Losing muscle? 8 ways it may impact your health
Are you tired by the time you reach the top of the stairs? Have you been ill or hospitalized and lost weight recently? Are you walking slower than normal? These can all be signs of muscle loss, and it`s more common than you might think. Advanced muscle loss, or sarcopenia, affects one in three adults aged 50 and older. Because muscles are intrinsically linked to so many systems, research published in `The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine` argues that a person`s muscle mass is a far better predictor of health than BMI, or body mass index. We list out top 8 ways muscle loss may impact your health.
Falls and fractures
Falls and fractures are the leading cause of injury and death among older adults. Photo: Reuters
Hit on body weight
Muscle mass is the single-greatest determiner of metabolic rate, or how many calories you burn per day. Photo: Reuters
Loss of mobility strength
Loss of strength can limit mobility and result in loss of independence. Photo: Reuters
Risk for heart
Your heart is a muscle and muscle loss can impact cardiovascular health. Photo: Pixabay
Insulin Resistance
Muscles use blood glucose, or sugar, for fuel. Muscle loss may increase the risk of insulin resistance. Photo: Pixabay
Hospital complications
Patients with low muscle are prone to pressure injury, infection and are often unable to complete physically demanding treatments like chemotherapy. Photo: Reuters
Breathing problems
For people with respiratory issues, muscle loss can lead to additional complications. Photo: Reuters
Life expectancy
A higher muscle to fat ratio has been linked to greater longevity in older adults. Photo: Reuters