Starting at about age 40, people typically lose about half an
inch each decade. And the decline usually speeds up after the
70th birthday. So now is a good time for you to be asking this
question. The two main causes of height lose are osteoporosis
and bad posture. As we get older, our bones become less dense,
and more brittle. And they are more likely to fracture. This
loss of bone tissue is called osteoporosis. When a hip or wrist
bone weakened by osteoporosis breaks, its usually the kind of
crack we have in mind when we picture a broken bone. But
fractures of the bones that make up our spine called vertebrae
are different. Thin vertebrae get easily crushed. Its like a
cardboard box that has had too much weight put on it. Most
compression fractures happen without any known trauma or injury.
And usually there are no symptoms. Sometimes there can be a more
sudden vertebral collapse. This can be very painful. All types
of vertebral compression fractures result in loss of height. You
can decrease the risk of lo