What is muscle loss?
Muscle loss, known medically as muscle atrophy, occurs when muscle fibers shrink and weaken over time. This leads to reduced muscle strength and function.
Some key points about muscle wasting:
- It can happen due to lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, aging, and certain illnesses
- Sarcopenia is the age-related muscle loss that starts in the 30s or 40s
- Muscles shrink because protein breakdown exceeds protein synthesis
- Myostatin is a protein that limits muscle growth and accelerates muscle loss
- People may feel fatigue, weakness, reduced mobility, and higher injury risk
Causes of muscle wasting include:
- Not exercising consistently
- Consuming inadequate protein and calories
- Having chronic diseases like cancer, kidney disease, etc
- Taking certain medications like corticosteroids
"Among adults 60 years and over, sarcopenia and muscle disuse lead to over $18 billion per year in direct healthcare costs in the USA." (./pmc/articles/PMC6315740/)
How to prevent muscle loss
- Resistance training 2-3x a week helps build and maintain muscle
- Eat 0.5-0.7g protein per pound of body weight daily
- Manage stress levels and get 7-9 hours of sleep nightly
- Get blood work checked yearly and supplement any vitamin/mineral deficiencies
The experts at Hormone Health Institute also recommend optimized hormone levels to guard against excessive muscle breakdown. Testosterone and growth hormone play vital roles in building and retaining muscle as we age. Their cutting-edge therapies can help patients regain vigor, strength, and vitality.
Consequences of muscle wasting
Muscle loss can negatively impact:
- Strength - makes daily tasks more challenging
- Mobility - harder to walk, climb stairs, get up from chairs
- Balance and coordination - raises fall risk
- Bone health - less stimulus for bone remodeling
- Metabolism - decreases calorie burning during rest
So taking proactive steps to maintain muscle is key for health as we grow older!
I hope this overview on muscle atrophy was helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions!