McArdle's Disease

McArdle’s disease also known as Glycogen Storage Disease Type Five is a congenital disorder of muscle metabolism. The disease occurs when the body loses the ability to break down glycogen. This disease causes many symptoms such as fatigue, muscle pain, and cramps. McArdle’s disease is a genetic disorder that is caused due to mutations in the cell. This disease is one that primarily targets muscles and thus causes the aforementioned fatigue. Typical signs can be fairly routine which is part of the reason this disease is so hard to catch and diagnose. Muscle cramps, weakness weariness, muscle stiffness and contractures are some warning signs of this disease. Mutations occur in the PYGM gene which is very crucial to the human body. PYGM genes allow for the metabolizing of glycogen and thus mutations can cause a disruption in the energy conversion process in the body. The key cause of this mutation may be simpler than previously thought though. Clinical trials were held in which patients of Glycogen Storage Disease Type Five (GSDTV) were subjected to exercise. Those who participated in physical activity saw a decrease in their severity of the disease. Exercising after the fact may be more harmful than beneficial though. Once the disease has started, physical activity can exacerbate and even speed up the rate of mutations in the muscles. With this in mind, the key way to avoid getting this disease is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay active and moving.