Why we get shorter as we age

The process begins around age 40, and women around age 70 have lost about five centimeters. How to effectively and easily slow down the process

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why do you get shorter with scaled age

We are all, albeit to varying degrees, condemned to become shorter with age. The causes are linked to various factors, from muscle weakening to the thinning of bone tissue and vertebral cartilage as we age. Until the onset of ofOsteoporosis which certainly, in old age, affects height. 

The process that leads to being shorter is therefore quite natural, but it can also be slowed down and delayed thanks to some simple preventive measures.

The majority of men and women they start to lose inches around the age of 40. But the difference between the sexes, as demonstrated by several scientific research, significantly affects the intensity of the phenomenon. Men, on average, by the age of 70 have lost about two centimeters, while women at the same age have to deal with an average loss of almost five centimeters in height. At this point the process slows down, but it is still quite likely that after the age of 80 you will lose another centimeter of height.

But what are the reasons why we become shorter as we age? Here too, scientific research conducted over the years provides definitive answers. The causes of height loss as we age are:

  • Bones, as we age, They tend to become more fragile and less dense. This is common, especially in postmenopausal women, due to declining estrogen levels. Loss of bone density in the spine can lead to height loss;
  • Bone tissue and cartilage some vertebrae of the spine become thinner;
  • The intervertebral discs with age they tend to dehydrate and lose elasticity, which leads to a reduction in their height and, consequently, to a contraction of the spine;
  • The muscles, both lumbar and abdominal muscles weaken;
  • Weakening of the muscles posture worsens, and so you become “shorter”;
  • The sedentary lifestyle causes muscle weakness and atrophy;
  • Osteoporosis makes bones more fragile and this also affects height. 

When to worry about height loss Is it linked to aging? The natural process we've seen and its causes, if excessive, can be indicative of certain pathologies, primarily osteoporosis. A correct parameter for intervention is the following: if you notice a reduction in height of one centimeter in one year, then it is advisable to contact your doctor.

Although as we age we are destined to become shorter, it is also true that with a few small precautions, in terms of prevention, the process can be slowed down, even significantly. For example:

  • Avoid a life too sedentary;
  • Don't give up on training and daily physical activity;
  • Even just walk, every day for about half an hour, can do a lot of good;
  • Do gymnastic exercises and specific sports activities to strengthen the core muscles of the body;
  • Take from natural sources, through diet and lifestyle, il Calcium , vitamin D.

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