Is it True That You Get Shorter with Age?
Undoubtedly, individuals often lose height with advancing age.
After the age of 40, adults typically drop about a centimeter each decade. Men experience a yearly decrease in height between 0.08% and 0.1%. Women typically lose 0.12-0.14% per year.
What Causes Shrinking Stature
Part of this decrease is caused by progressively poor posture as we age. Those who develop a curved spinal position throughout the day – perhaps while working – might notice their posture naturally assumes to that position.
All people shed some height throughout each day while gravity presses moisture from vertebral discs.
The Biological Process Explaining Shrinking
The change in our stature takes place gradually.
During the early thirties, height stabilizes as our structural tissues start declining. The cushioning discs between our vertebrae become dehydrated and start contracting.
The porous interior throughout our skeletal framework becomes less dense. During this process, the bone compresses marginally reducing length.
Reduced muscular tissue further impacts our height: skeletal structures preserve their shape and dimensions by muscular pressure.
Ways to Slow Stature Reduction?
While this process isn't stoppable, the progression can be delayed.
Consuming a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, performing routine weight-bearing exercise and avoiding tobacco and alcohol beginning in youth could slow the decline of skeletal and muscular tissue.
Practicing good alignment helps prevent acceleration of stature loss.
Is Shrinking Stature A Health Issue?
Becoming slightly shorter could be normal.
But, considerable bone and muscle loss in later years associates with persistent health problems including heart complications, osteoporosis, arthritic conditions, and movement difficulties.
Thus, it's worthwhile to adopt safeguarding habits to maintain structural tissue wellness.