Recent research does show that people naturally get shorter as they age, with men losing up to an inch and women up to two inches. Our West Vancouver Chiropractor has some tips in this article on how to slow and even prevent this trend. This decrease in height with aging tends to begin between the ages of 40 and 70. The process of a shrinking height used to be acknowledged as a natural body cycle and that there is nothing much that can be done about it. However, recent research and more active lifestyles as we age have shown that this is not entirely true.
According to the Harvard Medical School, from the age of 40, the rate of shrinking is about half an inch a decade. As the body grows older, the discs in the spine become worn down, and thinner and the spinal vertebrae lose bone density. These changes due to wear and tear of the spine and discs can cause us to become shorter over the span of 20-30 years.
Is Shrinking Linked to Other Health Concerns?
The AARP, a non-profit organization in the United States, claims that there are some links between the rate of shrinkage and other health conditions. For those who shrink faster, say maybe just over an inch in 20 years, there is an increased risk of heart disease. There is also an increased risk of breaking the hip if people shrink quickly over a short period of time. The relevance to hip fractures is probably related to decreasing mass and density of the bones, thus making them more prone to fractures.
Can You Prevent Growing Shorter With Age?
Almost all studies that have gone into detail about the natural shrinking process claim there is no sure-fire way to prevent growing shorter with age. It’s the natural progression of your body as it grows older, and the spine inevitably becomes worn over time.
However, there are now ways that show living a healthier lifestyle can improve the rate at which your spine degrades. Being proactive with your spinal health and overall increase with exercise can prevent and even slow the progression of shrinkage of the spine. A healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and regular visits to your West Vancouver Chiropractor, are great ways to prevent height loss and have a healthy spine. All of which leads a pain-free life filled with activities, you can continue to do as you age.
Living a Healthy Lifestyle for Your Spine, Advice From Your West Vancouver Chiropractor
As the body grows older, it can be harder and harder to maintain a routine that is good for your spine. Living a more sedentary lifestyle, not being able to keep up with your active hobbies, and losing focus on your diet are all symptomatic of those who start to feel more significant aches and pains in their spine with age.
Although there are no evidence-based studies that link a healthy lifestyle for your spine and the prevention of shrinking as you age, there is no doubt that having a healthy spine benefits you in many other ways. Here are a few simple things you can do to look after your spine.
Keep Up The Exercise, Even If It’s Mild
Keeping your spine healthy isn’t about completing cross-country runs and lifting weights. Mild exercise a few times a week, such as walking, jogging, or swimming, are all hugely beneficial to your spinal health. Exercise keeps your discs working and moving to maintain their shape and structure. The pumping motion of the spine acts precisely like that. It helps nourish the spine with nutrients and fluid to keep it healthy, strong and supple. In so doing, it also helps maintain the shape and height of your discs. All this means that when the discs are healthy and robust, they will keep your spine flexible and upright. Your spine will not get thin and start to deteriorate with abnormal wear and tear. Exercise is also great for muscle strength in your legs, glutes and back. Healthy discs in your spine mean less wear on your vertebrae and hence maintains the height of your spine. Weight-bearing exercises also helps maintain the density and strength of your bones. Meaning that your bones and vertebrae are less likely to break.
Managing Your Diet Doesn’t Mean Cutting Out The Food You Love
Many studies claim that growing shorter with age is inevitable, but that diet can play a significant part in the rate of shrinking. Avoiding fatty food and alcohol is a must, as well as avoiding extreme diets and smoking cigarettes. These are obvious, but there are also some great foods for your spine, such as dairy (high in calcium), leafy vegetables, and fish. As your West Vancouver Chiropractor, we recommend a balanced diet for better spine health!
Visit Your West Vancouver Chiropractor
Here at Ambleside Chiropractic in West Vancouver, we often see patients who visit us only after suffering from the symptoms of back pain after a long time. The truth of the matter is, the longer you leave the pain, the worse it will become.
Lower back pain is particularly debilitating and prevents you from carrying out the everyday activities you need to do to make sure your spine stays healthy. With pain in your back, it is much harder to exercise or continue living a healthy lifestyle.
If you’re concerned about growing shorter with age, or just curious to see whether you can improve your lifestyle to the point that prevents back problems as you grow older, we recommend you visit your local Chiropractor in West Vancouver for advice on diet, exercise plans, and stretches you can do to alleviate the pain. Remember, preventative care is much easier and less painful then reactive care.
