Why Do People Lose Height As They Age: By the time we reach our youth, our height reaches a certain level, but with increasing age it gradually starts decreasing. This change happens so slowly that many people are not even aware of it. Let us understand this with an example, a man can be about half an inch shorter at the age of 80 than at the age of 35. At the same time, a woman who was once 5 feet 4 inches tall can remain 5 feet 2 inches tall at the age of 90.

In most people, this decrease in height starts gradually from the age of 40 to 50, but it can increase rapidly after 70 years. According to doctors, changes in the bones of the spine, thinning of discs and deterioration of posterolateral structure are common causes of height loss with age. But if the height decreases by more than 1 inch, then it is not considered normal and points towards some deeper problem.

Is loss of height a symptom of osteoporosis?

Ruth Jason Hickman, MD, rheumatology, autoimmune disease and neurology expert, explains that sometimes loss of height can be an early sign of osteoporosis.
In this disease, the bones become weak and thin, due to which the risk of bone fractures increases, the bones of the spine start shrinking and the body structure starts bending. Often people get diagnosed with osteoporosis when their height decreases or a fracture occurs suddenly. According to a study, men whose height decreased by more than 3 centimeters were found to have double the risk of hip fracture.

Why does height decrease due to osteoporosis?

According to verywellhealth, there are many reasons for this, of which compression fracture comes first, in which weak bones easily become victims of minor cracks or pressure fractures. These fractures often do not cause severe pain, so people ignore them considering them as normal back pain. But due to this the bones of the spine shrink and the height starts decreasing. Kyphosis comes second, in this the upper back appears rounded or bent. When the bones of the spine become weak due to osteoporosis, the body starts bending forward, due to which the height appears less.

Can lost height be regained?

In most cases, the height lost due to osteoporosis does not come back, but you can definitely avoid further height loss. For this you need to change your lifestyle, quit smoking and do regular exercise.

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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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