- A study of 280,000 adults found more than 100
health risks could be linked toheight . - Taller men had a higher risk of irregular heartbeats and bad circulation, but a lower risk of heart disease.
Tall people, especially white men, have an elevated risk of about 100 different health conditions compared to their shorter peers, according to a large study of American veterans.
Previous research has shown that being tall is associated with a lower risk of several heart conditions, including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
But men taller than 5 feet 9 inches may be more likely to develop various health problems involving the veins and extremities, according to findings published in the journal PLOS Genetics.
Researchers with the VA Million Veteran Program, a national initiative to better understand factors that affect human health, looked at genetic and medical data from more than 280,000 adults. Most of the participants were male (91%) and white (73%), so the findings may not be generalizable to other populations.
Height has been associated with certain health risks and benefits, but this is the most extensive review of data to consider genetically predicted height and how it may relate to long-term health.
Greater risk of irregular heart rate and bad circulation
Being taller than average was linked to a higher risk of most of the health conditions considered in the VA study, excluding heart problems.
Participants taller than 5'9" — the average height for men in the US and in the study — were more likely to develop nerve damage in their hands or feet, called peripheral neuropathy, the researchers found.
In a press release, lead author Dr. Sridharan Raghavan called the findings on peripheral nerve damage "particularly interesting." One theory as to why tall patients may experience worse nerve pain or numbness, as well as a greater risk of toe and foot deformities, is that carrying more body mass may also put more pressure on the bones, muscles, and feet.
Tall people also had a greater risk of developing blood clots or varicose veins, pointing to problems with circulation. Skin and bone infections including cellulitis, leg ulcers, and nail fungus were linked to height as well.
Tall height was linked to lower risk of heart problems
Tall people in the study were more likely to experience irregular heartbeats, but aside from that one risk, height seemed to protect against most heart conditions, the authors noted.
Being tall was associated with a lower risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are known risk factors for strokes and heart attacks. Taller participants and those genetically predicted to be tall also had lower coronary artery disease risk.
Height could be a relevant medical risk factor in the future, but first, more research needs to be done to better understand the relationship between height and health.