6 Ways Being Tall Impacts Your Health

From heart disease to a high IQ, being vertically gifted affects your health in a slew of different ways

By Macaela MacKenzie

When you were a kid, being vertically gifted when everyone else was still a shrimp got you called a bean pole on the playground. Luckily, as an adult, it likens you to sky-high ladies like Karlie Kloss and Gisele Bundchen. But being tall affects more than just the names you got called and whether you want to wear heels on a date—it actually has an impact on your disease risk and brain health. Check out these six ways having legs for days impacts your well-being.

1. You could be at an increased risk of cancer. A new study from Sweden found that the taller you are, the higher your risk for cancer is. In fact, researchers discovered that if two people have the exact same risk for cancer (based on genetics and lifestyle), the taller person is 18 percent more likely to develop cancer for every 10 centimeters (roughly four inches) they have on their friend. Additionally, leggy ladies were 30 percent more likely to develop skin cancer and 20 percent more likely to develop breast cancer. Whoa! Researchers, haven't identified why extra inches could lead to the extra risk, but their best guess is that the more cells and tissue you have, the more likely it is that some of those cells will develop abnormally and become cancerous.

Besides breast and skin cancer, tall women also have a slightly heightened risk of ovarian cancer (about three percent). Even though this is slight, ovarian cancer is a silent killer, so tall ladies need to be extra good about regular ob-gyn appointments (find out Why No One Is Talking About Ovarian Cancer).

2. Height does your heart good and bad. According to a 2014 study from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, taller people have a increased risk of certain heart issues like atrial fibrillation and valve disease. However, the researchers also found that other conditions like congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease are actually less common for those with a higher reach. What gives? The hypothesis is two fold: For the perks, researchers think smaller people have smaller valves that may simply clog more easily. In cases where height hinders heart health, though, scientists are currently looking at growth hormones for an explanation. One guess is that a hormone that makes people statuesque also makes them susceptible to heart problems.

3. Tall ladies tend to live shorter lives. According to research from the University of Hawai'i, there's a certain gene, dubbed "the longevity gene," that not only lengthens your lifespan but also shortens your stature. Unfortunately, the taller you are, the shorter you're likely to live. And the reverse is true for short folks—those below 5 foot 2 inches lived the longest.

4. Vertical inches could slash diabetes risk. A meta analysis of 18 studiespublished by the journal Obesity Reviews found the taller a woman is, the less likely she is to develop type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, the correlation didn't hold true for men who had a similar risk no matter their height, although researchers aren't quite sure why. (No matter your stature, keep an eye out for these 7 Silent Symptoms of Pre-Diabetes.)

5. Dementia could be more common in short gals. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland found that women who were 5-foot-1 had a 35 percent higher risk of dementia than ladies who were 5-foot-4 or above. Pardon the pun, but that's pretty mind-blowing. So what's the deal with dementia and size? According to the researchers, being super short cane sometimes be the product of developmental difficulties in childhood like stress or poor nutrition, which are also risk factors for dementia.

6. The leggy ladies could be smarter. Being tall may have other brain benefits too: According to another University of Edinburgh study, researchers found taller people have slightly higher IQs. Previous research had found not-very-shocking family connections (tall, smart parents tend to produce tall, smart kids) but this is the first study to find the same correlation in people who don't share DNA. Let's hear it for the vertically-gifted gals! (Not vertically gifted? Try these 10 Easy Ways to Get Smarter—Stat.)

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Snow fights cancer

Jason Werling • Updated Yesterday at 10:29 AM

About a month ago, Heather Snow bit her tongue. For someone who rarely holds back as a comedian and writer, this was not of the speaking variety. She really bit her tongue. 

The next day her tongue was swollen to the point where she couldn’t talk. Her visit to a Denver emergency room and several tests answered the question of the overly swollen tongue and why Snow was lacking energy for several months.

Heather was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Luekemia (AML), a treatable form of blood cancer.

Heather, a 1998 Perkins High School graduate, was active in various clubs, marching band as Pirette’s captain and competed on the swimming and track teams. After graduating from Penn State University she landed in Colorado where she is a stand-up comedian, writer and tech professional.

