Physical activity is key in slowing the progressive nature of the disease since inactivity will encourage quicker deterioration of the muscle tissue. Beyond the individual maintaining an effort of physical activity, various treatments, such as physical therapy, speech therapy, respiratory therapy, and the use of wheelchairs, canes, walkers, or braces may be needed. Orthopedic surgery to correct damage done to the bones due to the deterioration of the muscle tissue can be performed, though it is usually a temporary improvement. Also, there are drug therapies that include the use of corticosteroids that help control the deterioration of the muscles as well. Of course, there are also drugs to treat the symptoms of later stages of the disease such as seizures and muscle spasms as well as to treat any respiratory infections that often occur due to the collection of fluid in the lungs. Pacemakers and ventilators are sometimes necessary to help with weakened lung and heart muscles as well (Emery 49). One promising advance in the cure for Muscular Dystrophy is the research done in the area of gene therapy. A small group of individuals...
Though the results, so far, of this test have been promising, the use of this therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a challenging idea because of both the physical size of the gene itself (it is, molecularly, quite large) and the large area of affected muscle tissue to which the gene must be applied (Bushyby 411). Even in the face of these challenges, however, gene therapy has become a main focus for researchers in battling this disease.
Respiratory Therapy A respiratory therapist is someone who literally has the life of her patients in her hands. I have been fortunate this semester in being able to talk with people who chose this career. I even spent some time shadowing them at their job. I have known for a long time that I wanted a career in the health care field. Becoming a respiratory therapist sounded interesting. Now that I
Respiratory Therapist Professions of caring career project: Where Am I Going? Part 2 Interview Why did you decide to work in this field? My grandmother had asthma, so I have always been acutely aware of the importance of the challenges some people experience with the simple act of breathing. Did you have another career before you went to school to become a ____? What was it like to change from one career to another? I
Respiratory Infections Respiratory Conditions Respiratory tract infections are highly infectious diseases that involve the respiratory tract. They are divided into upper (URTI or URI) and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI or LRI). LRIs include pneumonia, bronchitis and influenza, and they tend to affect patients more seriously that URIs which include the common cold, tonsillitis, sinusitis and laryngitis. This research dwells on four respiratory infections which are bronchitis, bronchial asthma, exercise-induced bronchospasm and
Subtype a is the one that predominates in many of the outbreaks that are seen and presents much more severe clinical illness. It affects both the lower and the upper respiratory tract but is most prevalent in illnesses of the lower respiratory tract such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The obstruction of the airway in RSV can be very dangerous, and this is especially true of infants because their peripheral
It has also been suggested that low-level viral replication associated with RSV may be a driver in chronic inflammation in some sufferers of chronic lung disease, although this is so far uncertain (Openshaw, 2005). It is estimated that infants who develop a wheeze as a result of RSV contraction develop a recurring wheeze in around two thirds of all cases. It is also estimated that around half of these children
Methylxanthines Yet another type of medication used to improve respiratory function is Methylxanthines. Some examples of these include Theophylline. These types of agents work similarly to bronchodilators which open the airway passage, in part by relaxing the bronchial or smooth muscles in the air passage ways. They also help promote greater circulation and engage the central nervous system so it can more actively work to provide oxygen throughout the body. Because
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