Muscle loss - Vitality Wellness Center

What is Muscle Loss?

Muscle loss, also known as muscle atrophy, occurs when muscle cells shrink or degrade as a result of disuse or disease. This leads to reduced muscle strength, coordination, and mobility. Some key points about muscle loss include:

• Causes - Muscle loss can occur due to immobilization (like a cast or splint), bed rest, nerve damage, poor nutrition, aging, and diseases like cancer, kidney disease, heart failure, AIDS, sepsis, and muscular dystrophy among others.
• Effects - Losing muscle mass can severely impact quality of life. It leads to fatigue, weakness, higher risk of falls and fractures, reduced ability to fight infection, slower recovery, and higher mortality rates.
• Prevention - Engaging in regular strength training and getting adequate nutrition, especially protein, can help minimize muscle loss. Other preventive strategies include taking vitamin D, reducing inflammation, increasing circulation, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol, and treating underlying illnesses early.

So in summary, muscle loss is the wasting or atrophy of muscle tissue, leading to reduced strength and function. It can arise from immobilization, aging, poor nutrition, and diseases. The effects can be quite disabling. Staying active and eating well can stave it off. Treat underlying conditions promptly. Supplements help too. Rehabilitative exercise rebuilds lost muscle. Catching it early makes a difference!

Causes of Muscle Loss

• Being bedridden or immobilized in a cast without muscle stimulation or exercise can start muscle loss in just days. This is because muscles aren't being used actively.
• Nerve damage like in stroke, injury, and neurological conditions also leads to inactivity and muscle wasting.
• Inadequate protein and calories lead to the body breaking down muscle for energy.
• Aging related hormonal changes and decreased activity causes sarcopenia, which is muscle loss due to senescence.

Effects of Muscle Loss

• Greatly reduced strength and endurance for daily tasks.
• Impaired balance, mobility, and increased fall risk.
• Reduced ability to fight infections and prolonged recovery when ill.
• Lower metabolism and difficulty maintaining a healthy body weight.

Prevention of Muscle Loss

• Do regular resistance training even as you get older.
• Eat sufficient dietary protein - add protein shakes if low on protein foods.
• Take vitamin D supplements to aid muscle repair.
• Treat illnesses, pain, and inflammation promptly to stay active.

Visit Vitality Wellness Center for personalized advice on preventing and treating muscle loss.