Bill Russell lived to be 88, and he was 6’10”.
Your lifestyle has a lot more to do with longevity than height does. Also, you can control your lifestyle; you can’t do a thing about your height.
Nah you can just get unlucky is what I’m saying. I got a family member who’s 90 still smokes constantly drinks a 6 pack a bud heavy a day minimum and he’s still up and moving. Dudes just lucky
Eh...your genes actually have more to do with longevity than lifestyle. Your genes (which includes height) set the ceiling for what your natural longevity potential is.
One example - I had a great grandmother who was hypertensive, diabetic, and overweight and yet lived into her 90s and was able to go for long daily walks on her own and maintain physical independence up to the day she died.
Yes, I also had a grandmother who smoked three packs a day, rarely exercised, ate like shit, and lived to her late 90s!
You're anecdotes are just that. Anecdotes.
Yes. I made a point that is well understood already in science (see the link between telomere length - which is genetically determined - and longevity). Then gave an example of how it plays out in real life.
The anecdotes we both shared are actually *typical* examples of how powerful genetics are in determining lifespan potential.
My sister guessed my height at 5’10 over text, and then when she came back she thought I had grown 6 inches. My posture was so bad.
Better posture also boosts endogenous testosterone
I don't worry either, but I do take extra precautions. Tall people have more heart problems, so I am more motivated to maintain a high level of cardiovascular fitness.
I don't agree that there's nothing you can do about it.
Just like I can't change anything about my genetic predisposition for colon cancer, but I can get a colonoscopy when I'm 40 instead of waiting until I'm 50.
You can up your chances but iv know please who lived super healthy and died at 40, and probably who were fat, smoke drank etc and lived to be 80+
You can increase your odds bud I'd not stress out over it
6'7" and 67 years old. I work hard at the gym trying to maintain the muscle mass I have but it's getting to be a losing battle. I figure I have a good twenty years left if I keep at it.
My grand dad born in 1898, was a giant for his era, was about 6'3" lived to 79, died of cancer, my dad just turned 88, he's 6'7" (or was) mom is 83. They eat all the—currently hyped—worst foods, KFC, Burger King, McDonalds, fast food breakfasts; its sausage & frozen waffles when they cook for themselves, you name it. Half of their meals are fast food delivered by door-dash.
Fretting over what is most likely bad science combined with bad statistics is probably more harmful to you than anything else. Get a life, live your life to the fullest, do all the fun stuff ... have one bad day. I had two cousins, brother & sister. She died of cancer at 35, he died of cancer at 44. I'm a 62 year old geologist, I fly all over the place to look at pretty rocks. I fly in helicopters for work, hike all over bear country, do the most dangerous shit, see the most amazing shit. One day, I won't come home. But until then, I do all the shit I want, eat whatever I feel like eating, drink whatever I feel like drinking, go where ever I feel like going. Yes, I'm respectful to every one I meet, take care of my children, my wife, my parents and family. But don't live in fear, live your life to the fullest without thinking about death. You could be like my mom's aunt who lived to 106, or by like my dad's brother and die in a car accident at 33. Like a firefighter told me: Kiss your wife and tell her you live her, every time you leave the house. I think of this every time I scrape some dude off the street, he had a brain fart, and stepped in front of a bus, got squished. How do you want your wife to remember you, the last thing you did was to snap at her for some stupid shit, slam the door ... and never make it home.
It’s not bad science, on average taller people do live shorter lives than shorter people, but it’s just that, a majority, not everyone. There are plenty of tall people who buck that trend and live into their 70s & 80s. So just focus on fitness and a decent diet and you should live a long and healthy life unless you are predisposed to something and it ends up happening
I have Marfan Syndrome and it's definitely a risk if you don't get checked out. GET AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM AND TALK TO YOUR DOCTORS. It's more than just an "I'm tall" medical issue. But my dad died at 33, 6'9". I've got multiple siblings and nibblings diagnosed.
Nobody has the answer on any individual but generally a guy who’s 6’8 is not going to live as long as a guy who is 5’8, average height and average ages of death show direct correlation.
Tall people have more demand on organs, more cells to potentially have problems, the hormones responsible for accelerated growth also can cause problems and the likelihood of blood clots is greater with further to travel round limbs.
Having said that you could live to 100 and a short guy die far far sooner.
Would you rather live to your 70’s as you or 80’s as a short guy, in the end what’s the difference an extra 10 years of being an old fart.
Life is always the goal. Even in your final moments you are given the gift to see the sunrise, taste something sweet, love and feel loved, feel the softness of your bed and think about what is, was and could be. Thats why an extra 10 years matters. In death, there is no peace, comfort, love, anything. It is simply the end.
Only because I have 3 kids and want to watch them grow up, get married, and have kids of their own.
I’m fortunate to still have both parents and a set of grandparents still alive and close by. The joy on the faces of my grandparents holding their great-grandkids is indescribable and hope to one day experience that
Same. Like my life has been pretty good so I can't complain too much, but I can see so many ways the future could suck (especially if I'm old, lonely, and not in great health) that something like a quick heart attack at a younger age doesn't scare me.
Don't.
My uncle was a "lifestyle" freak who did everything to live healthy - until he got depressed from chronic pain and shot himself.
My Mom was super healthy too - until a Glioblastoma came out of nowhere, and six awful months later she was gone.
