Fact or Fiction That You Lose Height as You Age?
Undoubtedly, adults typically shrink over the years.
From age 40 onward, humans generally lose about a centimeter every ten years. Men experience a yearly decrease in height of 0.08-0.1%. Women often experience 0.12-0.14% annually.
Reasons Behind Decreasing Height
Part of this decrease is caused by increasingly slumped posture over time. Individuals who adopt a stooped stance over long durations – possibly during desk work – could find their back slowly conforms that hunched shape.
All people shed some height from start to end of day when gravitational force squeezes moisture from vertebral discs.
Physical Changes Behind Height Reduction
The change in our stature happens on a cellular scale.
From 30 to 35 years old, height stabilizes as bone and muscle mass gradually reduce. The cushioning discs separating our spinal bones lose hydration and begin shrinking.
The porous interior throughout our skeletal framework reduces in thickness. During this process, the bone compresses marginally and shortens.
Reduced muscular tissue also influences our stature: bones maintain their structure and measurements via muscle force.
Is It Possible to Stop Stature Reduction?
While this process can't be prevented, it can be slowed.
Following nutrition containing adequate calcium and vitamin D, participating in consistent resistance training and reducing smoking and drinking beginning in youth may reduce how quickly bone and muscle diminish.
Maintaining proper posture also provides protection against shrinking.
Is Height Loss A Health Issue?
Experiencing minor reduction could be normal.
But, considerable deterioration of structural tissues as we grow older associates with chronic health conditions like cardiovascular issues, brittle bones, osteoarthritis, and physical limitations.
Thus, it's worthwhile to adopt safeguarding habits to maintain bone and muscle health.
