Fact or Fiction That Your Height Decreases Over Time?
Undoubtedly, individuals often lose height over the years.
Once past 40, humans generally lose about a centimeter of height per decade. Males see an annual height reduction between 0.08% and 0.1%. Females generally shed 0.12-0.14% annually.
Reasons Behind Shrinking Stature
Part of this decrease results from increasingly slumped posture with aging. People who maintain a hunched back posture throughout the day – maybe at their workstation – could find their back slowly conforms that curved alignment.
Everyone loses in height from start to end of day when gravitational force squeezes moisture from vertebral discs.
Natural Mechanisms Behind Height Reduction
The change in our stature occurs at a microscopic level.
During the early thirties, stature plateaus as our structural tissues begin to diminish. The spinal cushions between our vertebrae shed water and gradually compress.
The porous interior of spinal, pelvic and leg bones becomes less dense. As this occurs, the bone compresses somewhat reducing length.
Decreased muscle additionally affects our height: skeletal structures preserve their form and size through muscular tension.
Ways to Slow Shrinking?
Although this change isn't stoppable, it can be slowed.
Consuming a diet containing adequate calcium and vitamin D, engaging in regular resistance training and reducing nicotine and alcohol starting in early adulthood may reduce how quickly bone and muscle diminish.
Practicing good alignment offers additional safeguarding of stature loss.
Is Getting Shorter Always Problematic?
Becoming slightly shorter could be normal.
However, substantial bone and muscle loss in later years connects to persistent health problems like heart complications, osteoporosis, joint inflammation, and mobility challenges.
Thus, it's worthwhile to implement protective strategies to maintain bone and muscle health.