Her parents relocated to Colorado to help their daughter. Crystal Allen, Heather’s friend and photographer, scheduled a hospital room photo shoot to document the six feet tall woman’s new look.

Her sense of humor has helped her fight the disease and her writing has helped anyone who reads her blogs better understand the disease and everything involved with fighting it.

Snow and her friends (when she is too sick) have written updates every step of the way. Heather finds out she has cancer: Blog. Heather plans on a mohawk before her hair falls out: Blog. Skin rash from the chemotherapy:  Blog. Heather finds out her brother is a match for a transplant: Blog.

Many people still need matches, go to bethematch.org to see if you can help.

“It's mind blowing to me how little people know about how big of a difference they can make by getting on the donor list.” said Snow”

Read her blog at sixfeetofsnow.com and more updates at https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/m95b/six-feet-of-leukemia-heather-snow-family-fund. Heather’s friends have set up an account to help with expenses. Any excess funds will be donated to Leukemia/Lymphoma research.

The Perkins High School Class of 1998 will be selling T-shirts at the Perkins football game this Friday night against Tiffin Columbian to raise money for Heather. Donations are accepted as well. The class will be set up just inside the entrance to the main gate. Afterwards they will have shirts at Cloud 9 Bridal while supplies last.

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R.I.P. Ashley Britt (August 25th, 1988 - November 1st, 2015)

With sadness I have to report that my good friend Ashley passed away last night. She went to bed with her boyfriend and fell asleep. Sadly she never woke up again.

I first started talking to Ashley when she was still a teenager, I believe. Even though I don't recall how exactly / where we met - it was online, of course - I always enjoyed talking to Ashley.

She may have been only 19 at the time, but due to her history (Ashley suffered from Marfan Sydrome) and health issue she was already a real grown-up and wise beyond her years. That's she because Tall Woman of the Month for September of 2007.

I finally met Ashley in person in New Bern, NC in April of 2011. She suffered from a pretty bad pneumonia back then (probably another result of Marfan) and I thought she would die on me when she started coughing - and couldn't stop. I went back to the supermarket we just left and got her a bottle of water. When I came back the driver of a vehicle parked next to us was asking if she needed any help. Ashley never had it easy.

When I learned earlier that Ashley had died last night, I couldn't believe it. Even though I knew that something might happen at any time I still didn't consider the likelyhood that she might pass away before me. It's totally unfair.

But that's the problem with Marfan Syndrome. Sufferers don't usually get to grow old. On the contrary. They tend to die much too young.

For the time being I have run out of words. I may extend this in the coming days. I would just ask you to pray for Ashley and her loved ones. Especially her boyfriend Zach.

In the future I will focus on the health issues connected to Marfan Syndrome more. Rest in peace, my dear friend. You will be missed!

Ashley's Story (retold)

In 1992 I was 4 years old. It was during '92 that my father died from an aortic dissection. He was diagnosed, posthumously with Marfan Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that can wreak havoc on every part of the affected person's body. He was a man who stood 7ft tall, played basketball for Iowa State University, and lived his entire life with a diagnosis he never received. Medical knowledge of Marfan Syndrome was just starting to form in the 90's.

Three years later, at the age of 7, I was diagnosed with the same disorder. At the age of 11, when I stood 6ft tall, I was told I had to stop all strenuous physical activity immediately, or risk a sudden, unexpected death (due to aortic dissection). I stopped playing sports and started receiving annual echocardiagrams, and began seeing specialists at The Ohio State University's medical center.

By the age of 18 my height finally began to slow, and I stood at a towering 6'7" tall. Let's just say THAT alone has been an adventure (LOL!). Don't be surprised if you see me walking around in an Ohio winter with capris on. At one time they were designed to be long pants but with 42" legs there's only so much a girl can do!

I married my first love, Robert, at the age of 18. He was in the Marine Corps and had just returned from his second deployment. We lived together in California until he was restationed in North Carolina. As soon as we got to North Carolina I found a new team of specialists at Duke Medical Center. They were fantastic. While many would complain about the military healthcare we received, I couldn't say a negative word. I was able to get the care & medications I needed to thrive!

