Possible Causes of Muscle Weakness
There are many health condition that can be linked to muscle weakness, some of which include:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS), [6] ALS, and other neuromuscular diseases include muscular dystrophies.
- Graves’ disease, [7] myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome [8] are examples of autoimmune disorders. Hypo- and hyperthyroidism are examples of thyroid abnormalities.
- Imbalance of electrolyte, including hypokalemia (a lack of potassium), hypomagnesemia (a lack of magnesium), and hypercalcemia (a high level of calcium in the blood).
Other issues that could result in muscular weakness include:
- Stroke
- Herniated disc [9]
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
- Hypotonia, the loss of muscle tone that’s typically evident at birth
- Peripheral neuropathy is a form of neuralgia, or intense burning or pain that travels along one or more nerves
- Persistent muscle inflammation, polymyositis
- Extended immobility or bed rest
- Alcohol abuse may result in alcoholic myopathy
Complications from specific viruses and illnesses can also lead to muscle weakness, including the following:
- Rheumatic fever
- West Nile virus [10]
- Polio
Muscle weakness can result from the rare and deadly condition known as botulism, which is brought on by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria.
Long-term usage of several medicines can also make you weaker in your muscles.
Example of these medications include:
- Statins and additional lipid-lowering medications
- Antiarrhythmic medications like procainamide and amiodarone (Pacerone)
- Corticosteroids
- Colchicine, a medication for gout (Colcrys, Mitigare).