What is loss of muscle?
Muscle loss, also known as muscle atrophy, occurs when muscle cells shrink or degrade. This leads to a loss of muscle strength, mass, and function over time. Some key points about muscle loss include:
- It can happen due to aging, illnesses, inactivity, poor nutrition, hormones changes, and other factors
- Sarcopenia is the term for age-related muscle loss that begins around age 30
- Muscle loss can negatively impact strength, mobility, balance, and overall health
- Getting enough protein, staying active, strength training, and possibly taking supplements like creatine may help prevent and treat muscle loss to some degree
There are a few main causes of muscle loss:
- Aging - We naturally lose muscle as we get older due to drops in hormones like testosterone and HGH, along with slower protein synthesis
- Inactivity - Not using our muscles leads them to waste away. Bed rest, sedentary jobs, and immobilization can spur rapid loss
- Poor nutrition - Not getting sufficient calories, protein, vitamins and minerals can starve our muscles
- Diseases - Certain illnesses and medications deplete muscles
The impacts of muscle loss include:
- Decreased strength and function for daily tasks
- Frequent fatigue, lethargy, and weakness
- Higher risk of falls and fractures
- Reduced ability to manage blood sugar levels
- Higher risk of death from all causes