Which symptoms are commonly associated with muscular dystrophy?

• A. Obesity and high blood pressure.
• B. Breathing and swallowing difficulties, and heart and other organ involvement.
• C. Only skin symptoms.
• D. No symptoms until adulthood.

Answer: (B)

Muscular dystrophy causes progressive weakness of skeletal muscles and often affects other functions that rely on those muscles. Because breathing, swallowing, and the pumping action of the heart depend on muscle strength, these systems are commonly impacted. That makes breathing difficulties, trouble swallowing (dysphagia), and involvement of the heart or other organs a typical cluster of symptoms in many forms of muscular dystrophy.

Obesity and high blood pressure aren’t defining features of muscular dystrophy and may occur for various reasons unrelated to the primary disease. Skin symptoms aren’t a characteristic of muscular dystrophy either, since the condition mainly targets muscles. Also, many forms can present in childhood rather than starting only in adulthood, so waiting until adulthood wouldn’t be typical.