Sarcopenia is one of those diseases that arises as the years go by, especially in the case of older people with low physical activity or poor nutrition. It is a degenerative disease that causes the loss of muscle mass and the proper functioning of muscle groups. This process occurs naturally after the age of 30 and accelerates once the barrier of 60 years is surpassed. Therefore, this pathology represents a forced increase in this fact.
The main risks of sarcopenia have to do with the loss of strength and muscle weakness that affect people who suffer from it. This increases the probability of suffering falls or injuries, in addition to their severity. The causes of sarcopenia are diverse; it may be due to genetic factors or certain conditions of the central nervous system or muscles. But also to the influence of the person’s lifestyle and even a malfunction of hormonal regulation.
Older people who suffer from sarcopenia present fairly clear symptoms and they are the direct action of the muscle weakness they suffer. One of the most common signs of this disease is a feeling of constant fatigue and lack of strength, physical performance is reduced and worsens. The same happens with the body’s capabilities, since muscle atrophy worsens and energy is diminished. The extremities are the most affected.
All of this causes greater difficulty in movement, even the most common and routine ones can become a problem for people with sarcopenia. That they are forced to have to move very slowly and carefully, since they run the risk of accidents. As if that were not enough, weight loss, due to decreased muscle mass, is also common.
The keys to avoiding sarcopenia are clear. The first of them consists of integrating physical activity into your daily life, since this is the formula to maintain muscle mass and keep it in good condition. Another fundamental point has to do with diet, it must be balanced and healthy, especially rich in vitamins and calcium. And good lifestyle habits cannot be missing, leaving aside what is harmful to health, such as smoking or consuming alcohol, will be essential. And, fourthly, physical therapy is also a good way to avoid sarcopenia.
