Getting shorter and more stooped
You notice your clothes hang longer than they used to. The top shelf feels farther away than before. In photos, your upper back looks more rounded.
Some height loss is common as the years pass. The soft pads between your spine bones flatten over time. Bone can also grow thinner, and doctors call mild bone loss osteopenia.
Thin spine bones can slowly settle under your own weight. This can happen with little or no pain at all. Weak back muscles and long hours in a chair can add to the curve.
When to see someone
See a doctor if you have lost an inch of height or more. Sudden back pain after a small fall, a cough, or a sneeze needs care right away.
Get help fast for numb or weak legs, or loss of bladder or bowel control. Ask about a bone scan, called a DEXA, if you break bones easily.
Below are remedies from folk and plant traditions linked with bone loss. Each one carries a grade that shows how much study stands behind it. A grade is not a promise of results, so talk with your doctor first, above all if you take medicine.



