The Myopathy is an extremely complex disease that can have different causes and manifests itself in a wide variety of symptoms. Both children and adults can be affected at any age. In the following, you will learn which triggers are possible for this muscle disease and which conventional and alternative treatment measures can positively influence its course.
What is a myopathy?
This term is used in medicine as a collective term for various diseases that are primarily associated with weaknesses and degeneration in the muscular system. skeletal muscles are affected in most cases. Rarely, a Myopathy occurs in the musculature of the cardiovascular system. Doctors speak in such cases of a so-called cardiomyopathy. Within this group of diseases, a distinction is made between muscular dystrophies and various forms of congenital, toxic, endocrine and metabolic myopathies myopathies distinguished. These are very heterogeneous symptom complexes, which can have different causes. Depending on their type and severity, a Myopathy lead to limitations in gross motor or fine motor skills and thus have a significant negative impact on the patient's quality of life and independence in their professional and private life. As Myopathies have not yet been fully scientifically researched, making the correct diagnosis a major challenge for many physicians.
Possible causes of myopathy
As heterogeneous as the Myopathies The causes of the diseases counted are as varied as the symptoms counted. Depending on the type, a Myopathy be genetically determined or congenital, triggered by an underlying disease or acquired by lifestyle. In medicine Myopathies depending on their causes therefore divided into several subgroups.
The primary forms refer to disease patterns that cause themselves for various reasons. These include in particular congenital muscle diseases, the causes of which are rooted in hereditary pathological processes in the context of protein supply to the muscle fibers. Genetic misinformation causes an abnormal deposition or linkage of various proteins in the cells of the muscular system. In the course of human genetic studies, scientists were able to define an interaction of several genes that leads to the structural abnormalities within the muscle cells.
A secondary Myopathy is triggered by an underlying disease. For example, malfunctions of the thyroid gland, hyper- and hypofunctions of the adrenal cortex, or significant nutrient deficiencies can be responsible for the development of secondary myopathy Myopathy may be responsible. Metabolic and mitochondrial Myopathies develop as a result of disturbances in various metabolic processes. In the presence of such diseases, the muscle cells are unable to process energy sources such as proteins, carbohydrates and fats that are ingested with food. This leads to a chronic lack of nutrients in the affected ties, resulting in a decrease in performance, fatigue and failure of the muscle fibers.
Inflammatory Myopathies are usually based on overreactions of the immune system, which lead to chronic inflammatory processes and subsequently to the destruction of muscle tie. Such forms are assigned to the autoimmune diseases. The causes of the malfunctions of the immune system are often unknown. In a so-called acquired Myopathy, which is also accompanied by degenerative inflammatory processes in the muscle tie, the triggers, on the other hand, can be defined in many cases. Underlying such manifestations of muscle diseases are influences caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Possible exogenous triggers may include excessive alcohol consumption, abuse of cocaine and heroin, or long-term use of statins and serotonin- or cortisone-based drugs. Environmental toxins and toxic substances in the occupational environment are also possible causes of acquired muscle diseases.
Symptoms and course of a myopathy
Depending on its severity, a Myopathy Various complaints, which can range from episodic or load-dependent cramp-like pain to rapid fatigability, exhaustion and the shrinking of muscle tie. In the further course it comes due to the reduced mobility often to a deformation of joints and bones. Primary forms of the disease usually manifest as muscular dystrophies associated with paralysis of the muscles of the shoulder girdle, pelvis or upper arms, but also of the facial, eye and pharyngeal muscles. In addition to severe muscle pain and tonic muscle tension in the affected area of the body, there may also be opacities in the lenses of the eyes and changes or monotony in the pitch of the voice. Depending on the type of disease, accompanying symptoms often include epileptic seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, elevated blood glucose levels or loss of vision or hearing.
A congenital Myopathy is often already recognizable after birth or comes to the outbreak in the infancy. In most cases, the areas of the pelvis. The thigh affected by the muscle atrophy. The young patients suffer from spasmodic pain. Are conspicuous by a clumsy to waddling gait. With age, patients gradually lose the ability to get up from a sitting or lying position without assistance. A clear characteristic of many affected children are the so-called ball calves. These occur because the body counteracts the breakdown of muscle fibers with the formation of excessive fat and connective tie. Children suffering from congenital Myopathy are at high risk of becoming dependent on nursing care as early as adolescence. A Myopathy can reduce life expectancy and, in advanced stages, also cause functional abnormalities in areas of the body and organs that are not affected by the degenerative processes in the muscles. Common secondary diseases are diabetes mellitus, digestive disorders and polymyositis with and without skin involvement.
Options for the treatment of myopathies
The treatment of Myopathy depends on their form and causal origin. The chances that the therapy will show significant success depend largely on the severity of the symptoms. In the presence of an autoimmune Myopathy medicines are used that dampen the activity of the immune system and stop the inflammatory processes in the muscles. Accompanying such immunosuppressants, infusions with high doses of immunoglobulins are usually administered to reduce the risk of infection of the affected person. The course of a metabolic Myopathy can be positively influenced by drug substitution with missing metabolites. In addition to the conservative treatment of Myopathy Physiotherapeutic measures, physiotherapy and orthopedic aids are also used to slow down the muscle atrophy and to maintain the stability and mobility of the patients as long as possible. If the pharyngeal muscles are affected, logopedic therapy measures are useful. For secondary Myopathies the underlying disease must be specifically treated in order to have a lasting positive effect on its course.
In alternative medicine, various measures have proven to be effective for the gentle treatment of Myopathies successfully proven. Muscle pain can be effectively alleviated by baths with medicinal herbs, heat packs and warm, moist compresses with apple cider vinegar. Among the herbs, extracts of thyme, chamomile, rosemary, mountain pine and camphor are considered to be particularly effective in relieving pain. In addition to acupuncture and acuprere, electrotherapy and local vibration therapy are also used to relieve any pain that may occur. It is recommended to regularly include nettles, garlic, ginger and horseradish, linseed oil and wild-caught fatty sea fish in the diet, as these foods have anti-inflammatory properties. Consistent avoidance of red meat, sugar and white flour products can also have a positive effect on the course of the disease, as these foods promote flare-ups and inflammation. Regular oil pulling and the ingestion of micronized zeolite are sensible holistic measures to rid the organism of those toxins that are considered to be the triggering factors of an acquired Myopathy come into question.
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