Huntington's disease is a neurological disorder that results in the deterioration of nerve cells in the brain--the result of which is often uncontrolled spasms and tics, a decrease in motor skills and emotional dysfunction. While no method of prevention exists, medication is available to treat the symptoms of Huntington's disease. However, such medication will only serve to alleviate the symptoms, while the disease will continue to progress at an, often, rapid rate.
Instructions
Prevent Huntington's Disease
1. Understand that it is impossible to prevent Huntington's disease. The disease is an inherited neurological disease which, in all known cases, stems from an abnormal gene on either the male or female side.
2. Recognize the signs and symptoms of Huntington's disease. Since prevention of Huntington's disease is impossible, recognizing the various symptoms of the disease is the best method for easing progression. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms include: Dementia, balance issues, slurred speech, involuntary movement, and swallowing problems.
3. Understand that Huntington's disease is inherited. Come to terms with the fact that you did not cause yourself to get Huntington's disease, but rather inherited it from an abnormal gene in your mother or father's DNA. Learn as much as you can about the disease and then learn to adapt your lifestyle accordingly.
4. Learn the risk factors for Huntington's disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, “If one of your parents has Huntington's disease, you have a 50 percent chance of developing the disease.” However, it is possible to develop Huntington's disease without a prior family history of the disorder.
5. Seek a formal diagnosis from a medical professional and begin treatment for the symptoms of Huntington's disease, if necessary. Medication will, often, decrease the severity of symptoms attached to Huntington's disease, but, according to the Mayo Clinic, the average lifespan after diagnosis is “10-30 years.”
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