Huntington’s disease
Huntington’s disease is rare, but when one parent has the genetic variation, their children have a 50-50 chance of inheriting this progressive and incurable condition. If you’re diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, you need exceptional and comprehensive care from the compassionate team at Kaya Life in Gulfport, Mississippi. Their trained medical professionals specialize in medical marijuana, a therapy that significantly relieves many Huntington’s disease symptoms, including muscle pain. Call the office or book online today to learn how medical marijuana may improve your life.
What is Huntington’s disease?
Huntington’s disease is an inherited neurological condition caused by an error in a single gene. The genetic error causes progressive damage to nerves in the brain, causing symptoms that usually begin in middle age (between 30 and 50) but can appear in childhood.
What are the symptoms of Huntington’s disease?
Your symptoms depend on which nerves are damaged. Problems usually start in the brain area that controls movement, but Huntington’s disease affects emotions, behaviors, and cognitive function (thinking).
No matter where they occur, you can’t voluntarily control any of the following symptoms:
Movement-related symptoms include:
- Jerking or writhing movements
- Rigid, tight muscles
- Unusual or slow eye movements
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty maintaining your posture
- Trouble swallowing or speaking
Symptoms affecting thinking include:
- Struggling to get organized
- Difficulty focusing on tasks
- Getting stuck on a specific thought, behavior, or action
- Acting without thinking (loss of impulse control)
- Difficulty learning new information
Emotional and psychological symptoms include:
- Sadness
- Irritability
- Angry outbursts
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Social withdrawal
- Thinking about suicide
Your symptoms are mild in the early stage of Huntington’s. For example, you may have minor involuntary muscle movements, slight loss of balance and coordination, and difficulty thinking through complex problems.
How is Huntington’s disease treated?
Comprehensive, personalized treatment can improve your symptoms but can’t stop the disease from progressing. Your neurologist creates a care plan that changes as the disease worsens and may include:
- Medications (to control muscle movements and improve mood swings, anger, and agitation)
- Psychotherapy (to improve behavioral challenges and support family members)
- Speech-language therapy (to treat speech, language, and swallowing problems)
- Physical therapy (to stretch muscles, ease pain, and restore flexibility, posture, and balance)
- Occupational therapy (to help you maintain independence as long as possible)
Occupational therapists teach ways to do basic living skills like eating and bathing when involuntary muscle movements interfere.
How does medical marijuana help Huntington’s disease?
Mississippi includes Huntington’s disease on its list of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana because it effectively relieves pain and eases many symptoms.
Studies show that marijuana significantly decreases rigid muscles, tremors, spasms, and involuntary movements. Using medical marijuana can also improve your sleep, helping you to sleep longer.
If you’re diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, you deserve comprehensive care supporting an optimal quality of life. Call Kaya Life or book online today to learn if you qualify for medical marijuana and how to get it.
