Dystonia is a movement disorder. It is a condition wherein a patient experiences involuntary muscle contractions causing twisting or repetitive movements. There are three types of dystonia and hence it is actually a range of movement disorders. Patients may experience tremors and unusual postures. Some patients experience these symptoms in their entire body while others have only some parts of their bodies affected. Perhaps you may already have some basic knowledge from other health websites like perfectbodymate.com and news-medical.net, I’d like to give out more information in detail.

The three common types of this condition are:

primary dystonia

secondary dystonia

body part specific dystonia

Primary dystonia does not have any known or identified cause. It is not associated with any other condition.

Secondary dystonia is caused by genetics, injury or neurological problem.

The third type of dystonia can be focal dystonia, segmental dystonia, multifocal dystonia, generalized dystonia or hemidystonia.

Primary dystonia is believed to be caused by some problem in the basal ganglia, a part of the human brain. The basal ganglia controls or regulates involuntary movements. Since the most common and obvious symptoms of dystonia are uncontrolled involuntary movements, it is believed that the basal ganglia is not working optimally. There are educated speculations that wrong neurotransmitters are being generated in the basal ganglia of the brain, which are then causing the involuntary movement disorder. Many researchers also believe that other parts of the brain play a role in the development of primary dystonia.

Secondary dystonia can be caused by faulty genes. It could also be a result of certain diseases and health conditions. For instance, brain tumors, oxygen deprivation, heavy metal poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease and infections such as HIV, TB and encephalitis can cause secondary dystonia. Patients diagnosed with cerebral palsy often experience dystonia as a symptom. Injury to the spine or brain and stroke can also cause dystonia. There is some evidence linking dystonia with Wilson’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Secondary dystonia may also be caused or induced by drugs. There are two types of secondary dystonia caused by drugs. The first type is caused immediately after being exposed to a particular drug. This is relatively less severe and easier to cure. The second type is known as tardive dystonia. This is caused over a period of time after substantial exposure to the drug.

Focal dystonia affects any one body part. Segmental dystonia usually affects two body parts but at times more. These body parts are connected. Multifocal dystonia affects two or more body parts but they are not connected. Generalized dystonia affects both legs. It can also affect other body parts, connected or not. Hemidystonia affects half of the whole body.

Neuroleptics are the most common cause of tardive dystonia. Neuroleptics are used to cure gastric and psychiatric disorders as well as movement conditions. There are many drugs that can cause dystonia, including Tindal or acetophenazine, Daxolin and Loxitane or loxapine, Quide or piperacetazine, Mellaril or thioridazine, Stelazine or trifluoperazine and Temaril or trimeprazine.

Dystonia is an incurable medical condition. But there are definitely treatments that can regulate the symptoms and prevent worsening of the disorder.

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