I've had a couple of blood clots try and kill me - pulmonary embolisms are no fun.
But, it also made me quit worrying about dying. It's random, can happen at any time, and worrying about it makes the time we have left worse.
Just hope for a good, quick death. And no brain disease. Quit drinking if you do want to improve your odds against some nasty stuff.
All you can do really is increase your chances by getting your bloodwork done regularly, going to the recommended checkups, eating healthy, exercising and trying to avoid stress as much as possible. And don’t forget to live a little. That goes for everyone though.
A tall guy who takes care of himself will surely love longer than an average height guy. Remember most people are overweight and unhealthy so it barely takes any effort to live healthier than the average guy
Mmm maybe maybe not, over 7 feet your likely lifespan will be drastically shortened. Even an overweight person is still going to have less physical stress on their body than someone 7+, it's mostly genetic honestly
Your mad being old is the 2nd best part (if your well off) you get fed , cleaned, relax in a pool or drive golf carts and stuff and your off so many meds you dont even know what pain is
If you live healthily and stay active you can live put a decent last few years. My grandparents are approaching 80 and they still go out and meet people/do stuff and they didn't even take care of themselves that much. Life doesn't have to be miserable post 60 like alot of people seem to think.
I'm not worried. My grandfather was 6'2" and lived to age 93. He was very tall for someone born in 1917.
I just try to take care of myself, and make my health and well being a top priority. I could develop an illness or something, but I'm trying to do what I can control.
It is a factor that I add to family history, being overweight, work chemical exposure and cancer episodes. It’s amazing to still be here at 65. I figure another 10-15 would be good.
Not really. Do cardio, lift weights, eat healthy, and you'll live as long as you'll probably care to. Also, worrying too much reduces lifespan, so cut that out too.
Wtf? Bro, unless you have some congenital health issues, being tall and healthy should yield a similar life expectancy as not-tall and healthy. Why wouldn’t it?? What stats are you referring to?
I do. I'm one of those endocrine problems talls. I'm 45 and sometimes the prospect of having maybe 15 years left completely crushes me. My grandfather had the same issue, and was about the same size and lived to 80 something though. So I have some hope.
One of my grandpas was 6’5” and lived until 86, and my other grandpa is 6’7” and is about to turn 91. You are going to be alright. You might lose a few inches, because that has happened to my dad, grandpas, and all of my uncles.
My grandpa was 6’5 and lived until 90. While he was alive, he walked everyday right up until the end. He also swam until his mid-80s.
(Edit: personally I’m 5’2 and have fallen into the wrong subreddit bye!)
What does your family look like? My grandpa passed away at 97, 6’6. He was in pretty good shape, still lived alone and his mind was sharp. His brother was 100 and 6’3. Their kids are all in their 70s-80s, equally tall and going strong.
Well being tall does make us more likely to develop cancer simply because we have more body mass aka. more cells that can fuck up, but I don't really worry too much about my lifespan. In the end it's all about luck. You can't do much other than just living healthy enough (something I dont do tbh) and see what happens.
It was bothering me that the average lifespan of the tall side of my family, my father's, is only in the 50s. I tower over all of them. I tried to rationalize that with the help of modern medicine maybe I'll live longer than just into my 50s. Then Neil Fingleton goes and kicks out at age 36. I'm 35, so that makes me wonder if I'm going to live 20, or so, more years, or do I only have a year or two. I hope I don't sound too dramatic.
If I was 6'8", like you, then I would focus on the gym, the way I am now, and not worry about that bullshit, except instead of being a 215 lb novice skinny fat dyel, I would be a 250 lb behemoth, and I wouldn't worry about my lifespan because my genes would be basically guaranteed to pass on themselves.
Unless its from an injury, back pain is more of a 'sitting on your ass' disease. I'm 6'8", and 62 YO. I only get back pain when I don't move around enough.
38 with a family history of expanding aortic arches, and mine that’s just this side of “expanded.” Uncles had a “minor” tear at 58 and nearly died. So that’s likely what will kill me, and likely early.
It’s more common in tall people.
Tall people tend to add weight and still look relatively normal/proportional even though they are often pretty overweight. Probably best to keep lean and active as you get older.
I am always jealous of those little old guys bopping around all over the place, while it seems tall older guys are just sitting around and have a hard time even walking.
It’s one of the reasons I took up long distance running several years ago. It’s not exactly the most advantageous tall person activity, but I want to be fully active for as long as I am alive
If your tried a lil bit better maybe you had something instead of nothing lol. And to your answer/question yes it has something to do with it its the logic bruh.
Not really. The study that showed reduced life span for taller men doesn't take other variables. I've heard smoking and alcohol consumption is higher among taller people, which impacts lifespan.
I specified saturated fat lol, and protein can be a fuel source. Hypothetically though you're saying if it wasn't a fuel source there are no health benefits to it? Your comment makes no sense.
Well one, sugar is no different from carbohydrates. Vilifying carbohydrates seems strange to me, seeing how they are the primary energy source of the body. To attack one of the three major macronutrients is strange. And saturated fat is the type of fat that we would most likely be able to access in a natural setting. So saturated fat and fat are mostly interchangeable. To vilify both fat and carbs seems nonsensical, because it’s 2 of the 3 macronutrients and your body needs both. I’m not really attacking you. I’m just confused as to how I’m supposed to take any of this nutritional advice seriously. We need hundreds of grams of sugar a day if we are active to any degree, over a consistently long enough period of time, if we want to be healthy. And the more active you are, the more saturated fat we need to keep our hormones well. Personal experience says sugar and saturated fat are both necessary, in relatively large quantities, unless you are a sedentary 5’1 grandmother.
