Fact or Fiction That You Get Shorter as You Age?
Undoubtedly, people tend to become shorter with advancing age.
Once past 40, adults typically drop roughly 1 cm each decade. Males see a yearly decrease in height between 0.08% and 0.1%. Women typically lose 0.12-0.14% per year.
Factors Contributing to Shrinking Stature
Part of this decrease stems from increasingly slumped posture as we age. People who maintain a curved spinal position for extended periods – maybe at their workstation – could find their spine gradually adapts to that position.
Everyone loses in height throughout each day when gravitational force squeezes fluid from spinal discs.
Natural Mechanisms Behind Height Reduction
The change in our stature happens on a cellular scale.
Between ages 30-35, stature plateaus when skeletal and muscular tissue begin to diminish. The spinal cushions between our vertebrae shed water and begin shrinking.
The lattice-like center throughout our skeletal framework loses density. When this happens, the structure compact marginally becoming shorter.
Diminished muscle mass further impacts our height: bones maintain their form and size through muscular tension.
Is It Possible to Stop Height Loss?
Although this change isn't stoppable, the rate can be reduced.
Consuming a diet containing adequate calcium and vitamin D, participating in consistent resistance training and reducing tobacco and alcohol starting in early adulthood could slow the rate of bone and muscle loss.
Maintaining proper posture offers additional safeguarding of stature loss.
Is Shrinking Stature A Health Issue?
Losing some height may not be problematic.
But, considerable deterioration of structural tissues with aging connects to chronic health conditions including cardiovascular issues, osteoporosis, arthritic conditions, and physical limitations.
Thus, it's worthwhile to adopt safeguarding habits to maintain skeletal and muscular integrity.
