Patient's question:
A good friend, a girl in her prime, cannot walk but her legs can move. After a thorough examination, it was found to be progressive muscular dystrophy. However, your friend eats well in general. Currently, both hands are still strong, but compared to normal people, the strength is quite weak. She went to the city hospital for a detailed check-up, and the doctor recommended exercise and massage. But your friend's heart muscle cannot get exercise. Have you heard of any girls suffering from muscular dystrophy?Doctor's answer:
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that gradually destroys nerves, and treatment in the later stages is difficult to fully cure. When the disease progresses severely, it can affect the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord, the cranial nerve nuclei, and the pyramidal cells of the cerebral cortex, leading to difficulties in breathing and swallowing, which can be life-threatening. Approximately 5%-7% of patients develop the disease due to genetic autoimmune abnormalities or viral infections, which is why it can affect girls as well.