Causes of Muscle Weakness, Muscle Fatigue, Weak Muscles, No Strength
Muscle weakness is often described as having no strength. Weak muscles translate to the inability to exert force you would normally be capable of given your fitness level. Muscle weakness is the physical part of overall fatigue.
Muscle weakness is categorized as true or perceived. True weak muscles can be measured for decreased strength. While perceived is a lack of strength that is felt when you put forth an effort. Vigorous exercise causes both true and perceived fatigued muscles.
Muscle weakness is frequently caused by problems with nerve supply, neuromuscular issues or your muscles themselves can be the no strength creator. Yet, numerous health conditions affecting other vital organs and systems can instigate that weak muscle sensation.
A broad range of health conditions can cause muscle fatigue and weakness symptoms, as an example:
- ALS
- narcolepsy
- sarcoidosis
- acromegaly
- hypotension
- fibromyalgia
- kidney failure
- pinched nerve
- cerebral palsy
- celiac disease
- rhabdomyolysis
- multiple sclerosis
- myasthenia gravis
- Addison’s disease
- Fanconi syndrome
- myopathy, myositis
- muscular dystrophy
- Charcot Marie Tooth
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cushing’s syndrome
- electrolyte imbalance
- mitochondrial disease
- liver disease, hepatitis
- motor neurone disease
- congestive heart failure
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- dehydration, hyperhidrosis
- hypokalemia, hyperkalemia
- malnutrition ~ vitamin D, B12 deficiency
- hyperthermia ~ heat exhaustion, heat stroke
- inflammatory bowel disease ~ Crohn’s Disease, colitis
Many infections can make you feel like you have no strength, for instance:
- botulism
- influenza
- diphtheria
- viral hepatitis
- viral gastroenteritis
- respiratory infection
- post polio syndrome
- infectious mononucleosis
Diarrhea caused by gastroenteritis is notorious for zapping your muscle strength. And long periods of inactivity can result in muscle weakness.
Side effects of some drugs can cause muscle weakness as well, notably:
- corticosteroids ~ prednisone
- statins ~ cholesterol lowering
With aging, especially beyond forty, you’ll experience some degree of muscle weakness and increased fatigability. This measurable and perpetual decrease in strength naturally occurs even if you maintain a physically active lifestyle.
There is some science based evidence which suggests that supplementing creatine may help deter general muscle weakness and improve heart muscle strength. But always have a discussion with your health care provider before embarking on any supplementation cure because the side effects may be detrimental to your health situation.
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