I'm really just not in the mood to be typing a big long post on my blog. Mainly because I try to be at least a little witty and I am definitely NOT witty right now. So, I'm not in the mood to be witty or type a bunch right now but it's Mitochondrial Disease Awareness week and I promised posts about mito.
On this Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week I would like to ask ALL of my friends, family, and blog readers to do something to help raise awareness. "What can I do," you say? Well, a lot actually. Are you on Facebook or do you have a blog of your own? If so, please use your resources to let everyone know about "mito". There's the first thing you can learn... most people with Mitochondrial Disease shorten it to Mito when talking about it to friends and family.
When you're letting everyone know about mito, use one of the facts below.
Here are 20 facts about Mitochondrial Disease...
- "Every 30 minutes, a child is born who will develop a mitochondrial disease by age 10. For information on symptoms and how mitochondrial diseases affect both adults and children, visit www.umdf”
- Mitochondria are the “powerhouse” of the cell. They combine oxygen from the air we breathe with the calories from food to produce energy.
- Mitochondrial diseases result when the mitochondria fail to produce enough energy. Organ systems will begin to fail and the life of the individual is compromised.
- Imagine your body working with one-half of its energy-producing facilities shut down. The brain may be impaired, vision may be dim, and muscles may twitch or may be too weak to allow your body to walk or breathe.
- Mitochondrial diseases are not uncommon. The prevalence in the US is roughly one in 2000, but because they are likely under diagnosed, the rate may be higher.
- Many common illnesses and conditions have been found to have defects in mitochondrial function. These include Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer and even the aging process itself.
- Mitochondrial disease can affect any organ of the body and at any age. Symptoms are extremely diverse.
- Physician education is critical. Many patients go undiagnosed for years. For me it took a year and 3 months from my severe symptoms that kept me from working and a year and 7 months from my initial symptom.
- The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation is the largest private donor of funds for peer-reviewed research. It has provided nearly $10 million in research.
- There are no effective treatments to date for mitochondrial diseases.
- There is no cure for mitochondrial disease – yet. Research offers the best hope for the thousands afflicted with this debilitating disease.
- Mitochondrial disease is caused by the body’s inability to produce energy. Symptoms and stages of the disease vary.
- There is no cure for mitochondrial disease. It affects both adults and children and can be fatal.
- Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, some forms of Autism and some cancers.
- 1 in every 2000 babies born will develop a mitochondrial disease.
- We all have mitochondria - they help us all breathe, speak, hear, talk, and walk.
- Your participation in this walk helps The UMDF remain the largest non-governmental contributor of research towards a cure.
- There are no effective treatments for people suffering from mitochondrial disease.
- $.86 of every dollar raised is used for programs, education and research to benefit mitochondrial disease patients.
- Mitochondrial diseases are not rare. Research
indicates that 1 in 200 people may carry a mutation that may develop into
a mitochondrial disease at some point in their life.
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| "Facts about Mitochondrial Myopathies" - Muscular Dystrophy Association Inc. |
The above diagram shows how Mitochondrial disease is passed down from a mother to her children. It shows why not all children inherit the disease as well as why a mother without disease can have a child with severe disease. More mito facts to come.
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