What is Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD)?
Becker Muscular Dystrophy is an inherited disorder of muscle structure that results in progressive weakness of limb and breathing muscles. The involuntary muscles are not affected. BMD is similar to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), but is less severe. BMD usually begins in the teens or early adulthood, and the course is slower and far less predictable than that of DMD. Early symptoms are cramps after exercising, and later in life the person begins to experience problems while walking quickly or running. Other noticeable symptoms besides weakness are falling, feeling “worn out,” and changes in the skeletal system. Few affected have learning problems, but these cases are typically minor. Who Gets BMD? Boys are affected almost exclusively and every ethnic background is affected. In a group of 100,000 people, approximately 3 will be affected with BMD Some patients who have BMD can live a normal lifespan, however most die sometime after the age of 40. What Causes BMD? The cause of BMD is
