While we are lying down in a resting position, the spine is said to “spread out” or decompress, so when we wake in the morning we are taller after lying in bed all night.
When you lie down, gravity isn't pushing down on your vertebrae. You can do your own experiments with a meterstick. Measure your height carefully as soon as you get up or while you are still lying down. You will find that you're about a centimeter or two taller.
Some may even wonder if sleeping more could make them taller. A few studies have found that sleeping more in childhood and adolescence is associated with growing taller, though there is not enough evidence to say whether sleeping more increases a person's adult height.
A single night of no sleep will not stunt growth. But over the long term, a person's growth may be affected by not getting the full amount of sleep. That's because growth hormone is normally released during sleep.
On the average, upon getting up in the morning, we are about 1 cm taller than during the day; in the evening happens the opposite, with a variation of about 2/3 cm throughout the day.
It is said that we are just a little bit taller in the morning than we are later in the day – but why? This phenomenon may be due to gravity compressing cartilage in our spine and in other parts of our bodies, such as our knees when we stand up or sit down throughout the day.
It could be. A single night of no sleep will not stunt growth. But over the long term, a person's growth may be affected by not getting the full amount of sleep. That's because growth hormone is normally released during sleep.
Once we are at the end of our puberty period, our hormonal changes prompt the growth plate to close off. Once that's closed off or sealed, no amount of sleeping will help us get taller any more. According to Healthline.com, the growth plates close at around 16 for women and somewhere between 14 and 19 for men.
Stunted growth: what actually causes it? The most direct causes are inadequate nutrition (not eating enough or eating foods that lack growth-promoting nutrients) and recurrent infections or chronic or diseases which cause poor nutrient intake, absorption or utilization.
Here's the long answer...
Although everybody is different, most adults need about 7-8 hours of sleep a day. Young children generally sleep as much as they need very naturally — they get cranky when tired. Teenagers may need up to 10 hours of sleep to help them grow and learn!
When Do You Stop Growing? For both girls and boys, growth typically stops when puberty ends. For girls, who begin puberty earlier than boys, that is around age 15 or 16. For boys, growth can continue until around age 18.
What can I do to become taller? Taking good care of yourself — eating well, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of rest — is the best way to stay healthy and help your body reach its natural potential. There's no magic pill for increasing height. In fact, your genes are the major determinant of how tall you'll be.
Changes in Boys
The growth spurt of boys is, on average, about 2 years later than that of girls. By age 16, most boys have stopped growing, but their muscles will continue to develop.
After a good nights sleep lying stretched out without compression on your spine the discs are full and plump. This makes your spine a little longer and taller. Once you are up sitting, walking and vertical all day gravity takes its effect and slowly compresses those discs.
The actual spurt was then smaller and, moreover, puberty occurred earlier. In the category of children with lower BMI and later onset of puberty, the spurt was all the stronger. Those whose puberty was delayed also had several extra years to grow in, and quite simply ended up taller.
And as we know, calcium is critical to growing taller. Carbohydrate rich foods – especially those that are highly processed – such as cereals, rice, breads, and pastas can negatively impact the bodies human growth hormones.
Once a person has been through puberty, the growth plates stop making new bone. They fuse together, and the person stops growing. This means that when an individual reaches adulthood, they are not able to increase their height.
A major growth spurt happens at the time of puberty, usually between 8 to 13 years of age in girls and 10 to 15 years in boys. Puberty lasts about 2 to 5 years.
“Stretching does not make you taller, but it can help in improving flexibility and posture, which can make someone seem taller,” Hashish said. “For instance, if someone slouches, they may appear shorter than when they stand upright with more extension.”
As mentioned in one of the articles one good way to see if you still have growth potential is to X-ray a wrist- the test is called a Pediatric Bone Age. It will show if your growth plates are still open. A doctor can also request lab tests- checking for hormones- such as thyroid, growth hormone and sex hormones.
How much sleep someone needs depends on their age. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended that children aged 6–12 years should regularly sleep 9–12 hours per 24 hours and teenagers aged 13–18 years should sleep 8–10 hours per 24 hours.
No! Many people fast for two days, and it is actually quite healthy. It cleanses your body to get rid of all the yucky stuff, and leaves you feeling refreshed again. Your growth won't be stunted from this, but try not to do it too often.
Sleep research suggests that a teenager needs between eight and 10 hours of sleep every night. This is more than the amount a child or an adult needs. Yet most adolescents only get about 6.5 – 7.5 hours sleep per night, and some get less. Regularly not getting enough sleep leads to chronic sleep deprivation.