The Reality That You Lose Height as You Age?
Without question, individuals often lose height as they grow older.
From age 40 onward, individuals commonly shed roughly 1 cm each decade. Men experience a yearly decrease in height of 0.08-0.1%. Females generally shed between 0.12% and 0.14% yearly.
What Causes Shrinking Stature
Part of this decrease is caused by increasingly slumped posture as we age. People who maintain a hunched back posture for extended periods – maybe at their workstation – may discover their back slowly conforms that hunched shape.
Everyone loses in height between morning and evening when gravitational force squeezes fluid from spinal discs.
The Biological Process of Height Loss
Height alteration takes place gradually.
During the early thirties, stature plateaus as bone and muscle mass gradually reduce. The cushioning discs between our vertebrae shed water and begin shrinking.
The honeycomb structure in vertebrae, pelvis and lower limbs loses density. When this happens, the structure compact somewhat becoming shorter.
Diminished muscle mass also influences our stature: skeletal structures preserve their structure and measurements via muscle force.
Can We Prevent Stature Reduction?
Although this change isn't stoppable, the progression can be delayed.
Consuming a diet containing adequate calcium and vitamin D, engaging in regular weight-bearing exercise and reducing tobacco and alcohol starting in early adulthood may reduce the decline of skeletal and muscular tissue.
Practicing good alignment offers additional safeguarding of stature loss.
Is Height Loss A Health Issue?
Becoming slightly shorter may not be problematic.
However, substantial skeletal and muscular decline as we grow older connects to long-term medical issues such as cardiovascular issues, bone density loss, osteoarthritis, and mobility challenges.
Thus, it's worthwhile to implement protective strategies to support skeletal and muscular integrity.
