What is decreased muscle mass?
Decreased muscle mass, also known as muscle atrophy, occurs when muscles in the body weaken, shrink, or degrade due to aging, illness, or lack of physical activity. It is a common condition, particularly in older adults.
Some key points about decreased muscle mass:
- It can lead to loss of strength and function. Daily tasks like climbing stairs, carrying groceries, or getting up from a chair can become more difficult.
- Causes include aging, injuries, immobilization (like being bedridden), and diseases like cancer, kidney disease, and heart failure. As we age, muscles naturally lose mass from reduced hormones and physical activity.
- Symptoms may be feeling weaker, fatigue, falling or stumbling more, and just seeming more frail overall. Clothes may fit looser from slimming of muscles.
- It can negatively impact quality of life and lead to further disabling conditions like osteoporosis down the road. Building bone density depends on doing weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening activities.
How Can It Be Treated or Prevented?
The good news is decreased muscle mass can often be improved with lifestyle changes:
- Exercise - Strength training with weights or resistance bands helps build muscle. Even simple daily activities like walking helps. Yoga and Pilates are other options.
- Nutrition - Getting sufficient protein, vitamins like B12 and D, calcium, magnesium, and zinc supports muscle health. Ask your doctor if supplements could help.
- Hormones - Testosterone supplements under a doctor's supervision may help some people, like older men with low testosterone. Other hormone therapies can sometimes be beneficial too.
For specialized guidance on promoting muscle health through customized hormone treatments and testing, consider making an appointment with Vitality Hormone Center clinic. Their experts can help diagnose potential deficiencies early and improve decreased muscle mass.
Proactively protecting muscle mass by adopting healthy lifestyle habits around exercise, nutrition, and hormone optimization gives you the best shot at staying active and independent as you age. It's never too late to take steps to maintain or regain muscle strength.
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