Fact or Fiction That You Get Shorter with Age?
Undoubtedly, individuals often lose height with advancing age.
Once past 40, individuals commonly shed about a centimeter of height per decade. Men experience height loss each year of 0.08-0.1%. Women typically lose 0.12-0.14% annually.
Factors Contributing to Height Loss
Some of this reduction stems from progressively poor posture as we age. Those who develop a hunched back posture over long durations – possibly during desk work – might notice their spine gradually adapts that hunched shape.
We all decrease vertical stature from start to end of day as gravity compresses water from intervertebral discs.
Natural Mechanisms of Height Loss
Height alteration occurs at a microscopic level.
Between ages 30-35, growth ceases when skeletal and muscular tissue gradually reduce. The cushioning discs between our vertebrae shed water and start contracting.
The honeycomb structure throughout our skeletal framework loses density. During this process, the bone compresses marginally reducing length.
Reduced muscular tissue also influences our stature: bones maintain their structure and measurements via muscle force.
Can We Prevent Stature Reduction?
Even though this transformation can't be prevented, it can be slowed.
Consuming a diet containing adequate calcium and vitamin D, performing routine weight-bearing exercise and avoiding tobacco and alcohol from younger adulthood could slow how quickly bone and muscle diminish.
Maintaining proper posture also provides protection of stature loss.
Is Getting Shorter Always Problematic?
Experiencing minor reduction could be normal.
But, considerable deterioration of structural tissues as we grow older links to long-term medical issues like heart complications, osteoporosis, joint inflammation, and movement difficulties.
Therefore, it's valuable to implement protective strategies to maintain structural tissue wellness.
