‘Muscles’ located in all parts of the body where movement is possible. It is responsible for the movement and manipulation of our body and allows us to maintain our posture. It is also the role of muscles to move the heart and internal organs. As such, muscles affect the entire body, so when muscle mass is insufficient, various problems appear.
The problem is that after the age of 40, muscle gradually decreases due to aging. In addition, in the elderly, there are not a few cases of ‘sarcomenia’, a disease in which not only muscle mass but also muscle strength and function decrease.
Sarcopenia is a disease requiring treatment｜Source: Getty Image Bank
Diseases that require management and treatment… ‘sarcomenia’
Sarcopenia is a disease in which the amount, strength, and function of muscle all decrease with age, resulting in a decrease in quality of life and an increase in mortality. The main factors for the occurrence and progression of sarcopenia include hormonal changes accompanying aging, nutritional status, and lack of physical activity. In addition, it is known that it appears at a high frequency in patients with acute/chronic diseases such as cancer and degenerative diseases. Diabetic patients also have a high risk of occurrence. According to a study conducted by the Endocrinology Research Team at International St. Mary’s Hospital at Catholic Kwandong University, published in 2019, type 2 diabetic patients have a 1.6-fold higher risk of sarcopenia compared to normal people of the same age.
When sarcopenia occurs, not only does muscle strength decrease, but it becomes difficult to lift objects well and climb stairs or hills. Fall often. These symptoms make daily life difficult and can further lead to problems such as osteoporosis, falls, and fractures.
Blood sugar management also takes an emergency. Muscles store excess glucose in the form of glycogen, and as muscle declines, the amount of glucose that can be stored decreases. When this happens, the blood sugar control is not smooth, and the blood sugar level continues to be high. High blood sugar is a problem even for healthy people, but in the case of diabetic patients, special attention is required as complications can occur.
A domestic study also found that the mortality rate increased by up to 2.4 times if there was sarcopenia after kidney transplantation. This is the research result of the research team led by Professors Hyunjung Kim, Lee Joohan Lee, and Kyuha Heo of Severance Hospital Transplant Surgery, published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Transplantation, the official academic journal of the American Society of Transplantation.
The research team analyzed the relationship between muscle mass and surgical prognosis in 623 people who underwent kidney transplant between 2004 and 2019. As a result, the mortality rate within 10 years of the sarcopenia group (155 patients) was up to 2.4 times higher than that of the normal group (468 patients). Mortality rates at 1, 5, and 10 years after transplantation in the normal group were 1.5%, 4.4%, and 7.1%, respectively, but in the sarcopenia group, they were 4.6%, 11.6%, and 17.1%. Rehospitalization within 1 year after surgery was also found to be significantly higher in the sarcopenia group.
In addition, according to domestic and foreign studies, sarcopenia is a risk factor that increases the possibility of dementia and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, if sarcopenia is diagnosed, it should be actively treated. In addition, the elderly, who are at high risk of sarcopenia, should strive to prevent it.
What is the right way to prevent and manage sarcopenia?
Sarcopenia does not yet have a cure. Until a cure is developed, there are only two things that are most effective in improving sarcopenia: nutrition and exercise.
In particular, it is important to supplement enough protein. Protein is a component of muscle, and lack of protein intake can cause and worsen sarcopenia by using the protein stored in the muscle. Generally, the recommended protein intake is between 0.8 and 1.2 kg per kg of body weight. However, patients with sarcopenia may need 1.2 to 1.5 g per 1 kg of body weight. It is desirable to determine the amount of protein intake through consultation with a specialist.
Strength training is also important. However, in the case of the elderly, sudden and excessive strength training can increase the risk of injury as well as cause and worsen diseases. Therefore, it is good to gradually increase the intensity of exercise with light weight. Warm-up before exercise is essential. After middle age, flexibility is often reduced or joints are stiff. After warming up for about 10 minutes, you should do this exercise to strengthen your muscles without injury.
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