Causes and simple solutions for muscle weakness help you focus on the right solutions to lessen the effect of this ailment on your body. When you begin to find it more difficult to get up from your chair, climb the stairs, or open a jar or bottle, then your muscles are weakening. Many things can contribute to your muscles losing their strength over time. But at times this happens suddenly. Also, bear in mind that muscle weakness is unlike fatigue or pain.
Causes
Understanding muscle weakness involves awareness of the underlying causes, such as old age, certain medications, a cold, the flu, COVID-19, muscle injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and other conditions. These causes are explained further below:
Aging
It’s normal to lose some muscle mass and become weaker with age. Doctors call this sarcopenia. You probably won’t notice it much before your 60s or 70s. Sarcopenia can also come with other health conditions that make you inactive. If your doctor suspects sarcopenia, they may test your ability to walk fast how fast.
Certain medication
Some medications you take weaken muscles. These include corticosteroids such as prednisone and cholesterol-lowering statins. If you feel weak and don’t know why, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it might be a side effect of any medicine you’re taking.
Cold or flu
If you have a cold, the flu, or another illness, it can leave you feeling tired and weak. Flu symptoms can stay for up to a couple of weeks. Once you feel better, they should go away. Some viruses can infect the muscle itself, leading to weakness. But if you’re healthy, this should happen.
COVID-19
COVID-19 signs are often similar to those of the flu, like coughing, fever, and fatigue. But COVID can also cause symptoms in other parts of the body, including muscle weakness. If a bad case of COVID or any other illness keeps you in bed at home or in the hospital for days or weeks, your muscles also will lose strength fast.
Muscle injury
If you lift something too heavy for you, or your work involves a lot of repetition, the cause of your muscle weakness might be a muscle strain or even a tear. However, if the symptom is manageable, following the R.I.C.E. approach at home can help your injury heal: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.
However, see a doctor if your injury gets worse. Regular stretching and exercises can help keep your muscles strong and prevent future injuries.
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Muscle weakness can be a sign of a serious health condition like multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is when your immune system attacks the protective layer that surrounds your nerve fibers. This leads to a breakdown in communication between the brain and other parts of your body. MS signs and symptoms differ widely from one person to the next. But they often include numbness or weakness in one or both arms and legs.
Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency. It might be a stroke when your muscles suddenly get weak. Frequently, muscle weakness related to a stroke will affect one side of your body and not the other. You may also notice:
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Trouble walking or talking
- Loss of balance and/or coordination
- Confusion
- Headache
Other conditions
Many other health conditions can come with muscle weakness. These include:
- Sleep disorders
- Thyroid disorders
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and other myopathies
- Myasthenia gravis
- Diabetes
- Heart Failure
If you’re losing strength and don’t know why, see your doctor. It may be a sign of a serious health problem.
Simple solutions
Whether your muscle weakness happens because you’re not as active, or it’s due to age or a health problem, or any of the causes identified, understanding muscle weakness and its causes suggests solutions that can help you manage the debilitating effect of muscle weakness:
Talk to your doctor
If it’s hard to do things you used to be able to do because of muscle weakness, see your doctor. They’ll likely do an exam and ask you questions. They may order tests find out what’s wrong. They can also differentiate between muscle weakness and other issues related to pain, balance, or endurance.
Regular exercise
Physical therapy or regular exercises you do at home will help you regain your strength. So ask your doctor for advice, or consider a physical therapist for a healthy exercise routine. In summary, as you get older, regular exercise can also help prevent or slow muscle loss and weakening.
https://www.ncoa.org/article/the-top-10-most-common-chronic-conditions-in-older-adults
