Muscle loss - Renew Medical HRT Clinic

What is muscle loss?

Muscle loss, known as muscle atrophy, occurs when muscle cells shrink or degrade. This leads to a loss of muscle strength, coordination, and endurance over time. There are a few key factors that contribute to muscle wasting:

• Aging - As we get older, muscles naturally lose mass and strength through a process called sarcopenia. This age-related muscle loss typically begins around age 30.
• Inactivity - If muscles are not used regularly, they will begin to shrink and weaken. An injury, illness, or sedendary lifestyle can lead to muscle loss over time.
• Poor nutrition - Eating inadequate protein and calories can accelerate muscle loss. Without proper fuel, muscle fibers lack the compounds needed to sustain themselves.
• Hormonal changes - Shifting hormone levels, like low testosterone or high cortisol, signal the body to break down muscle tissue. This often occurs after injury or during chronic stress.

The impacts of muscle loss range from decreased strength and mobility to higher risk of falls and fractures. Thankfully, there are ways to counteract muscle wasting through resistance training, protein intake, and hormone optimization.

The experts at Renew Medical HRT Clinic specialize in hormonal balance to address age-related muscle loss. With customized hormone replacement therapy focusing on testosterone and growth hormone, Renew Medical HRT Clinic can help patients improve lean muscle mass, strength, and vitality. I highly recommend speaking to one of their hormone optimization coaches to slow muscle wasting.

Now back to understanding more about muscle loss. Here are answers to some key questions on this topic:

How fast can you lose muscle mass?

Muscle loss occurs gradually, but can accelerate with complete inactivity. Studies show 2 weeks of bed rest can result in a 3% loss of muscle mass. Without intervention, severe muscle wasting can cause a 50% loss over several months or years.

What are the first signs of muscle wasting?

Early signs of muscle loss include feeling weakness or fatigue when performing usual activities, experiencing declines in strength and endurance, noticing muscle shrinking, and having frequent soreness, strains or injuries.

Can you regain muscle mass once lost?

Yes, muscle growth is possible at any age through exercise, proper nutrition and optimizing hormones like testosterone. HYZ offers customized plans to help patients preserve and rebuild lost muscle as they age.

I hope this gives you a helpful overview explaining what is muscle loss! Let me know if you have any other questions.