Things were going well. I had several medical issues that were attributed to Marfan Syndrome (scoliosis, sciatica, became legally blind without glasses, etc) but they were nothing I couldn't manage with the help of the great team at Duke.

However, my life was about to be rocked. In July of 2011 my best friend, a beautiful 19 year old gospel singer named Caitlyn Culpepper was murdered outside our home while I was asleep inside. She was a victim of domestic violence. My husband, at this point a Sgt in the Marine Corps with 8 years in the service and 26 months spent deployed, had been diagnosed with PTSD while serving his final tour in Iraq.

In September of 2011 Robert committed suicide in our home in North Carolina. I became a widow in my early 20's.

I came home to Ohio to try and rebuild a life for myself. By this point my physical health problems had started to affect my daily life. It was almost as if the grief and anxiety wrecked my body. I can honestly say I haven't been the same since.

In the last three years my health has declined dramatically. When I lost my husband I no longer had my health insurance through the military. I could no longer afford doctor's visits, medications, and preventative care for basic health, let alone to manage my Marfan Syndrome.

One of the most painful and frustrating aspects of my condition is the effect it has on my bones. They're weak. Did you know that connective tissue has a huge impact in the formation of your bones?

In the last two and a half years I've had three stress fractures (two in my left leg, one in my right) and two tumors (which were determined to be benign but I was advised to have them monitored every 3-6 months to make sure they haven't grown or become aggressive).

I'm a 26 year old young woman who loves to laugh, joke, and have fun. But I have no quality of life left. I'm no longer able to walk through the grocery store because of lower back issues (a condition called Dural Ectasia) that cause intense pain, numbness, and tingling when I stand or walk for more than five to ten minutes. My health has deteriorated to the point where it's physically exhausting to get out of bed most mornings. My mental health is honestly about the same.

Due to my physical health problems I'm unable to work. I had originally begun Cosmetology School to become a nail artist. I thought if I could just make it through my year of schooling I'd be able to have a career that allowed me to sit. I made it 7 months before the pain was too overwhelming to continue. I'm currently a full time student, majoring in Human Services. I want to help people who are in situations like myself. I want to be the person that answers the phone at your local agency (Job & Family Services, for example) who says, "It's going to be okay. And I'm going to do everything I can to help you". But I've come to realize, at the age of 26, that I may never have the chance to work. I may have to file for disability before the age of 30.

In the meantime, bills are mounting. Medical bills, utility bills, etc. I have to visit local food pantries often in order to eat. I DO recieve a small benefit each month from the VA, but it wasn't designed to be able to live on. I was, however, attempting to keep my head above water.

Anyone who has lived through physical pain, mental anguish, and seemingly unclimbable mountains, knows that 'when it rains it pours'. And it's pouring for me.

The last two weeks I've been experiencing excruciating pain through my left leg. I went to the same orthopedic surgeon who diagnosed my first stress fractures and found out that they believe I have not only another tumor, but another stress fracture as well. And this one lines up with the first one I had on the other side of the leg. They meet in the middle and form a line straight through my leg.

I was devestated. Incase you don't know, a stress fracture is basically a broken bone that hasn't become completely detached from itself. And this is my fourth. I don't work out, I don't run, I don't play sports..I just have Marfan Syndrome.

I started to cry and asked the doctor what he wanted me to do. He immediately told me to get OFF of my legs. He said crutches weren't an option. That I could put all my weight on my RIGHT leg because that pressure can cause another fracture to develop there as well. He looked at me and said, "Ashley if you don't get into a wheelchair you could take a step and your leg could literally snap in half".

Ashley's section on tallwomen.org 

Towering 6ft 4in mother who was taunted for looking like a MAN reveals how she has embraced her height - and now proudly dons heels to make herself even TALLER

• Mother Melanie Coulson, of Nottinghamshire, towers over most people at 6ft 4in
• She suffered years of bullying and strangers accused her of looking like a 'man'
• The 46-year-old has a rare hereditary condition that causes her to be extra tall
• Now she embraces her appearance and wears heels to make herself look taller 

By STEPHANIE LINNING FOR MAILONLINE - PUBLISHED: 10:43 BST, 7 August 2018 | UPDATED: 15:12 BST, 8 August 2018

A 6ft 4in mother who used to dream of being shorter revealed how she learnt to embrace her height - and now wears hears to make herself even taller.

