Can people actually shrink?

[William33 110]

I have heard of spine compression over the course of the day, but an entire inch?

Went to a new doctor for a checkup and the nurse came up with 5'11", as opposed to my usual 6'. The measuring device was not moved and it indeed said 5'11".

It's been a few years since I visited a Doctor.

What gives?

[payxibka 10,048]

My uncle has lost about 5" in height... Osteioperosis I think is what he has....

[doodlebug 3]

My grandmother and my mother both shrank. My grandmother went from 5'2" to 4'11" and my mom went from 5'2" to 5' so far.

I've never heard of men shrinking though. Do you get enough calcium in your diet?

[William33 110]

My grandmother and my mother both shrank. My grandmother went from 5'2" to 4'11" and my mom went from 5'2" to 5' so far.

I've never heard of men shrinking though. Do you get enough calcium in your diet?

Ya, I thought the same thing. I don't have Osteoporosis.

I take daily vitamins and drink lots of milk, always have.

I am wondering about the "spine compression" people talk about, from walking all day.

[eric&gen 0]

I aways shrink or expand thats why i need a measuring device.

[Miranda&James 8]

I think you are shorter at night than you are when you wake up. I won't ask your age, but it isn't uncommon to lose some height as you get older. My mom has lost almost an inch and I think she has osteopenia (sp?) which is like the beginning of osteoperosis. I've never gotten shorter but my feet have gotten smaller!

[kitkat1 5]

I have heard of spine compression over the course of the day, but an entire inch?

Went to a new doctor for a checkup and the nurse came up with 5'11", as opposed to my usual 6'. The measuring device was not moved and it indeed said 5'11".

It's been a few years since I visited a Doctor.

What gives?

William, I know you didn't post this to be funny and it's a real concern, but between your post and Matt's weird encounter, I am LMAO here . . .

[Killer_Clown_2009 0]

Men shrink with age too. I wouldn't think it would start before age 35 or so (when everything else starts to go).

[Killer_Clown_2009 0]

Here is some article I found somwhere online:

Any nurse who measures patients' heights and weights is likely to hear "I can't believe I have shrunk that much." Loss of height as we age is normal, and occurs in both men and women. However, too much loss might be a sign of osteoporosis, which is not a physiologic norm, and can result in a myriad of problems for patients.

There are two major changes that result in loss of height as we age. In the first, the discs that cushion and separate the vertebrae of the spine compress, and over time, shrink. This results in what we think of as normal age-related loss in height, which is not likely to be preventable. The second cause of loss of height is the compression and deterioration of the vertebrae as a result of bone loss. This affects the normal curvature of the spine (kyphosis or "dowager's hump"), and there is an accompanying loss of height. The bone loss that contributes to this loss of height is osteoporosis (National Osteoporosis Society, 2003; Spine University, n.d). This latter condition can be treated and prevented.

The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging examined the change in height of men and women as it related to interpreting the Body Mass Index (BMI). While this study did not control for osteoporosis, it does give some data on loss of height over time. The study observed 2,084 men and women aged 17 to 94 between the years of 1958 to 1993. In both sexes, height loss began at about the age of 30 and accelerated with age. The cumulative height loss from age 30 to 70 years averaged about 3 cm (1.18 inches) for men and 5 cm (1.97 inches) for women (Sorkin, Muller, & Andres, 1999). This study demonstrates that not only women lose height, but men do as well. Furthermore, it supports observations that women lose height at a greater rate then men.

[eric&gen 0]

When i wake up in the cold mornings i expand. After i wake up shrink little lol.

[Reba 2]

I've shrunk about an inch and a quarter. I was at the doctor a couple weeks ago and they measured me at 5' 2 3/4" The last time I was measured I was 5' 4" (that was a long while ago though) Mine is due partly to age, (I'm 39, and as mentioned in the above article, we generally start shrinking at age 30) and also from muscle degeneration from Grave's Disease with hyper-thyroid. I'm hoping the medication will help rebuild some muscle and a few chiropractor visists will give me back maybe half an inch. I remember my Dad years ago straightend out his back from the chiropractor and got back a half an inch.

[Thingee 0]

Could be the measuring thing was off, or just different than the one you've been measured against before. I've been measured betwen 5'4 and 5'6...rarely hear the same thing.

[Ban Hammer 14,078]

I have heard of spine compression over the course of the day, but an entire inch?

Went to a new doctor for a checkup and the nurse came up with 5'11", as opposed to my usual 6'. The measuring device was not moved and it indeed said 5'11".

It's been a few years since I visited a Doctor.

What gives?

maybe you shouldn't take so many hot showers, you're shrinking.