Dystonia

Introduction of Dystonia

The term 'dystonia' refers to a condition wherein the muscles of various parts of
the body are subjected to involuntary contraction. The symptoms could be mild or
severe enough to jeopardise daily activities. Generally, the condition has been
classified under five categories: generalised, focal, segmental, multifocal, and
hemidystonia. In the first type, the condition may strike early, and go on to affect
the entire body. This kind is generally considered to be of a genetic nature. The
focal type usually occurs in adults and tends to concentrate on localised area such
as the neck, face, or arm. Segmental type affects those regions of the body that
are connected to each other, whereas multifocal type affects those which are not
in connection to each other. In case of hemidystonia, half of the body is affected.

Casue of Dystonia
There aren't any specific, identifiable causes of this condition. However, it is
believed that this condition might be linked to damage to thebasal ganglia, which
is the part of the brain that is responsible for muscle contractions.

Symptom of Dystonia

The symptoms depend upon the area of the body that is affected by involuntary
muscle cramp(muscle contraction).
Eyes:When the condition affects the eyes, the contractions might be so severe
that the affected person may start blinking tremendously. This is a focal type of the
condition called blepharospasm. Apart from theblinking disorder, one might
experience irritation, and develop extreme sensitivity to light. Also, the eyes may
be caused to shut down involuntarily. In some cases, the patient might not be able
to open his eyes for some time, making him visually impaired temporarily.
Hands:One classic sign of the condition affecting the hands is the inability to play
music on an instrument and worsening of one's handwriting. This is also
categorised in the focal type, and is specifically known as writer's cramp. Here, the
muscles of the arm suffer involuntary cramps and movements.

Voice Box:In this case, the part affected is the larynx. The spasms could
make the voice sound airy, quiet, or somewhat like strangled. Even this is a
kind of focal dystonia.
Neck:This is also categorised in focal type. It is characterised by intense
spasms of the neck muscles. It is also called cervical dystonia. Here the
symptoms include twisting and trunking of the head to one side so
violently that it may cause tremendous pain. Also, the head might move
forward or backward involuntarily.
Jaw Area:Also known as oromandibular dystonia, this is categorised as a
segmental type. This is characterised by forceful contractions of the face,
jaw, and/or tongue, which in turn, cause difficulty in opening and closing
the mouth. This affects the process of chewing and might cause slurred
speech ordifficulty in swallowing. This condition is rare.
Face:When the muscles of one side of the face suffer spasm, the condition
is referred to as hemifacial spasm. This is also classified under the focal
type. It seems to worsen understress and fatigue.

Treatment of Dystonia
There are certain oral medications which aid in improving the function of
neurotransmitters that are involved with muscle movement. Apart from these, patients
may also be administered withbotulinum toxin injections. This agent blocks the
release of a chemical messenger that triggers muscle contraction.
Deep brain stimulation is another technique which involves implanting a device in the
chest. This device is connected to an electrode implanted in the brain. The device
generates electrical pulses that are conveyed to the electrode, which again feeds the
signal to a specific region to the brain that controls and reduces muscle contraction.
Sensory trick is another method wherein a physical gesture or position can help reduce
the contractions. For instance, placing the hand on the chin or back of the head can
help reduce involuntary contractions in case of torticollis.
Surgeryis recommended when all the conventional treatment methods fail to produce
the desired results. However, it is suitable for eyelid or neck (cervical) dystonia. Here,
the surgeons simply remove the nerves that are responsible for causing involuntary
contractions. Read latest diseases... Type 1 Diabetes in Children:The
digestive system in the body breaks down the f..Read More Ketotic
Hypoglycaemia:Ketotic hypoglycaemia is the most common type of h..Read More
Brain Aneurysm:A brain aneurysm is an abnormal bulging or protrud..Read More