Atrophy can occur in muscles and glands due to genetic, environmental, lifestyle, or disease factors. Treatment options depend on the cause, and evaluation by a doctor is necessary. Skeletal muscles are most prone to atrophy, and lifestyle factors such as disuse can contribute. Atrophy can also affect smooth muscle and glands, and can be associated with disease or certain treatments.
Atrophy, a reduction in size that impairs tissue function, can occur in the muscles and glands of the body. It can be caused by genetic, environmental, lifestyle, or disease factors. Treatment options depend on the cause; some cases may be treatable with exercise, for example, while others may require medical attention. In an evaluation for this condition, a doctor can determine the extent and origins in order to make treatment recommendations.
Skeletal muscles are the most prone to atrophy. Some people have congenital conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy that cause muscles to shrink over time. Others may have conditions that affect their nervous system, indirectly causing muscle atrophy because the nerves cannot fully stimulate the muscles. Lifestyle factors such as disuse may also be contributing causes, a particular concern for bedridden patients and people in weightless environments.
Poor circulation, inadequate nutrition, and damage to the nervous system can also deprive muscles of the nutrients and stimulation they need to function. Over time, this can cause your muscles to shrink because they don’t see regular use. A patient with a spinal cord injury, for example, may develop muscle atrophy below the site of the injury because those muscles are not receiving any signals from nerves.
Smooth muscle such as that found around the airways and vagina can also be prone to shrinking and weakening over time. Women tend to experience thinning of the vaginal walls as they get older and enter menopause. In the airways, loss of muscle tone and narrowing can be a serious medical problem, because the patient may experience difficulty breathing as a result.
The glands are also subject to atrophy. Some shrink naturally during development, while others may do so in response to disease. Endocrine imbalances can disrupt the hormones in the patient’s body, causing inadequate signaling to the glands; in turn, they begin to shrink. They may not produce as many hormones as they should, creating a cascading effect of problems for the patient.
Loss of muscle and glandular tissue can also be associated with disease. Patients may develop problems because the disease attacks the tissue directly or because it makes it difficult to eat and stay active. Certain treatments may play a role in the development of atrophy; patients can become very ill on medications, for example, which can make it difficult for them to maintain a balanced diet and contributes to muscle wasting.
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