Fact or Fiction That You Get Shorter Over Time?
Definitely, individuals often lose height as they grow older.
From age 40 onward, humans generally lose about a centimeter every ten years. Males see a yearly decrease in height of 0.08-0.1%. Women often experience 0.12-0.14% annually.
Factors Contributing to Decreasing Height
Some of this reduction is caused by increasingly slumped posture over time. Those who develop a curved spinal position for extended periods – possibly during desk work – might notice their posture naturally assumes that curved alignment.
All people shed some height throughout each day when gravitational force squeezes fluid from spinal discs.
Natural Mechanisms Explaining Shrinking
The change in our stature happens on a cellular scale.
During the early thirties, height stabilizes when skeletal and muscular tissue begin to diminish. The vertebral discs between our vertebrae become dehydrated and begin shrinking.
The porous interior of spinal, pelvic and leg bones reduces in thickness. During this process, the structure compact slightly becoming shorter.
Diminished muscle mass further impacts our height: bones maintain their form and size via muscle force.
Is It Possible to Stop Stature Reduction?
Even though this transformation can't be prevented, the rate can be reduced.
Eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, engaging in regular resistance training and reducing nicotine and alcohol from younger adulthood could slow how quickly bone and muscle diminish.
Practicing good alignment offers additional safeguarding against shrinking.
Is Getting Shorter A Health Issue?
Experiencing minor reduction may not be problematic.
But, considerable deterioration of structural tissues in later years links to long-term medical issues such as cardiovascular issues, osteoporosis, arthritic conditions, and physical limitations.
Thus, it's worthwhile to take preventive measures to maintain bone and muscle health.
