From immunity to intelligence and digestion to mood swings, all the aspects of one's life are controlled by one factor called MOVEMENT. We can never underestimate the importance of movement. Not only does it keep our body in good shape, but it also reduces the risk of many diseases, including cancer. In a nutshell, it is a fundamental property of a human's life. Dystonia precisely attacks this integral capability of a human being.
Dystonia is a neurological mobility syndrome that affects one or a group of muscles causing involuntary-patterned or repetitive muscular contraction leading to twisting, spasm, turn, and even complete immobility.
This disease varies widely in symptoms and causes.
Classification of Dystonia
Dystonia is classified into two major categories:
Etiology based Dystonia
This class involves the type of Dystonia caused by damage in the basal ganglia or genetic reasons. Additionally, all kinds of Dystonia with no apparent cause lie under this category.
Clinical based Dystonia
This class involves all the types of Dystonia supported by clinical researchers. It includes features like affected body parts, onset age, and associated clinical findings.
What does Dystonia feel like?
Most people are curious to know about how a dystonia patient usually feels? Based on clinical findings, there is a wide range of dystonia symptoms. Additionally, the intensity of symptoms also has a vast range among different patients and even in the same patient at different times. It usually becomes intense and painful with time.
Symptoms of Dystonia
Here are some common symptoms of Dystonia:
- Eyes irritation and rapid blinking or eye spasm for a few hours.
- Turned or dragging foot affecting the ability to walk
- Hands cramping affecting writing ability
- Vocal cord spasm leading to whispering or shaky voice
- Jaw or tongue spasm makes it difficult to chew or swallow
- The neck turns or twists to one side
- Tremors
Stress, fatigue, and physical exertion exacerbate the intensity. In some cases, it becomes excruciating.
Treatment of Dystonia
This disease has a broad spectrum of symptoms, intensities, and diagnoses. Ultimately the treatment also varies based on the patient's condition. Standard treatment methods involve the following:
- Oral Medications
- Therapeutic approaches
- Supplements such as Dystonia Miracle
- Surgical treatments, etc.
Research about Dystonia
Doctors and physicians are constantly struggling to reach the root cause of this disease. Most researchers believe that Dystonia is caused by any damage or abnormality in the mobility-controlling region of the brain “Basal Ganglia." It consequently affects the communication between the brain and different affected parts of the body. However, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not yet confirmed any such visual abnormality.
Currently, many clinical research networks are established that are constantly investigating brain activity, physiology, muscular activity, and imaging studies of dystonic patients to reach and cure this multifactorial movement disease.
In Summary
Dystonia is the third most common disorder in the US. People mostly overlook its symptoms initially, but early treatment can provide much relief to the patients. If you have this disease in your family history, or you feel any of its symptoms either due to brain injury, stroke, or medicinal reaction, it is highly advisable to consult your health physician as soon as possible.