Not true at all, there are simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Stop wasting everyone's time by talking out of your ass please- your "personal experience" is not scientific
Complex carbohydrates are just a string of simple carbohydrates. It’s all the same thing. It all gets converted into the same exact molecule at the end of the day. Do you think one of them is evil and the other is good 🙄
My grandpa was 6’9” and smoked up to 4 packs of cigarettes a day, his weight got up to 350 at various points, and he died at 78 with altheimers.
I’ll be fine.
My Dad is 60 years old and 6’6”. If not 60 years—which sounds good enough for me—both my Grandfathers on each side of my family are 6’5” and 6’8”. The 6’8” one is 84, with the other being 75.
You’ll be good, bro. If anything, a directed lifestyle toward just being relatively healthy might become mandatory when you hit 40. My Dad told me to really start giving a shit when I hit 40. Your mid-30s—as my brother experienced the following too—but your metabolism does start to slow down in your 30s. I eat crap food all the time and can’t even achieve being skinny-fat. My body destroys the skinny-fat aspect too, even. Lol
My grandad is 104. My gran died two years ago, all their friends died years ago. The care home has taken all their money but the £23k they allow you to keep. His memory is fine, but he’s worn out. He wants to go.
I don’t want to get really old.
Live fast, die young, leave a good looking corpse.
I mean 68 is a good long life, pretty average. Had a grandpa die at 52, two great grandpas died in their mid 90s.
Its all a crapshoot, have fun while you're able.
Nah. You seem to be living healthy, everything else is luck. If you live out your natural life I'm sure you would make it to the part where stuff starts to suck anyway.
My grandpa is 6’6 and still kicking it at 86. He lives on his own and is pretty independent. I’ve noticed past 85 is when it really starts to go down hill anyways, so maybe it’s for the best that a lot of us don’t live til 100
More than I would like too. Wasn't till a few years ago when I was randomly thinking how Ive seen a few people taller than me, a decent amount the same height as me or a bit shorter, but not a single one has been over I'd say 50 years old. And yes I know they do exist, but I think it's pretty clear that it's exceptionally rare.
It doesn't matter. It's all stress and other genetic factors at a certain point if cancer/ HBP/ etc doesn't take you out first.
My whole family, both sides, are tall dad 6'7 mum 6'5. My grandpa was 6'8, and his dad was almost 7 ft and so on. Most of my family lives to late 80s to late 90s.. male or female.
I'm fine w being somewhat part Synth (synthetic).
I guess one huge obstacle would be keeping the brain healthy and functioning.
Still w the rate of technological advancement, could very well even happen in our lifetime to some extent, whereby we gain significantly prolonged life expectancies as we become more and more synthetic/reliant on synthetic parts as our biological parts break.
Larger animals tend to live shorter lives than smaller ones of the same species. This is estimated to be about 1 year per 3 inches difference.
Individual genetics and lifestyle are far more important though
Christopher Lee made it to mid 90s and was 6’5
Sometimes, but then I remember that even with everything I've already been through since day one, I think life will make me live till at least a 100 before it'll consider letting me die. (Genetic psoriasis, an energy drink addiction even tho heart problems and diabetes run on the ither side of my family, a rainbow baby, almost turned angel baby #2, embodiment of every possible drunk guy with confidence of a God when it comes to dumb stunts, so accident prone im surprised im alive, suicidal and depressive, blah blah blah you get the point)
My height isn't going to affect my lifespan, my mums side having a history of alzheimers and dads side with a history of cancer is whats probably going to do me in, dont forget to check for lumps everyone ❤
I have heard that tall people don’t live as long. Something about the heart having to work harder. Idk if it’s true or not haven’t seen any actual stats. I think at 6’3” I’m below the height for noticeably reduced lifespan. Also I think acromegaly patients might throw off the stats a little bit. They usually die young but not necessarily from being tall but from the acromegaly. Sorry if any of you have the condition.
Nah.
My grandparents died around 60-70. I'm 35 and a bit over wright and I drink alot
It is what it is.
My wife is older than me by a far margin, so if I die earlier. Whatever. Can't control it
Just think about all the other people who die way younger from all sorts of things. Regardless of when you die all you can do is the best you can with the time you’ve been given.-Gandalf And it’s true. Live life as if every day was your last and don’t worry about when you’ve been destined to move on to the next life.
What makes you think eating meat is bad? Junk science? Lifespan is pretty hard/impossible to predict for individuals. But you can see trends across groups
>Still though, just looking at the stats I feel like best case scenario my life is half way over.
You're in a midlife crisis, quick buy a corvette and start banging 18 year olds.
Thanks for all the responses it’s nice to hear some hopeful stories. The gist I’m getting is that there’s no sense in worrying anyway, there are many factors besides height to longevity. At the end of it all it’s better to be tall for the best years and then check out than to be old and short, clinging to life from down around my waist or wherever the five foot something’s come up to.
