The long and short of it

The long and short of it
Being extraordinarily tall or short makes you prone to certain health hazards. Here’s how to guard yourself







Do you spend your life in high heels? Suffer from the dreaded “short man syndrome”? Extremes in height can have a major impact on your self-esteem. But more importantly, height can influence your health, too. We take a look at the health ups and downs – and how you can protect yourself.

IF YOU’RE TALL…

If you’re a woman above 5ft 8inches or a man above 6ft you’re considered tall and have a higher risk of the following conditions - with the risk increasing the taller you are.

Posture and back problems

Tall people often suffer from neck and lower back pain due to poor posture and a tendency to stoop to talk to people - or because they feel self-conscious. They also struggle to sleep comfortably on standard beds, which puts more strain on their spine. Taller people are also more likely to suffer slipped discs too.

Beat the odds: Strengthening the muscles in your lower back and stomach will improve posture and reduce spinal injuries. The best exercise targets the core muscles. Regular sit-ups can help or try yoga.

Obesity

Increased height is also linked to a higher risk of obesity. The tallest and the fastest-growing children consume a higher number of calories, which means that despite their extra height they are also more likely to be obese and at risk of developing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Taller people also have a higher risk of a fatal heart attack.

Beat the odds: Cut your intake of fatty and sugary foods and eat five portions of fruit and vegetable per day – and get moving! Women who reduced TV watching to less than ten hours per week and took a 30-minute brisk walk each day reduced their risk of obesity by 30 per cent.

IF YOU’RE short…

If you’re a woman below 5 feet 2 inches or a man below 5 feet 7 inches you’re considered on the shorter side and have a higher risk of the following, with the risk increasing the shorter you are.

Depression

Shorter people have a chip on their shoulder which makes them unhealthy. Those in the shortest height category have the stiffest joints and the highest levels of pain and depression. Shorter people experience lower levels of well-being than taller people do. The shorter someone is, the stronger this relationship becomes.

Beat the odds: While you can't do anything to actually grow taller, women who are short can boost their health and confidence up to six per cent by simply putting on a pair of 2.5 inch high heels from time to time. The increase in height can create a health benefit equivalent to that experienced by an obese person who loses two and a half stone.

Stroke

Scientists have discovered a direct link between a person’s height and the likelihood of them suffering a stroke. Men who are less than 5 ft 3 inches are twice as likely to suffer a particular form of stroke – known as haemorrhagic – as those who are taller. And women who are under 5ft face a 30 per cent higher risk of stroke.

Beat the odds: High blood pressure is the single most important risk factor for strokes. You can lower yours by stopping smoking, cutting down your salt and alcohol intake and exercising for 30 minutes every day. Reducing your stress levels can also help.

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