Fact or Fiction That You Get Shorter Over Time?
Undoubtedly, people tend to become shorter as they grow older.
After the age of 40, humans generally lose about a centimeter of height per decade. Men experience height loss each year around 0.08% to 0.1%. Women typically lose 0.12-0.14% per year.
Reasons Behind Height Loss
Part of this decrease stems from increasingly slumped posture with aging. People who maintain a stooped stance over long durations – possibly during desk work – might notice their posture naturally assumes that hunched shape.
All people shed some height throughout each day when gravitational force squeezes water from intervertebral discs.
Natural Mechanisms Explaining Shrinking
The change in our stature occurs at a microscopic level.
During the early thirties, stature plateaus when skeletal and muscular tissue gradually reduce. The vertebral discs within our backbone become dehydrated and begin shrinking.
The lattice-like center in vertebrae, pelvis and lower limbs reduces in thickness. When this happens, skeletal tissue condenses marginally becoming shorter.
Reduced muscular tissue also influences vertical measurement: bones maintain their structure and measurements via muscle force.
Ways to Slow Stature Reduction?
Although this change isn't stoppable, the rate can be reduced.
Consuming a diet containing adequate calcium and vitamin D, engaging in regular resistance training and reducing nicotine and alcohol starting in early adulthood can decrease the rate of bone and muscle loss.
Practicing good alignment offers additional safeguarding of height reduction.
Is Shrinking Stature Always Problematic?
Losing some height may not be problematic.
But, considerable deterioration of structural tissues with aging connects to persistent health problems like heart-related conditions, osteoporosis, arthritic conditions, and mobility challenges.
Therefore, it's valuable to implement protective strategies for preserving skeletal and muscular integrity.
