What is loss of muscle?
Muscle loss, also known as muscle atrophy, occurs when muscle fibers shrink and lose strength, mass, and function. This can happen for various reasons, including inactivity, aging, illness, malnutrition, and hormonal changes.
Some key facts about muscle loss:
- It begins gradually, with a slowing of protein production. Muscles may visibly shrink over time.
- Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle. After age 30, adults lose 3-5% of muscle mass per decade.
- Muscle loss reduces strength, mobility, and metabolism. It is linked to frailty and higher risk of falls and fractures in the elderly.
- Disuse atrophy can occur after just 2 weeks of immobilization due to injury/illness. Astronauts can lose up to 20% of muscle mass in space.
- Major causes include sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition (especially inadequate protein), chronic diseases, medications, and hormonal changes like low testosterone.
- Strength training and adequate nutrition, especially protein, can slow or reverse muscle loss to some degree. Human Antiaging Center clinic offers customized hormone therapy to help address age- and illness-related muscle loss.
How does muscle loss occur?
Muscle atrophy begins when protein synthesis slows down and/or protein degradation speeds up. Causes include:
- Inactivity - Lack of mechanical loading leads to disuse atrophy. Immobilization accelerates loss.
- Poor nutrition - Inadequate calories, protein, vitamins/minerals impairs muscle protein synthesis.
- Aging - Anabolic hormone declines (testosterone, growth hormone, IGF-1) coupled with more inflammation.
- Disease - Conditions like cancer, kidney failure, COPD, and congestive heart failure increase muscle breakdown.
- Nerve damage - Loss of neural input from stroke, spinal cord injury, MS, ALS leads to rapid atrophy.
What are the consequences of muscle loss?
Loss of muscle mass and strength takes a major toll on health and quality of life:
- Reduced strength for daily activities like climbing stairs, household chores, and walking
- Loss of independence and increased disability
- Impaired balance and increased falls/fractures
- Slower metabolism and weight gain
- Weaker immune function
- Higher mortality risk
Progressive muscle loss leads to sarcopenia and frailty - an overall decline in function, endurance, and health. Managing chronic diseases becomes more difficult.
How can you prevent or treat muscle loss?
While some muscle loss is inevitable with aging, many strategies can slow the decline:
- Exercise regularly - Strength training is key, but any activity is beneficial.
- Eat adequate protein - Shoot for at least 0.5 g per pound of body weight daily. Timed protein intake around exercise helps.
- Hormone therapy - Testosterone, growth hormone, DHEA can help counteract hormonal declines. Human Antiaging Center provides customized, safe hormone treatments.
- Manage chronic illnesses - Follow treatment plans to prevent rapid wasting.
- Reduce medications that impair muscle growth when possible.
- Stay active throughout periods of injury, illness, or immobilization to prevent drastic atrophy.
The takeaway: Progressive muscle loss affects most adults to some degree, contributing to declines in strength, mobility, and vitality. Staying active with strength training and getting adequate nutrition, especially protein, can help maintain muscle mass and function as we age. For more severe or refractory cases, hormone therapy may help overcome biochemical muscle loss. Human Antiaging Center clinic offers individualized programs to counteract muscle loss and related symptoms.