Why does muscle weakness occur?

Is it harder than before to get up from a chair, climb stairs, or open a jar? Many things can cause your muscles to lose strength, leaving you feeling weak. Is it harder than before to get up from a chair, climb stairs, or open a jar? There's a good chance that muscle weakness can affect you little by little, over time.

Remember: muscle weakness does not equal fatigue or pain.

1|Getting older

As you age, it's normal to lose some muscle and have less muscle mass. Doctors call this sarcopenia. It starts around age 60-70, and you may not notice it at first. Sarcopenia can also come with other health conditions that make you less active in your daily life. If your doctor suspects you have sarcopenia, they may test for it by looking at how fast you walk.

2| Check your medications

Some medicines can weaken your muscles. These include corticosteroids, such as prednisone, and cholesterol-lowering statins. If you feel weak and don't know why, ask your doctor if it could be a side effect of any medicine you're taking.

3|Cold or Flu

If you have a bad cold, it can make you feel tired and weak. Flu symptoms can last up to a few weeks. But once you get better, the weakness should go away. Some viruses can infect the muscles themselves, causing weakness. This is less likely to happen if you're healthy.

4|COVID-19

COVID-19 signs are often similar to those of the flu, including cough, fever, and fatigue. But COVID can also cause symptoms in other parts of the body, including muscle weakness. If COVID or any other illness keeps you in bed at home or in the hospital for days or weeks, you can also lose muscle strength quickly. You may need physical therapy or exercises to help you regain your strength.

5|Muscle damage

If you feel muscle weakness after repeating an action for a short time or lifting something too heavy suddenly, it is likely that you have strained or even torn your muscle. If it is not too bad, following the RICE method at home can help heal:

Rest: Rest in place and apply appropriate braking. When an ankle joint is acutely sprained, you should rest immediately and avoid stepping on the ground and walking to reduce further damage to the relevant parts.

Ice: Cold compress or ice compress. You can use cold water or ice for local cold compress. It is best to use ice cubes, add appropriate amount of water, and wrap them in a double plastic bag to make a homemade ice pack. This ice pack has the best effect. Ice compress should be applied for several days or even weeks after the sprain, 20 minutes each time, every 2 to 3 hours. Be careful not to continue to apply ice for a long time to prevent frostbite.

Compression: Compression of painful and swollen areas. Swelling around the injured area often occurs within minutes or hours after an acute ankle sprain. Using a bandage to properly compress the area that has just started to swell or the area of ​​pain can reduce the occurrence of continued bleeding or secondary tissue edema.

Elevation: Elevate the affected area. After returning home from an injury, you can place a pillow under the affected limb so that the distal end of the affected limb is slightly higher than the heart. This will help blood return and reduce swelling in the affected area.

If your injury gets worse, see your doctor promptly. Regular stretching and exercise can help keep your muscles strong and prevent future injuries.

6|Multiple Sclerosis

Muscle weakness can be a sign of a serious health condition, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). When you have it, your immune system attacks the protective covering of your nerve fibers. This causes a breakdown in communication between your brain and the rest of your body. The signs and symptoms of MS vary from person to person, but they often include numbness or weakness in one or both arms and legs.

7|Stroke

Most of the time, stroke-related muscle weakness affects one side of the body. You may also notice:

·Dizziness

·vision

Difficulty walking or talking

Loss of balance and/or coordination

·confusion

·Headache

A stroke is a medical emergency. If you think you or someone else may be having a stroke, call 911 immediately.

8|Other conditions

Many other health conditions can accompany muscle weakness. These include:

Sleep disorders

Thyroid disease

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Dermatomyositis, polymyositis

Myasthenia gravis

Heart failure

·diabetes

If you think you are losing strength, this could be a sign of one of the health problems listed above.

Whether your muscles are weak because you haven't been as active, or because of age or health problems, regular exercise can help you regain some strength. Regular exercise can also help prevent or slow muscle loss and weakness as you age.