Fact or Fiction That You Get Shorter Over Time?
Without question, individuals often lose height over the years.
After the age of 40, humans generally lose about a centimeter every ten years. Men experience an annual height reduction around 0.08% to 0.1%. Females generally shed 0.12-0.14% annually.
What Causes Shrinking Stature
A portion of this loss stems from progressively poor posture over time. Those who develop a hunched back posture throughout the day – possibly during desk work – could find their back slowly conforms that hunched shape.
We all decrease vertical stature between morning and evening as gravity compresses water from intervertebral discs.
Natural Mechanisms Behind Height Reduction
Our height transformation happens on a cellular scale.
Between ages 30-35, growth ceases as our structural tissues begin to diminish. The spinal cushions separating our spinal bones shed water and begin shrinking.
The honeycomb structure of spinal, pelvic and leg bones reduces in thickness. During this process, skeletal tissue condenses slightly reducing length.
Diminished muscle mass additionally affects our stature: bones maintain their form and size by muscular pressure.
Is It Possible to Stop Height Loss?
While this process can't be prevented, it can be slowed.
Following nutrition containing adequate calcium and vitamin D, engaging in regular weight-bearing exercise and avoiding tobacco and alcohol from younger adulthood may reduce the decline of skeletal and muscular tissue.
Keeping correct spinal position also provides protection against shrinking.
Is Getting Shorter A Health Issue?
Becoming slightly shorter isn't necessarily harmful.
But, considerable skeletal and muscular decline in later years associates with chronic health conditions like cardiovascular issues, brittle bones, joint inflammation, and movement difficulties.
Consequently, it's beneficial to adopt safeguarding habits to maintain structural tissue wellness.