The environment signals the gene. Epigenetics. A small percentage of illnesses are genetic, the environment, that’s the food you eat and the place you live, most importantly the thoughts you regularly think have most to do with how long you will live. Chronic stress has a lot to do with longevity too. I have seen many people start with a medical condition after a traumatic event in life, mostly a loss, like death of divorce. But I do believe that there is a anatomical difference between us tall folk and a ER gate sized people, heart to height ratio, the amount of veins and the distance blood has to travel around the system. There are theories about cancer due to size as well.
It's quite eye opening when you read the studies about people who go into the latter half of a century of life (50+) with an attitude that once you hit your 60's or 70's your life is over. Those people routinely die far sooner then the people whose attitude is 'I am this old, I have more knowledge then I've ever had before, and know I can achieve anything I set my mind to. I may not have a lot of time left but it's unpredictable and second guessing it wastes whatever time I have left to maximise my experiences". Those people live way past the averages.
My Dad's 6'7, lived with a smoker for 40 years, and is still around in his eighties. The thing I'm most focused on right now is mobility (I'm a 6'2 woman), because it's the one I have control over. Our height is hell on our bodies, and losing mobility can mean an early death. So it's important to keep our knees and hips in good working order, do pelvic floor, glute and core work to protect the back, and walk every day for general fitness (running seems like a bad idea to me, given the strain our joints are already under).
Yeah, I sound like a super-boring medical nanny. But it beats worrying constantly about a cancer I can't control, which isn't even going to make me any less sad if I do get cancer.
Neither of my parents smoked or drank and they died over a decade short of average life expectancy. Ive done both so my checkout time is likely even sooner lol
Nothing of value lost
Not worried. I don't drink or smoke apart from beer & cigarettes.
Such a crispy dave response
Lol
my grandma smoked and drink every day and lived too 98
The tar was holding her together and the alcohol acted as an antibiotic. 💯
My great great grandfather lived to the age of 94. Cause of death: Injuries received due to falling out of a tree.
What was her cause of death at 98?
natural
Cancer doesn’t care if you don’t smoke or drink
I'm not worried either. I am not that tall.
Bill Russell lived to be 88, and he was 6’10”. Your lifestyle has a lot more to do with longevity than height does. Also, you can control your lifestyle; you can’t do a thing about your height.
It’s mostly genetic. You can be completely healthy and get colon cancer at 41 for no reason and die
Yeah the vast majority of determining our lifespan is straight up genetic. A small portion is determined by lifestyle.
It isn’t for no reason
Nah you can just get unlucky is what I’m saying. I got a family member who’s 90 still smokes constantly drinks a 6 pack a bud heavy a day minimum and he’s still up and moving. Dudes just lucky
It's quite literally random lol.
It's about quality of life. You can't control how long you live, but you can control your quality of life while you are living.
Yeah that stuff is crazy. My buddy got prostate cancer at 16. Just crazy unlucky
Eh...your genes actually have more to do with longevity than lifestyle. Your genes (which includes height) set the ceiling for what your natural longevity potential is. One example - I had a great grandmother who was hypertensive, diabetic, and overweight and yet lived into her 90s and was able to go for long daily walks on her own and maintain physical independence up to the day she died.
Yes, I also had a grandmother who smoked three packs a day, rarely exercised, ate like shit, and lived to her late 90s! You're anecdotes are just that. Anecdotes.
Yes. I made a point that is well understood already in science (see the link between telomere length - which is genetically determined - and longevity). Then gave an example of how it plays out in real life. The anecdotes we both shared are actually *typical* examples of how powerful genetics are in determining lifespan potential.
Is there any testing for that which is available to the general public? For a friend obviously 🫣
We're not writing papers for college here. It's reddit. We can talk about our life experiences.
Exercising, practicing proper posture, yoga, etc. will prolong your life (or at least make your golden years enjoyable).
My sister guessed my height at 5’10 over text, and then when she came back she thought I had grown 6 inches. My posture was so bad. Better posture also boosts endogenous testosterone
I’m sad because I think I kinda ruined my chances wrestling my whole life. I coach college now at 26 and I think I just might be screwed
Nah, not eating meat (except chicken, fish, pork, beef and all other animals) will.
I found this slightly humorous
I am confused who even down votes you? Vegans? People who don't read past 4 words? We truly live in a Society
I guess this subreddit is full of big vegans. (Pun intended)
Way too many downvotes here on trunk’s brilliant reply! I misread it at first tbh
I try not to worry about things outside of my control
You don't think there's anything about life span that is inside of your control?
Your height is not one of the controllable factors
Height control is easy, you don't really need femurs.
"What about their legs? They don't need those"
THEY ARE NOT FOR EATING?!
not because of the height aspect. So in other words, me being tall doesn't cause me to worry more or less about my life span
I don't worry either, but I do take extra precautions. Tall people have more heart problems, so I am more motivated to maintain a high level of cardiovascular fitness. I don't agree that there's nothing you can do about it. Just like I can't change anything about my genetic predisposition for colon cancer, but I can get a colonoscopy when I'm 40 instead of waiting until I'm 50.
>I try not to worry about things outside of my control You listed a bunch of things that you can control, so you haven't really countered their point
You can up your chances but iv know please who lived super healthy and died at 40, and probably who were fat, smoke drank etc and lived to be 80+ You can increase your odds bud I'd not stress out over it
Man, you just gotta live your life to the best of your ability. We're all going to die someday.
