Muscular disorders are often caused by problems with the immune system and can and cause the skeletal system to become weak. There are a variety of health problems that are muscular system disorders and can cause weakness, cramping of muscles, and problems with the blood supply.
Disorders
Muscular disorders include botulism, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, and tetanus. Botulism is a type of food poisoning where the bacterial toxins stop the release of acetylcholine at the nerve and muscle junction. This can cause paralysis. Muscular dystrophy is an inherited disease that deteriorates a person's muscles over time and will result in disability from severe weakness. Myasthenia gravis is a disease that goes after the acetylcholine and blocks the communication of nerves and muscles. Tetanus is a bacterial disease that causes repeated stimulation to the fibers of the muscles resulting in muscle spasms.
Statistics
The statistics of each disorder vary. Muscular dystrophy shows up in 1 out 20,000 individuals. 30,000 people within the United States have been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. 30 percent of those tetanus in the United States will die.
Symptoms
The first sign of muscular dystrophy is being clumsy when walking. Experiencing frequent falls due to weakness in the legs and pelvis is also common. Those who have tetanus have a stiff jaw that they are unable to open or close. Botulism has symptoms similar to that of a serious case of food poisoning.
Treatment
Treatment for these muscular system disorders differ, as does the fatality rate. There is no cure for muscular dystrophy, but there have been specific drugs that can be given to the patient to slow down the disease. A light exercise program is usually given to help keep a sense of good health through the rest of the body. Myasthenia gravis does not have a cure, but medications created to help get the symptoms under control. The disease can cause death if respiratory muscles have been affected and do not function as they should. Tetanus can take several weeks to treat completely. Antibiotics will be given to get rid of bacteria and injections of antitoxin are also given to help negate the toxin. Full recovery can take six weeks or more. There is a vaccine to help protect against this disease. Botulism cannot be cured by antibiotics. Researchers have made an antitoxin, but it will only work if the toxin has not attached to the nerve ending. If a person survives botulism, it could take weeks, month, years, if ever ,to reach full recovery.
Prevention
Since there is no way of completely preventing these types of diseases other than the tetanus vaccine, you can only help to strengthen your muscular system so that it is harder to break down. Exercise, a healthy diet, and a reduction in stress can help to align your body and keep it healthier, which could hold off detrimental effects to your muscles.
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