Tall Conditions List

Taller folks should be aware of a group of health conditions that affect them more acutely than average sized people. Awareness is the first step in health maintenance, so we've compiled this list of health issues just for tall people.

Prostate Cancer
ABC News and Reuters in Los Angeles report that after age 50, tall men have a moderately higher risk of developing prostate cancer than their shorter peers. The study looked at potential links between cancer and height and for the purposes of the study, the 'tall' group were men 5ft11 and above. The article doesn't say what the average height of the 'tall' group was in the study, but it does say that "it is far too early to tell why stature would be a factor in whether someone develops prostate cancer, but said diet and genetic factors may play a role."

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Breast Cancer
A cancer study released in June of 1996 found that the taller a woman is, the more likely she is to get breast cancer.

CNN reported that Dr. Walter Willett of the Harvard School of Public Health was quick to qualify his group's findings.

"This probably doesn't mean that every woman who is tall is at high risk for breast cancer, or that short people are immune from breast cancer," he said during a conference at the National Institutes of Health. read more -->

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Repetitive Strain Injuries
RSIs are a special problem for tall people because often, don’t fit into the trappings of modern day society. Desks don’t fit, chairs don’t fit, controls designed for “average” people often don’t fall where a tall person can reach them. So in order to do what we need to do, tall people often have to stretch, reach, bump and slouch. The cumulative effect often results in the development of an RSI.

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Trauma
Tall people are more likely to be seriously injured in crashes and other trauma causing events. The reason is that tall people’s heads are closer to roofs, our knees closer to the dashboard, our shoulders closer to the doors. Also, the protective devices like seats, airbags and headrests are designed for average people and may not work optimally for a tall body. In some cases, poorly fitting airbags and seat belts may actually CAUSE injury in a tall person.

In fact, people over 6’ are 27% more likely to be injured in a car crash than someone shorter.

Another factor is leverage. Leverage is responsible for many worn joints and bad backs in tall people, but it also makes us more vulnerable to bone breakage in an accident. Don’t believe it? Try this – Take a pencil or a small stick about the same size. Grasp each end and break it. Easy, huh? Now take one of the pieces and break IT in half. Not so easy? Now take one of the small pieces and break IT in half. The longer the piece, the easier it is to break. The same works for the bones in a tall person, they’re easier to break than the bones of a shorter person of the same build.

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Growth Charts
Abnormal growth is a precursor to many of the inherited conditions affecting taller people. To help tall parents and children, we've listed these growth charts.

• How Tall Will I Be? is a web page that estimates the future adult height of a child/adolescent. It is based upon research of child growth conducted in the UK. You simply enter your child's birth date, current height and gender and the page will calculate an estimate for you.

• NCHS Growth Charts This site was set up by the United States Government's National Center for Health Statistics. They have just released updated growth charts for children and adolescents. Find out where you/they stand (which percentile) based on sex, age and/or weight as part of the overall population. You may possibly be able to use these charts to predict future height based on the assumption of a constant percentile, though most children experience growth 'spurts'.

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Marfan's Syndrome
Marfan is one of the most dangerous disorders to threaten tall people, mostly because it is so often undiagnosed. Abraham Lincoln, based on his towering height, stooped posture and long limbs, is believed to have been afflicted with Marfan syndrome. After world famous volleyballer, Flo Hyman died from Marfan's, I got tested... all tallfolk need to know about this condition and you can find information about it at your public library. If they use the Dewey Decimal system, try dewey number 616.773.

There are several Marfan related Sites on the web. Here are a couple that we have checked out:

The National Marfan Foundation Site is a good place for medical information.

Jeanette Navia runs a patient focused Site called Marfan Life and she also hosts a really good blog about Marfan.

Marfan journal differs from mail lists or chat groups but it is completely public, and is a good place to share marfan related issues. You have to be a Live Journal user to join, but anyone can reply to any post. Topics discussed cover a wide range of issues like: beta blockers, cardiologists, connective tissue, genetics, grief, hospitals, icd-9 code 759.82, opthalmologists, orthopedics, support, surgeons, and basic tall issues.

• National Marfan Foundation Website - USA

• The Canadian Marfan Association

• Marfan Association UK

• This great article has an overview of symptoms and treatment options

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Beal's syndrome
A genetic disorder that is closely related to Marfan's. Individuals with Beal's syndrome are tall in stature with thin, gangly bodies, disproportionately long arms and legs, and narrow, elongated fingers. Many Beal's patients have moderate to severe scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, as well as joint problems and chest deformities. Unlike Marfan's, none of the Beal's syndrome symptoms seem to be life threatening.

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Acromegly/Pituitary Giantism
This is the disorder that afflicted many of the circus sideshow “giants” of the old days. Acromegly is is also sometimes known as Pituitary Giantism. Growth hormone is normally secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland and controls the rate of growth of the individual, as well as determining the timing of sexual maturity. Sometimes, due to injury or a small tumor on the pituitary, the gland continues to secrete growth hormone for much longer, and in greater quantities, than it should. The affected person will continue to grow upwards, as well as outwards, until secretion is stopped, by medical or surgical intervention. THIS ARTICLE details one young man's experience with this condition.

• The Pituitary Foundation (comprehensive information about Acromegaly/Gigantism)

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Ehlers-Danlos UK Support Group
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is the name given to a group of heritable connective tissue disorders. EDS can affect the skin, ligaments, and internal organs.

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Triple-X or Kleinfelter’s Syndrome
This is a surprisingly common genetic defect, with about 1.5 of 1000 births involved. This makes Kleinfelter’s the most common sex chromosome abnormality in males. It is only called kleinfelter’s in boys, but there is a similar condition in girls called Triplex syndrome.

In fact it has been suggested that George Washington, first President of the United States, may have had it. This is in part due to his lanky physique, lack of facial hair and no children, despite a healthy marital relationship.

The syndrome is basically the result of an extra X chromosome, resulting in an XXY format in boys and an XXX format in girls. Sometimes there is more than one extra X, but this is very rare.

Children with the syndrome are often born smaller than usual, but usually grow faster, especially in the limbs. As the child matures, the growth rate slows to a more normal rate. They are frequently sterile, and sometimes have one or both testicles undecended. Some tend toward obesity, but the majority are tall and gangly. Height is usually not excessive, no more than 1”-4” above normal.

Some children display behavioral problems or learning disabilities, but this is not always the case. Other symptoms include boyish voice, lack of facial hair and enlarged breasts, but not all symptoms are displayed in all cases.

Many people with Klinefelter’s/XXX display few or no outward symptoms, and lead relatively normal and successful lives, as is obviously suggested by the case of President Washington.

• Klinefelter Organisation

• Klinefelter's Syndrome Association

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Tall Exercise
Sustained health depends on a lifetime of moderate, regular exercise. We've compiled a section of exercise tips with tall folk in mind. more--»