What causes muscle loss

The composition of the body undergoes changes due to aging, and the loss of muscle mass It is one of them, as it can impact mobility and some key health functions.

“Over the years, lean muscle mass naturally declines. If you don’t take steps to replace the lean muscle mass you lose over time, your body fat percentage will increase,” they point out from Mayo Clinica non-profit organization dedicated to clinical practice, training and research.

In this way, they warn, muscle strengthening is the solution to preserving and improving one’s mass at any stage of life.

But what causes the loss of muscle mass, a phenomenon also called sarcopenia?

The doctor María Luisa de Mingo Domínguezresponsible for the Endocrinology and Nutrition service of the La Luz Hospital in Madrid, Spain, speaks of “a deterioration in physical capacity, due to changes that occur in the musculoskeletal system, with loss of muscle mass, loss of bone tissue and of fabric elasticity”.

And because of all this, the strength and quality of the muscle also decreases.

What causes muscle loss

“Sarcopenia is the condition characterized by the loss of mass, strength and muscle function in the elderly”, they explain from the publication of US National Institute of Health (NIH).

and list some of them signs and symptomsamong which are mentioned:

• Weakness

• Fatigue

• Lack of energy

• balance problems

• Difficulty walking and standing

At the same time, they mention that it sometimes causes loss of muscle mass or weakness falls, broken bones and other serious injuriesThis affects a person’s ability to care for themselves.

Older age, little or no exercise, and a poor diet can increase the risk of sarcopenia.

Instead, a prevalence of 5-40% is estimated, the figure of which increases exponentially over the years. In fact, it is equal to 5-13% at 70 years of age, and in people over 80 years of age it rises, reaching 11-50%, they report Your healthcare channelfrom Spain

In this sense, “prevention and improvement reduce mortality”, underlines specialist Mingo Domínguez. So Age should not be an excuse to stop taking care of yourself.but an incentive to do so.

What causes muscle loss or sarcopenia?

There are several factors that cause the appearance of this loss of muscle mass:

• Lack of physical activity.

• Changes in the functioning of the endocrine system age-related. Testosterone, growth hormone and estradiol, or the female sex hormone, decrease and insulin resistance appears.

• Chronic diseases which affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, endocrine functions and neoplastic or tumor types.

• Less insulin production.

• Bad nutritionwith insufficient intake of proteins, calories and nutrients in general.

• Diseases like celiac disease

• Insufficient amount of vitamins.

• Drug which takes away the desire to eat.

Benefits of increasing muscle mass

This explains the amount of benefits that strong muscles provide Fitiathe app specializing in exercises and health:

Strong bones. By placing force on your bones, muscle strengthening increases bone density and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

Lose weight. Strengthening muscles can help you control or reduce weight by increasing your metabolism and burning more calories.

Greater quality of life. Strengthening your muscles can improve your quality of life and your ability to carry out daily activities. It also contributes to better balance and reduces the risk of falls.

Treat chronic conditions. Increasing muscle mass can reduce the signs and symptoms of conditions such as arthritis, back pain, obesity, heart disease, depression and diabetes.

Intellectual abilities. According to some research, regular muscle strengthening and aerobic exercise can improve learning in older adults.