We are aware about the fact that body weight plays a major role on our health and longevity but we are not very well aware about any existing correlations between height and longevity. There have been various studies conducted to establish a correlation between height and chronic illness. The result of these studies indicate that irrespective of whether you are short or tall, there are some bad news for you.
The study conducted by University of Leicester, UK, investigated into a possible correlation between height and heart disease. They examined 180 genetic indicators and specifically examined the ones associated with either height and heart disease. It has been observed that the shorter people are more prone to coronary heart disease. In fact, with every 2.5 inch increase in height the chances of coronary disease decrease by 13.5 percent!
They also isolated the genetic markers associated with increase of height and found that persons having those genetic markers are 26% less likely to develop coronary disease condition that those having less genetic markers. Another interesting study published in European Heart Journal indicated that coronary disease may be linked to smaller coronary arteries present in shorter people.
There is a third study by American Stroke Association and they indicated that taller people are having less chance of dying due to stroke even when the lifestyle and age is factored in.
There is some bad news for the taller people too. A research conducted by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine indicated that every 4-inch increase of height is adding 13% added risk of cancer. This includes almost all types of cancers possible.
Additionally, women with a good height are at greater risk so far as developing blood clots are concerned. Iowa women’s health project indicated that women taller than 5’6” were 76% more likely to suffer from blood clots compared to those who were about 5’2” tall.
Correlation between height, weight and the diseases were comparatively unknown till recently. The idea propagated with the involvement of insurance industry. Previously, the insurance industry used to have strange charts to correlate height, weight and diseases. But, with the advancement of medical technology, many of these diseases became curable/ controllable or even obsolete. With this, there is now a clear shift in what are counted as the ideal weight and height combinations.
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Author: Technology and Beyond