Melanie Coulson, 46, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, suffered years of bullying over her appearance, with strangers stopping her in the street to ask if she was a man because she was 'too tall to be a woman'. 

The accounts administrator, whose height and slender limbs are symptom of a rare hereditary condition, took to stooping and wearing flat shoes in order to 'fit in' and longed to be shorter. 

However with the help of her daughters Rebecca, 26, and Hayley, 23, Ms Coulson learnt to embrace her height, saying she believes she was 'born to stand out, not blend in'. 

She now runs YouTube and Instagram channels encouraging others to love their bodies - and feels proud when she teeters around in heels that make her 6ft 10in tall.

She said: 'The best thing about my height today, is the fact that I have now come to terms with it, this didn't happen overnight and age has definitely been a big factor in this. I now stand by the moto: I was born to stand out, not blend in.' 

She added: 'I now wear heels for my videos that make me around 6ft 10in. I do get lots of stares, which is fine, as I used to get them anyway so I may as well get stared at for doing something that I love, which is being extra tall.

The mother-of-two was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome, which affects the body's connective tissue, with its main characteristics being long and slender limbs and being tall. According to the NHS, it affects one in 3,000 people.

She was 6ft 4in tall by the time she was a teenager.  

Growing up her unusual height meant she was bullied through school and was made to feel 'generally unattractive' by others in her twenties and thirties. 

'I have struggled with people's attitudes towards my height,' Ms Coulson said. 

'People are so quick to judge, and I am often asked if I'm a male or female, or if I am a transvestite, which I did find really upsetting in the beginning. 

'People do not realise how hurtful a comment like this can be, it's certainly not giving my ego a boost.

'When I have challenged people why they ask this, their reason is generally along the lines of "well you are too tall to be a female" which makes me sad that their attitudes are so shallow.'

Ms Coulson, who has a 36in inside leg, still struggles to buy clothes and is limited to shopping Dorothy Perkins or New Look's tall ranges.

The body positivity activist, who also wears a prosthetic eye and has vitiligo, hopes she can encourage anyone struggling to come to terms with who they are to be proud and embrace what some may consider 'flaws'.

She said: 'Through comments I get on my videos or on my Instagram I can see that I have already helped some people. I can honestly say I love my height and actually wish I was taller.

'I love to meet fellow tall women and stand in awe at them or ask for photos more recently so I can put it on my Instagram. Never did I realise that so many people love tall women.'

Read the original article (it has pictures and a video)

Being taller than almost every other woman (and man) that you meet can have an impact on the way others perceive you, and it is not uncommon for people to assume that a tall woman is older than she is. Of course, this can have its advantages (especially when you are a teenage young woman trying to be viewed as an adult), but there may come a time when you would rather look more youthful.
If you are feeling that your age is beginning to show, or that your height has always made you look older than your years, here are seven steps to a more youthful appearance.

1. Stay active

Physical activity is not only essential for your physical and mental health; it also boosts the flow of blood around your body. This means that more oxygen travels through the body, keeping cells healthy and giving them what they need to regenerate, while also helping toxins leave the body. Exercise has also been found to reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety, which can cause premature wrinkles.
It is also important to eat a varied diet to ensure your skin is getting all the nutrients it needs.

2. Consider cosmetic facial treatments

If your face is already showing signs of premature aging, a cosmetic treatment such as Botox injections could help to turn back the clock. The injections cause the muscles in the face to relax which smooths out lines and wrinkles. The results are not permanent, but the treatment can be repeated.

3. Stay hydrated

Dehydration can lead to dry and wrinkled skin and can also prevent your body from flushing out toxins or functioning to its maximum potential. Drinking plenty of water each day can give the skin more elasticity and moisture, and will generally help your mind and body. Click here for more on the benefits of drinking water.

