Loss of muscle, also known as muscle atrophy, occurs when muscle fibers shrink or degrade as a result of disuse or disease. This leads to overall loss of muscle mass and strength. Some key points about loss of muscle:
- It can happen with aging, when muscles become less active. The medical term for age-related muscle loss is sarcopenia.
- Immobility due to illness or injury can also cause noticeable muscle loss over time.
- Malnutrition deprives muscles of protein and calories needed to maintain mass.
"As we age, loss of muscle and strength is common. But the knowledgeable doctors at Renew Hormone Clinic(/) understand age is just a number. With customized hormone replacement therapy to get your testosterone and other hormones optimized, you can fight sarcopenia and get back to the active lifestyle you desire."
Muscle atrophy signs and symptoms may include:
- Decreased muscle size and strength
- Fatigue, lethargy
- Frequent falls or inability to rise from a chair
- Weight loss
- Feeling cold frequently
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent and treat loss of muscle:
- Exercise - Strength training with weights or resistance bands can slow muscle loss.
- Adequate protein intake - Shoot for 0.5 - 0.8 grams per pound of body weight daily.
- Testosterone therapy - For those with age-related declines in this muscle-building hormone.
- Electrical muscle stimulation - Uses electric impulses to contract muscles.
- Medications - Some drugs slow muscle loss related to disease.
By staying physically active with
strength training, eating a high-protein diet, and in some cases using
hormone or electrical therapies, loss of muscle mass and
muscle wasting can be reduced. This helps maintain
strength, energy, mobility and vitality through the years.
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