The Reality That You Get Shorter with Age?
Undoubtedly, individuals often lose height as they grow older.
Once past 40, humans generally lose about a centimeter every ten years. Men undergo a yearly decrease in height of 0.08-0.1%. Women typically lose 0.12-0.14% per year.
Reasons Behind Height Loss
A portion of this loss results from increasingly slumped posture over time. Individuals who adopt a hunched back posture throughout the day – maybe at their workstation – could find their back slowly conforms that curved alignment.
Everyone loses vertical stature from start to end of day as gravity compresses water from intervertebral discs.
Physical Changes Behind Height Reduction
Our height transformation takes place gradually.
From 30 to 35 years old, stature plateaus as our structural tissues start declining. The cushioning discs separating our spinal bones shed water and gradually compress.
The lattice-like center in vertebrae, pelvis and lower limbs reduces in thickness. When this happens, the bone compresses slightly reducing length.
Decreased muscle additionally affects our stature: bones maintain their form and size via muscle force.
Can We Prevent Stature Reduction?
While this process isn't stoppable, it can be slowed.
Consuming a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, participating in consistent strength-building activities and avoiding tobacco and alcohol starting in early adulthood could slow the decline of skeletal and muscular tissue.
Keeping correct spinal position helps prevent acceleration of stature loss.
Is Getting Shorter Concerning?
Experiencing minor reduction could be normal.
Yet, significant deterioration of structural tissues with aging connects to long-term medical issues including heart-related conditions, bone density loss, osteoarthritis, and physical limitations.
Thus, it's worthwhile to implement protective strategies to support skeletal and muscular integrity.