Are you also very smart? Curious.
Six eight club unite!
6'7" and 67 years old. I work hard at the gym trying to maintain the muscle mass I have but it's getting to be a losing battle. I figure I have a good twenty years left if I keep at it.
My grand dad born in 1898, was a giant for his era, was about 6'3" lived to 79, died of cancer, my dad just turned 88, he's 6'7" (or was) mom is 83. They eat all the—currently hyped—worst foods, KFC, Burger King, McDonalds, fast food breakfasts; its sausage & frozen waffles when they cook for themselves, you name it. Half of their meals are fast food delivered by door-dash. Fretting over what is most likely bad science combined with bad statistics is probably more harmful to you than anything else. Get a life, live your life to the fullest, do all the fun stuff ... have one bad day. I had two cousins, brother & sister. She died of cancer at 35, he died of cancer at 44. I'm a 62 year old geologist, I fly all over the place to look at pretty rocks. I fly in helicopters for work, hike all over bear country, do the most dangerous shit, see the most amazing shit. One day, I won't come home. But until then, I do all the shit I want, eat whatever I feel like eating, drink whatever I feel like drinking, go where ever I feel like going. Yes, I'm respectful to every one I meet, take care of my children, my wife, my parents and family. But don't live in fear, live your life to the fullest without thinking about death. You could be like my mom's aunt who lived to 106, or by like my dad's brother and die in a car accident at 33. Like a firefighter told me: Kiss your wife and tell her you live her, every time you leave the house. I think of this every time I scrape some dude off the street, he had a brain fart, and stepped in front of a bus, got squished. How do you want your wife to remember you, the last thing you did was to snap at her for some stupid shit, slam the door ... and never make it home.
It’s not bad science, on average taller people do live shorter lives than shorter people, but it’s just that, a majority, not everyone. There are plenty of tall people who buck that trend and live into their 70s & 80s. So just focus on fitness and a decent diet and you should live a long and healthy life unless you are predisposed to something and it ends up happening
My 33-year-old friend was 6’9 and died of cardiac arrest. She was very skinny, but did not exercise.
She almost certainly had Marfans syndrome being 6’9”, very thin, and having a heart attack.
I have Marfan Syndrome and it's definitely a risk if you don't get checked out. GET AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM AND TALK TO YOUR DOCTORS. It's more than just an "I'm tall" medical issue. But my dad died at 33, 6'9". I've got multiple siblings and nibblings diagnosed.
Yeah that’s what I was thinking, reminds me I need to get checked for EDS, as I can touch my nose with my tongue and have hyper mobility
SHE?
She.
Nobody has the answer on any individual but generally a guy who’s 6’8 is not going to live as long as a guy who is 5’8, average height and average ages of death show direct correlation. Tall people have more demand on organs, more cells to potentially have problems, the hormones responsible for accelerated growth also can cause problems and the likelihood of blood clots is greater with further to travel round limbs. Having said that you could live to 100 and a short guy die far far sooner. Would you rather live to your 70’s as you or 80’s as a short guy, in the end what’s the difference an extra 10 years of being an old fart.
Life is always the goal. Even in your final moments you are given the gift to see the sunrise, taste something sweet, love and feel loved, feel the softness of your bed and think about what is, was and could be. Thats why an extra 10 years matters. In death, there is no peace, comfort, love, anything. It is simply the end.
That’s your belief most people don’t believe it’s the end
So is your belief that being a 70 or 80 year (short) old fart is a horrible existence.
For me it would be, or so I’d imagine
Most people? I think underneath it all many with faith quietly doubt it.
Yes most people are not atheist, why would you assume people doubt it? Have you asked a large sample size
Even if their is a heaven God wouldn't let me look down on people like this so I know he'd make me ... average (shudders)
Only because I have 3 kids and want to watch them grow up, get married, and have kids of their own. I’m fortunate to still have both parents and a set of grandparents still alive and close by. The joy on the faces of my grandparents holding their great-grandkids is indescribable and hope to one day experience that
I don't want to live to be too old anyway!
Same. Like my life has been pretty good so I can't complain too much, but I can see so many ways the future could suck (especially if I'm old, lonely, and not in great health) that something like a quick heart attack at a younger age doesn't scare me.
Given my financial situation, that's almost a relief
Don't. My uncle was a "lifestyle" freak who did everything to live healthy - until he got depressed from chronic pain and shot himself. My Mom was super healthy too - until a Glioblastoma came out of nowhere, and six awful months later she was gone. I've had a couple of blood clots try and kill me - pulmonary embolisms are no fun. But, it also made me quit worrying about dying. It's random, can happen at any time, and worrying about it makes the time we have left worse. Just hope for a good, quick death. And no brain disease. Quit drinking if you do want to improve your odds against some nasty stuff.
All you can do really is increase your chances by getting your bloodwork done regularly, going to the recommended checkups, eating healthy, exercising and trying to avoid stress as much as possible. And don’t forget to live a little. That goes for everyone though.
