SARCOPENIA AND SLOW DEATH

Sarcopenia is a general muscle wasting usually associated with aging and inactivity.

Other co-morbidities accompany sarcopenia, but this post is not about diseases. Sarcopenia is not a disease, it is a condition associated with some diseases, but more often, sarcopenia results from inactivity, particularly as one gets older.

Specific diseases aside, age-related sarcopenia starts in later mid-life (50 years old) in both men and women. Muscle decline afflicts all people. Once the loss begins, we lose about 1.5 percent of our muscle yearly, and the loss rate increases as we age.

There is no real point when people are “diagnosed” with sarcopenia. It’s estimated that 5–13% of us between 60–70 years of age suffer from sarcopenia. By the age of 80 and above, as many as 50% of us are subject to sarcopenia. These are estimates, and since sarcopenia is a universal age condition, records are subject to question.

Here are the actual stats and more information about sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia and Muscle Wasting:

Muscle Mass and Survival:

Muscle is not an inert tissue only used for movement. Muscular tissue produces healing factors and helps maintain homeostasis amongst your organ systems. It is critical to the survival of severe diseases and accidents.

Muscle can provide protein as a macro-nutrient when other sources are not available. Muscular tissues also support the immune system and interact with your gut microbiome.

There are many articles on muscle mass and cancer survival. The one I provided is typical. Survival rates of cancer patients are generally greater when muscle mass is high and usually lower when muscle mass is low, as in full sarcopenia. muscle-mass

Obesity, Alzheimer’s, and Cardiovascular Disease:

All of the above diseases are often associated with muscle wasting and sarcopenia. This association is not limited to these particular diseases. These are just examples—many more conditions qualify.

There is also a “chicken and egg” question regarding sarcopenia: does it come first, or do the diseases? There are a lot of data on this question, and it’s pretty substantial in the direction of sarcopenia leading the way.

Muscle wasting is a likely gateway to many seemingly unrelated diseases and conditions, not to mention falling. Here is a sample article that’s pretty easy to read on Alzheimer’s and muscle wasting. (This article only addresses one of many disease conditions affected by sarcopenia – there are many.)

Immunity and Blood Circulation:

Muscles support your immune system in many ways. Muscular tissue supports key endocrine functions. Muscles secrete important cytokines and transcription factors into the bloodstream, regulating and supporting the actions of other organ systems.

Here is an easy-to-read article on this feature of muscle tissue.

Blood circulation is vital for the health and maintenance of our bodies. Muscle contraction and relaxation are prime movers of blood and other critical fluids throughout our circulatory system. Particularly from our lower body back to our hearts. Sarcopenia “starves” our body’s blood supply.

Leg Muscle Strength and Balance:

Falls are among the top ten causes of death in seniors over 60. These accidents are often because of muscle wasting in the feet and legs of the fall victim. You can do many things to limit the possibility of falling, and here’s an article I wrote on that subject: BALANCE EXERCISE FOR OMYS.

If you suffer from sarcopenia, balance exercises will be a challenge. That said, you can get them done. Get started now with the standing on one-foot exercise. It is simple and will strengthen your foot and leg muscles. And, It could save your life.

How to Fight Sarcopenia:

Diet:

If you’re overweight and have sarcopenia, you have two problems: first, you must lose weight, and second, you must eat more protein.

To lose weight, read my pots and start immediately: HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT FAST.

Whey protein has the most muscle-building Leucine – here’s where I get mine: whey-protein-powder.

Build Muscle:

It is a fact that, barring other issues, anyone of any age can get stronger with exercise. Age is not an excuse. Starting is the hard part. Here’s my post on three simple exercises you can do starting today, for both men and women, no gym or equipment necessary: BEGINNER WORKOUT TRIAD FOR OMYS.

For those of you who want more information and a different set of exercises, here’s a website I highly recommend: drmcguff. There is a wealth of knowledge and help on this website and a book on what to do.

Finally:

Sarcopenia is a deep hole to get out of, but you can do it. Depending on how deeply you’re in it, you might have to work long and hard to escape, but you now have the information to do the job. This knowledge also applies if you have a friend or loved one suffering from sarcopenia. Wasting away is no way to leave the world. Most often, you have a choice.

Be sure to talk with your health care professional.

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