Loss of muscle, also known as muscle atrophy, occurs when muscle cells shrink or degrade due to disuse or disease. This leads to progressive weakening and wasting away of muscle.
Some key points about loss of muscle:
- It can happen with illness, injury, poor nutrition, aging, and inactivity. Immobility from hospitalization is a major cause.
- Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. It starts around age 30 and worsens after 50.
- Muscles may visibly shrink and feel weaker. Daily tasks become difficult. Risk of falls and fractures rises.
- Preventing muscle loss is crucial. Exercise, protein intake, and hormones like testosterone help maintain mass.
- Treating causes like malnutrition reverses some loss. But therapy cannot fully restore degraded muscle. Early prevention is key.
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Now let's dive deeper into common causes:
Inactivity
- Muscles adapt to how they are (or aren't) used. Little physical activity signals your body to break down muscle for energy.
Poor Nutrition
- Eating too little protein or calories means your body scavenges your own protein stores=muscles.
Injuries/Illnesses
- Being hurt or sick makes activity difficult, accelerating muscle breakdown. Especially when hospitalized and immobile.
Hormone Changes
- Deficiencies in hormones like testosterone and HGH lead to imbalanced muscle metabolism: more teardown than buildup.
Aging (Sarcopenia)
- We naturally lose efficiency in making/maintaining muscle as we get older. Genetics also play a role.
In summary, loss of muscle is the wasting away of muscle tissue. It indicates imbalanced muscle metabolism being tipped towards teardown rather than repair and growth. Staying active and addressing underlying causes can help prevent and treat this common condition.