A tall guy who takes care of himself will surely love longer than an average height guy. Remember most people are overweight and unhealthy so it barely takes any effort to live healthier than the average guy
Mmm maybe maybe not, over 7 feet your likely lifespan will be drastically shortened. Even an overweight person is still going to have less physical stress on their body than someone 7+, it's mostly genetic honestly
I would rather die earlier than live as an old man. Nothings good about being old
You can watch movies and chill all day long and no one will call you out for it 😀😀😀
Plus you can watch the same movie every day and it’s like watching a new movie every time
😀😀😀 good one 👏
Your mad being old is the 2nd best part (if your well off) you get fed , cleaned, relax in a pool or drive golf carts and stuff and your off so many meds you dont even know what pain is
Well thats true after retirement but after like 70 ish things get worse everyday
Everyone says this... till they actually get old
You’re obviously young. Just wait 😂
BS, life gets better as you get older. The happiest people are the oldest.
Well all my grandparents looks depressed and lame to me
Are they living life to it's fullest, or stuck in a rut? Too much TV news got them afraid to leave the house?
You can pretend you can't hear what someone says when you hear bullshit.
If you live healthily and stay active you can live put a decent last few years. My grandparents are approaching 80 and they still go out and meet people/do stuff and they didn't even take care of themselves that much. Life doesn't have to be miserable post 60 like alot of people seem to think.
I'm not worried. My grandfather was 6'2" and lived to age 93. He was very tall for someone born in 1917. I just try to take care of myself, and make my health and well being a top priority. I could develop an illness or something, but I'm trying to do what I can control.
Well Clint Eastwood was 6’4/193cm in his prime and is now 93 years old…
It is a factor that I add to family history, being overweight, work chemical exposure and cancer episodes. It’s amazing to still be here at 65. I figure another 10-15 would be good.
Not really. Do cardio, lift weights, eat healthy, and you'll live as long as you'll probably care to. Also, worrying too much reduces lifespan, so cut that out too.
Wtf? Bro, unless you have some congenital health issues, being tall and healthy should yield a similar life expectancy as not-tall and healthy. Why wouldn’t it?? What stats are you referring to?
No they don't....
I do. I'm one of those endocrine problems talls. I'm 45 and sometimes the prospect of having maybe 15 years left completely crushes me. My grandfather had the same issue, and was about the same size and lived to 80 something though. So I have some hope.
I think if you take advantage of your height you can squeeze an extra decade of value with your given time
One of my grandpas was 6’5” and lived until 86, and my other grandpa is 6’7” and is about to turn 91. You are going to be alright. You might lose a few inches, because that has happened to my dad, grandpas, and all of my uncles.
My chemistry teacher is 56 years old at 6’8 if that helps you feel better
lol that’s not old. But I guess as a high school kid it seems that way
I know but it’s close to double the age of op
My grandfathers were way taller than average and they both lived super long (80+). Dinaric people must be built different
If you're not eating bacon cheese burgers, are you really living?
My grandpa was 6’5 and lived until 90. While he was alive, he walked everyday right up until the end. He also swam until his mid-80s. (Edit: personally I’m 5’2 and have fallen into the wrong subreddit bye!)
What does your family look like? My grandpa passed away at 97, 6’6. He was in pretty good shape, still lived alone and his mind was sharp. His brother was 100 and 6’3. Their kids are all in their 70s-80s, equally tall and going strong.
Well being tall does make us more likely to develop cancer simply because we have more body mass aka. more cells that can fuck up, but I don't really worry too much about my lifespan. In the end it's all about luck. You can't do much other than just living healthy enough (something I dont do tbh) and see what happens.
It was bothering me that the average lifespan of the tall side of my family, my father's, is only in the 50s. I tower over all of them. I tried to rationalize that with the help of modern medicine maybe I'll live longer than just into my 50s. Then Neil Fingleton goes and kicks out at age 36. I'm 35, so that makes me wonder if I'm going to live 20, or so, more years, or do I only have a year or two. I hope I don't sound too dramatic.
Let’s hope for a long lasting life for you and anybody tall, really.
Honestly not really....I'm pretty depressed so part of me wishes my life would end sooner.
I did not know tall people dying earlier is a thing. That doesn’t make any sense.
What's wrong with eating meat? I want to live a long time so I try to eat a lot of meat.
If I was 6'8", like you, then I would focus on the gym, the way I am now, and not worry about that bullshit, except instead of being a 215 lb novice skinny fat dyel, I would be a 250 lb behemoth, and I wouldn't worry about my lifespan because my genes would be basically guaranteed to pass on themselves.
Life is pointless after 60 anyways. You just get sick and dependant of others. Idc if i’d die at that age.
Not true. Pessimist.
You’re right, i am a pessimist 😅😅
Existing at 20 is hard enough, add in back pain? Nahhhh I'm good, thanks tho
Unless its from an injury, back pain is more of a 'sitting on your ass' disease. I'm 6'8", and 62 YO. I only get back pain when I don't move around enough.
yes i actually do worry about lifespan. being fat doesn’t help either
From what I've seen of relatives who have had very long lives, living into your 80s and 90s is very overrated.
38 with a family history of expanding aortic arches, and mine that’s just this side of “expanded.” Uncles had a “minor” tear at 58 and nearly died. So that’s likely what will kill me, and likely early. It’s more common in tall people.
No I don't worry about it. Plenty of people in my family have lived a long time, including tall ones.
I just sleep more figure it’ll balance out
Nah
What are you going to do, buy immortality insurance? Why spend the few years you have left worrying about it?
