Can People who are a bit aged grow taller?

What determines a person’s height?

Height is determined by a variety of factors they are:

1.Genetics – a major factor responsible for the height of a person. Many studies on fraternal twins( fertilization of two separate eggs during the same pregnancy) states that that the biggest factor in determining a person’s body type is heredity. A person’s height depends on whether their parents are short or tall.

2.Sex – a biologic factor that helps determining total height. Women have less total height potential than men.

3.Certain medical conditions –  The conditions given below impacts on a person’s growth during childhood: 

Gigantism , Dwarfism, Arthritis(inflammation of the joints) , untreated celiac disease(immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye), Cancer, any condition requiring the prolonged use of steroids, Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome.

4.Nutrition – impacts a person’s potential for height. Getting good nutrition that includes dietary sources of vitamins and minerals helps people grow. Individuals who do not get enough nutrition may not grow as tall.

“Studies show that as nutrition improved over time, people have gotten taller. So, children that eat a diet rich in calcium, protein, and other nutrients will be able to grow to their full potential”

5.Exercise –

Is important for childhood growth and height and it promotes the release of the growth hormone. When this hormone is released, a child with open growth plates in their bones may grow more than they would if not physically active. As the growth plates in the bones close, a person will generally not grow any taller.

How to grow taller?

Many believe that height is determined only by genetics, but it is not completely true. Genetics are the main factor that determines how tall someone will be once they’re done growing, but there are other important factors. As mentioned above improved nutrition may be the main reason why the average human height has significantly increased over the last century. That’s why it’s so important to make sure children are well fed, from the time they’re breastfeeding until they’re fully grown.

Once someone is 18 to 20 years old, it’s not possible for them to grow taller naturally. It is because the growth plates in the bones (areas of cartilage where bones are able to grow longer ) have become solid. The growth plates are active in childhood, but as puberty starts, hormonal changes cause these areas to harden. Most females reach their full adult height between the ages of 14 and 15. Most males reach their full height by age 16. It is very unusual for a person to grow after age 19.

So, no you can’t make yourself taller once you’ve reached adulthood.

It is possible to experience small daily variations in height and they are the result of the spinal discs becoming compressed during daily activities. As a result, it’s possible to lose up to half an inch (1.5 centimeters) of height during the day, which is restored while you sleep. This variation is so small that it’s hardly noticeable.

Medical procedures for growth stimulation:

A surgical procedure called distraction osteogenesis can make people grow taller even during adulthood. Originally this was intended to treat dwarfism / uneven legs. 

During the procedure,  bone is surgically breaked in the person’s legs. The ends of the broken bones are separated through the use of a device called an Ilizarov apparatus, which stabilizes the leg. Everyday, the apparatus is opened so that the separation between the bones grows by approximately one millimeter. As the device maintains the separation, a callus forms between the two parts of the bone. This callus is then replaced by collagen and then by bone tissue. This process requires at least a month of treatment for each centimeter of growth, and it usually only results in a couple of inches in increased height.

This procedure is traumatic and painful and once the bones have healed, the person essentially has to learn how to walk again. This also has a high risk of complications including infections, leg axis deviation, joint disease, and psychological problems.

Does sleeping help you grow taller?

It is believed that children need lots of sleep to reach their full height. Sleep apnea(serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts) has been found to have a negative effect on children’s growth and development. So if you want to grow to your full potential, it’s probably a good to get plenty of sleep every night.

In the end it is clear that you can’t do much to increase your height once you’ve reached adulthood. But you can appear taller by following the tips below:

1. Wear comfortable heels or inserts inside your shoes.
2. Improve your posture and believe me when I say it goes a long way in making you look taller and full of confidence.
3. Try styling tricks that suits you. Wearing prints like vertical stripes / creating long lines with your clothes can make you look more elongated.
4. Exercises like yoga or Pilates can strengthen your core and improve your posture.

Conclusion

Being a medium height person myself, it is unfortunate to know that we cannot grow more. But too we can blame our math teacher for not growing as they are the ones who took our games periods! Just kidding that was for our own good. Don’t forget to have a good posture. Let us eat nutritious food and get a good nights sleep to grow.