Does height loss in middle-aged women indicate declining health?

Editorji_news
English
2021
00h : 02m : 19s

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It is common for both men and women to face some level of height loss that typically begins in their 50s. This could be due to ageing-related changes in posture, spinal compression fractures caused by loss of bone density or the shrinkage of discs in the spinal column.  The shrinkage of height is more common in women than men and researchers have now found that a greater height loss may be an indicator of health decline. A study of 2,400 European women found that those who experience greater height loss during middle age may be at a higher risk of death.  Publishing in the journal BMJ Open, the scientists clarify that height loss may not be a risk factor but can be used as a marker for other causes. After adjusting for lifestyle factors like age, weight or smoking habits, it was found that significant height loss — defined as more than 2 cm in the study — was linked to a more than twofold increased risk of stroke. Overall, the study associated major height loss with a 71% higher risk of early death from all causes. SEE MORE <a href=https://www.editorji.com/story/poor-diet-and-lack-of-exercise-affect-women-s-mental-health-more-than-men-s-study-1624786323818>Poor diet and lack of exercise affect women’s mental health more than men’s: Study </a> On a positive note, the researchers also said that high physical activity was linked to reduced height loss, so exercise may work as a guard against height shrinkage by post-menopausal women.   Moreover, the findings urge healthcare providers to pay more attention to height loss to identify higher cardiovascular disease risk individuals. SEE MORE <a href=https://www.editorji.com/story/endometriosis-a-disease-that-forces-women-to-suffer-in-silence-1621944056664>Endometriosis: A disease that forces women to suffer in silence</a>