Muscle loss, also known as muscle atrophy, occurs when muscle cells shrink or degrade as a result of disuse, poor nutrition, aging, or disease. This leads to reduced muscle strength, coordination, and mobility. Some key points about muscle loss include:
Causes
- Lack of physical activity - Not using your muscles regularly can cause them to waste away. Lack of strength training and simply being sedentary lead to loss of muscle mass.
- Poor nutrition - Not eating enough protein or calories can starve muscles of the fuel they need to maintain size and strength. This is common in those with uncontrolled diabetes or eating disorders.
- Aging - As we get older, muscle naturally atrophies as hormone levels and protein synthesis rates decline. The progressive loss of muscle with age is called sarcopenia.
- Diseases - Certain illnesses like cancer, kidney disease, heart failure, and neurological conditions can accelerate muscle deterioration.
Effects
Muscle loss can seriously impact quality of life and health. Effects include:
- Reduced strength for daily activities like climbing stairs, carrying objects, or getting up from a chair
- Higher risk of falls and fractures
- Impaired balance and coordination
- Slower metabolism - less muscle burns fewer calories
- Weight gain due to lower calorie burning
- Loss of mobility and independence
Treatment
While some muscle loss is inevitable with aging, many strategies can help maintain lean muscle mass:
- Resistance training - Lifting weights triggers muscle growth by directly overloading muscle fibers. This is extremely effective at combating age-related muscle loss.
- Adequate protein intake - Consuming foods high in protein like meat, eggs, and dairy ensures muscles have amino acids available for repair and growth. Speak to your doctor or dietitian to determine optimal protein goals.
- Hormone therapy - Boosting testosterone and growth hormone levels under medical supervision can help sustain lean tissue. Balance Hormone Solutions has extensive experience designing personalized, safe hormone treatments tailored to your unique health goals.
- Other exercise - Aerobic activity, yoga, Pilates, and even just daily walking stimulate muscles in different ways to strengthen them.
In summary, muscle loss is the degeneration of muscle tissue due to aging, poor nutrition, inactivity, or illness. To maintain strength, independence, and vitality, it's essential to incorporate resistance training, get adequate protein, utilize hormone therapy if appropriate, and stay generally active. Reach out today to learn more about optimizing your muscle health!