from a lying or sitting position, or trouble running or jumping.

2. Slow to relax muscles after use. This refers to general pain or tightness.

3. Unable to release the grip in a handshake or turning a door knob. Symptoms of not having full control over your muscle like you used to will fall in this category.

4. Cataracts. A cataract refers to a general cloudiness of a normally cleared eye. This typically means you have been experiencing blurry vision.

5. Irregular heart beat.

If you suffer these symptoms, what can you do?
Muscular dystrophy is diagnosed by a doctor in a physical exam and with the aid of laboratory testing, including genetic testing.

Although there is no cure for muscular dystrophy, Organic Facts recommends eating foods rich in Vitamin E, such as avocados and almonds, as well as Brazil nuts and sardines, which have high concentrations of selenium, to improve symptoms.