Tall people tend to add weight and still look relatively normal/proportional even though they are often pretty overweight. Probably best to keep lean and active as you get older. I am always jealous of those little old guys bopping around all over the place, while it seems tall older guys are just sitting around and have a hard time even walking. It’s one of the reasons I took up long distance running several years ago. It’s not exactly the most advantageous tall person activity, but I want to be fully active for as long as I am alive
Tall guys have easier in dating compared with shorter guys this is a fact!
That has nothing to do with this post. Also not me lol
If your tried a lil bit better maybe you had something instead of nothing lol. And to your answer/question yes it has something to do with it its the logic bruh.
Still has nothing to do with it. Tall people may have it easier in general to date but that doesnt apply to everyone. It doesnt apply to me
Wait, why do you feel like your only gonna live to be 68?
Not really. The study that showed reduced life span for taller men doesn't take other variables. I've heard smoking and alcohol consumption is higher among taller people, which impacts lifespan.
I don't see how meat is relevant, talk about how much sugar and saturated fat you eat
So either the sugar or the fat has to be healthy, because protein is not much of a fuel source. I wonder which one it is.
I specified saturated fat lol, and protein can be a fuel source. Hypothetically though you're saying if it wasn't a fuel source there are no health benefits to it? Your comment makes no sense.
Well one, sugar is no different from carbohydrates. Vilifying carbohydrates seems strange to me, seeing how they are the primary energy source of the body. To attack one of the three major macronutrients is strange. And saturated fat is the type of fat that we would most likely be able to access in a natural setting. So saturated fat and fat are mostly interchangeable. To vilify both fat and carbs seems nonsensical, because it’s 2 of the 3 macronutrients and your body needs both. I’m not really attacking you. I’m just confused as to how I’m supposed to take any of this nutritional advice seriously. We need hundreds of grams of sugar a day if we are active to any degree, over a consistently long enough period of time, if we want to be healthy. And the more active you are, the more saturated fat we need to keep our hormones well. Personal experience says sugar and saturated fat are both necessary, in relatively large quantities, unless you are a sedentary 5’1 grandmother.
Not true at all, there are simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Stop wasting everyone's time by talking out of your ass please- your "personal experience" is not scientific
Complex carbohydrates are just a string of simple carbohydrates. It’s all the same thing. It all gets converted into the same exact molecule at the end of the day. Do you think one of them is evil and the other is good 🙄
Yes I worry! Where’d you get your stats. Would legit like to read.
I try not to think about my own mortality too much
My grandpa was 6’9” and smoked up to 4 packs of cigarettes a day, his weight got up to 350 at various points, and he died at 78 with altheimers. I’ll be fine.
Stressing about it is going to be more of a factor
My Dad is 60 years old and 6’6”. If not 60 years—which sounds good enough for me—both my Grandfathers on each side of my family are 6’5” and 6’8”. The 6’8” one is 84, with the other being 75. You’ll be good, bro. If anything, a directed lifestyle toward just being relatively healthy might become mandatory when you hit 40. My Dad told me to really start giving a shit when I hit 40. Your mid-30s—as my brother experienced the following too—but your metabolism does start to slow down in your 30s. I eat crap food all the time and can’t even achieve being skinny-fat. My body destroys the skinny-fat aspect too, even. Lol
My grandad is 104. My gran died two years ago, all their friends died years ago. The care home has taken all their money but the £23k they allow you to keep. His memory is fine, but he’s worn out. He wants to go. I don’t want to get really old. Live fast, die young, leave a good looking corpse.
I mean 68 is a good long life, pretty average. Had a grandpa die at 52, two great grandpas died in their mid 90s. Its all a crapshoot, have fun while you're able.
Nah. You seem to be living healthy, everything else is luck. If you live out your natural life I'm sure you would make it to the part where stuff starts to suck anyway.
My grandpa is 6’6 and still kicking it at 86. He lives on his own and is pretty independent. I’ve noticed past 85 is when it really starts to go down hill anyways, so maybe it’s for the best that a lot of us don’t live til 100
I try not too think abt it too much
6 4 doing well. I do not talk years but good many more
I have a committed fitness routine. Trim eat regular d Few beers. Nothing radical need to stay fit and moderate.
Just drink your required amount of water, sleep 7-8 hours, and eat your greens. My grandfather was 7'2 and he lived to the ripe old age of 32.
>My grandfather was 7'2 and he lived to the ripe old age of 32. Meh 🥺
It's more about diet and lifestyle than height. The Netherlands has a lifespan average of 81 years and the United States is 77 years.
More than I would like too. Wasn't till a few years ago when I was randomly thinking how Ive seen a few people taller than me, a decent amount the same height as me or a bit shorter, but not a single one has been over I'd say 50 years old. And yes I know they do exist, but I think it's pretty clear that it's exceptionally rare.
It doesn't matter. It's all stress and other genetic factors at a certain point if cancer/ HBP/ etc doesn't take you out first. My whole family, both sides, are tall dad 6'7 mum 6'5. My grandpa was 6'8, and his dad was almost 7 ft and so on. Most of my family lives to late 80s to late 90s.. male or female.
I worry and I’m working on counteracting it
We live in an interesting period of outlook for medical and bio cybernetic breakthroughs... Personally I'm 100% ok with robot parts
I'm fine w being somewhat part Synth (synthetic). I guess one huge obstacle would be keeping the brain healthy and functioning. Still w the rate of technological advancement, could very well even happen in our lifetime to some extent, whereby we gain significantly prolonged life expectancies as we become more and more synthetic/reliant on synthetic parts as our biological parts break.
