The Reality That Your Height Decreases with Age?
Without question, individuals often lose height over the years.
Once past 40, individuals commonly shed approximately one centimeter of height per decade. Males see an annual height reduction between 0.08% and 0.1%. Females generally shed 0.12-0.14% per year.
What Causes Decreasing Height
Some of this reduction results from gradually worsening posture with aging. Individuals who adopt a hunched back posture throughout the day – maybe at their workstation – could find their spine gradually adapts that curved alignment.
We all decrease in height from start to end of day as gravity compresses moisture from vertebral discs.
The Biological Process Behind Height Reduction
Our height transformation happens on a cellular scale.
From 30 to 35 years old, stature plateaus as bone and muscle mass begin to diminish. The cushioning discs separating our spinal bones become dehydrated and begin shrinking.
The porous interior in vertebrae, pelvis and lower limbs reduces in thickness. As this occurs, the structure compact slightly becoming shorter.
Decreased muscle also influences our stature: bones maintain their form and size through muscular tension.
Is It Possible to Stop Shrinking?
Although this change can't be prevented, the rate can be reduced.
Eating foods containing adequate calcium and vitamin D, participating in consistent resistance training and reducing smoking and drinking from younger adulthood could slow how quickly bone and muscle diminish.
Practicing good alignment helps prevent acceleration of stature loss.
Is Height Loss A Health Issue?
Experiencing minor reduction may not be problematic.
But, considerable bone and muscle loss with aging connects to persistent health problems including heart complications, osteoporosis, arthritic conditions, and physical limitations.
Therefore, it's valuable to adopt safeguarding habits to support structural tissue wellness.
