10 Tips to Own Muscular Dystrophy and Other Chronic Illnesses

Muscular dystrophy is a collective medical term used to describe a group of progressive diseases that cause weakness and loss of muscle mass. It is characterized by mutations that interfere with the production of proteins needed for normal muscle formation. Since the cause of this condition is purely genetic, there is no cure, but there are treatments available for symptom management.

Muscular dystrophy affects a wide age range. According to statistical data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of Duchenne and Becker MD (DBMD) is 1 in every 7,250 males. This only includes those between the ages of 5 to 24 years.

Living with a chronic illness is one thing; living with a chronic illness that will eventually render you completely unable to physically function is another story. It’s really scary, and the prospect of a degenerating quality of life tends to send people into a downward spiral to the point that they forget to actually live. We let our fear of the future rob us of the joy of the present moment, and that’s a miserable way to pass the time, especially when you’re dealing with muscular dystrophy, or any chronic illness for that matter.

Life is unfair, but it’s also what you make it. Own your condition and make the most of life. 

Below are ten simple tips to own muscular dystrophy and other chronic illnesses.

Muscular dystrophy is considered a combination medical term that describes a wide group of progressive diseases. These illnesses cause weakness in the muscles and an overall loss of muscle mass as well. This is mostly known to be a genetic condition and there is as yet no cure found for it. But there are methods available to manage the symptoms so that each individual can live a relatively normal life with less pain. The condition can affect people in different age groups, not a specific one. Living with a particular kind of chronic disease is difficult in and of itself, but it tends to become harder when you realize that you have to live with a chronic condition that will make you physically weak and unable to function as time goes on. Below are a few tips which can help you to dominate muscular dystrophy as well as other kinds of chronic conditions:

1. Be sure to read through the labels on the medicine bottle as well as the manuals and abide by their directions. Although it may be tempting to take a shortcut, it is always better to follow the directions provided by the doctor properly.
2. Try to remember and assign an individual or multiple persons as the first point of contact in case of an emergency since no one can predict the occurrence of a situation and you may find yourself in a compromised state both in terms of your health and safety.
3. Living with a chronic disease can be really troublesome on it own, so you should not have to deal with issues searching for your medications. To avoid this, make sure to properly organize your files and medicines. All paperwork should be kept neatly in a folder that is properly labeled.
4. It is always advisable to reach out to someone who has expertise in your medical condition so that, if any issues arise, you can reach out to this trusted source instead of searching on Google.
5. Make a note of all the things the doctor mentioned so that you can remember it in the future. Also, do not be afraid to ask for assistance or for them to repeat anything. Before visiting the doctor, you can even make a note of all your concerns.
6. Always trust your instincts and try to figure out what is wrong with your body whenever you feel anything unpleasant.
7. Living with any chronic disease can be frustrating, especially when it is at an advanced stage. With any occurrence of stress or frustration, stop what you are doing and take a deep breath to calm your mind.
8. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, and it will also show you that you’re not alone. Help comes to those who ask for it.
9. Do your best to adapt to the changes that happen to your body, both physically and mentally. Running away from these problems will not make them disappear. Instead, try to deal with them head on.
10. Live in the present and try to be happy even though you are aware that you have an illness always lingering in the background. Laughter truly is the best medicine.