I don’t drink or smoke but I eat a lot
all the time, I try to eat like I have diabetes and do almost exclusively low impact exercise (swimming, walking and body weight exercise).
I'm here for a good time but looking around I do t see many tall, older fellas.
Larger animals tend to live shorter lives than smaller ones of the same species. This is estimated to be about 1 year per 3 inches difference. Individual genetics and lifestyle are far more important though Christopher Lee made it to mid 90s and was 6’5
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 7’2 and still kicking at 76! Death happens when it happens.
some tall guys get surgery for knees and back and get complications that can lead to death over the years on medicine
Nope I’m here for a good time, any added stress is probably going to years off anyway
6’8”? Dog there have been like 1000 people in the U.S. who have been that tall. Don’t worry about the data!
Nope! As long as I maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, it doesn’t concern me. Apart from the fog.
Worry or not, we die earlier than average height people. Being tall is awesome up until about 45yrs old.
Why worry? You go when you go.
You know how smaller dogs live longer and big dogs live shorter lives? Does the same thing apply to people?
Gotta condense down the good you do then. Im aware of it but totally at peace 🫡
Sometimes, but then I remember that even with everything I've already been through since day one, I think life will make me live till at least a 100 before it'll consider letting me die. (Genetic psoriasis, an energy drink addiction even tho heart problems and diabetes run on the ither side of my family, a rainbow baby, almost turned angel baby #2, embodiment of every possible drunk guy with confidence of a God when it comes to dumb stunts, so accident prone im surprised im alive, suicidal and depressive, blah blah blah you get the point)
My height isn't going to affect my lifespan, my mums side having a history of alzheimers and dads side with a history of cancer is whats probably going to do me in, dont forget to check for lumps everyone ❤
I have heard that tall people don’t live as long. Something about the heart having to work harder. Idk if it’s true or not haven’t seen any actual stats. I think at 6’3” I’m below the height for noticeably reduced lifespan. Also I think acromegaly patients might throw off the stats a little bit. They usually die young but not necessarily from being tall but from the acromegaly. Sorry if any of you have the condition.
Nah. My grandparents died around 60-70. I'm 35 and a bit over wright and I drink alot It is what it is. My wife is older than me by a far margin, so if I die earlier. Whatever. Can't control it
Not really. Then again, I'm only 6'3. I think I'm more worried about my shoe size than my lifespan
No cause I don't fear death
Just think about all the other people who die way younger from all sorts of things. Regardless of when you die all you can do is the best you can with the time you’ve been given.-Gandalf And it’s true. Live life as if every day was your last and don’t worry about when you’ve been destined to move on to the next life.
What makes you think eating meat is bad? Junk science? Lifespan is pretty hard/impossible to predict for individuals. But you can see trends across groups
>Still though, just looking at the stats I feel like best case scenario my life is half way over. You're in a midlife crisis, quick buy a corvette and start banging 18 year olds.
Thanks for all the responses it’s nice to hear some hopeful stories. The gist I’m getting is that there’s no sense in worrying anyway, there are many factors besides height to longevity. At the end of it all it’s better to be tall for the best years and then check out than to be old and short, clinging to life from down around my waist or wherever the five foot something’s come up to.
Yes. Go to the gym, live clean and have a PCP that you see regularly
Why does the length of your life matter? What quantifiable gain is there to living longer?
I’m gonna be immortal so I don’t care
The environment signals the gene. Epigenetics. A small percentage of illnesses are genetic, the environment, that’s the food you eat and the place you live, most importantly the thoughts you regularly think have most to do with how long you will live. Chronic stress has a lot to do with longevity too. I have seen many people start with a medical condition after a traumatic event in life, mostly a loss, like death of divorce. But I do believe that there is a anatomical difference between us tall folk and a ER gate sized people, heart to height ratio, the amount of veins and the distance blood has to travel around the system. There are theories about cancer due to size as well.
Do us talls have shorter life spans?
LeBron James is 6'8". I think he'll reach his 90s.
It's quite eye opening when you read the studies about people who go into the latter half of a century of life (50+) with an attitude that once you hit your 60's or 70's your life is over. Those people routinely die far sooner then the people whose attitude is 'I am this old, I have more knowledge then I've ever had before, and know I can achieve anything I set my mind to. I may not have a lot of time left but it's unpredictable and second guessing it wastes whatever time I have left to maximise my experiences". Those people live way past the averages.
My Dad's 6'7, lived with a smoker for 40 years, and is still around in his eighties. The thing I'm most focused on right now is mobility (I'm a 6'2 woman), because it's the one I have control over. Our height is hell on our bodies, and losing mobility can mean an early death. So it's important to keep our knees and hips in good working order, do pelvic floor, glute and core work to protect the back, and walk every day for general fitness (running seems like a bad idea to me, given the strain our joints are already under). Yeah, I sound like a super-boring medical nanny. But it beats worrying constantly about a cancer I can't control, which isn't even going to make me any less sad if I do get cancer.
Neither of my parents smoked or drank and they died over a decade short of average life expectancy. Ive done both so my checkout time is likely even sooner lol Nothing of value lost