4. Clean your face every night

Before you go to bed each night, take a few minutes to clean your face, even if you do not wear make-up. At night your skin cells will try to repair and rebuild any damage done during the day, and if dirt or make-up are in your pores, this process will be hindered, and your skin cells will not regenerate.

5. Wear sunscreen

It is well known that UV rays from the sun cause significant damage to the skin’s elasticity and collagen which can lead to freckles, red skin, blotches, age spots, and even cancerous growths. This is why it is vital that you apply sunscreen every day as part of your normal skincare routine, even if you are not planning on spending much time in direct sunlight.

6. Apply night cream

A night cream will help to keep your skin plump and hydrated while also supporting cell regeneration. The skin around the eye is usually more delicate and therefore prone to wrinkling, so it is worth investing in high-quality eye cream.

7. Be gentle with your skin

When cleansing or applying products to your skin, avoid harsh chemicals and do not rub, as this can create additional skin complications. Instead, pat the skin gently and allow it to dry naturally to promote absorption of the products.

Acromegaly is a a hormonal disorder that most commonly occurs in middle-aged men and women. The prevalence of acromegaly is approximately 4,676 cases per million population, and the incidence is 116.9 new cases per million per year. The name "acromegaly" comes from the Greek words for "extremities" (acro) and "great" (megaly), because one of the most common symptoms of this condition is abnormal growth of the hands and feet.

Famous acromegaly sufferers included De-Fen Yao, Sandy Allen and Tanya Angus. May they all rest in peace.

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! One of the things that I would add to your definition is that acromegaly is actually caused by a benign (non-cancerous) tumor in the pituitary gland. Acromegaly can actually be treated in a couple of ways, including surgically removing the tumor or via medications that are specifically designed to treat the disease.

Danielle who suffers from acromegaly writes: A couple of site that I've found to be really great resources are: 

• www.acromegalycommunity.com (active community/blog run by Wayne Brown)
• acromegalybloggers.blogspot.com/ (blog contributed by a collection of acromegalics)
• www.somatulinedepot.com/ (treatment information for those taking somatuline)
• www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/acromegaly/acromegaly-surgery (great source for information regarding pituitary adenoma surgery for acromegaly)

Australia's tallest female basketballer Sue Geh inducted into ACT Sport Hall of Fame

November 20, 2015

Chris Dutton, Sports Reporter at The Canberra Times

She was the gentle 206-centimetre giant who stood out because of her height, but ACT Sport Hall of Fame inductee Sue Geh helped build a legacy for women's basketball in Canberra.

Seventeen years after the Olympian died from heart failure, Geh will be one of nine athletes and officials added to the Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Monday.

Geh will be inducted alongside retired Sydney Swans champion Craig Bolton, lawn bowler Adam Jeffery, Paralympian Lisa Llorens and multi para-sports star Michael Milton.

Former Canberra Raiders chairman John McIntyre, Brumbies president Geoff Larkham, hockey administrator Graham Carter and para-athletics coach Chris Nunn will be honoured as associate members.

Geh's recognition comes with a touching twist. Officials sent a letter to Geh's mum Inge and it arrived just days before Inge died earlier this month.

Geh's career was cut short by knee injuries, a potential stint with the University of Alabama Birmingham was thwarted by a heart murmur and Mafran Syndrome led to her death after her 39th birthday in 1998.

She remains the tallest player to have represented the Australian Opals. She scored 69 points in an ACT premier division match and helped the Capitals gain entry into the WNBL.

"In those days [1985] she was unique because there weren't that many tall players, she certainly was intimidating because she altered shots and was athletic enough to get up and down the floor," said former coach Jerry Lee.

"She was a super person and you couldn't ask for an easier person to coach.

"Most of the centres for Australia were six-feet one, two or three. She was six-foot nine. There weren't many that could match her height."

Sport and Recreation has taken over Hall of Fame operations after ACT Sport was disbanded in July after more than 30 years.

Geh left her mark on courts around Canberra, dominating opponents after a coach plucked a then towering nine-year-old off the sideline and added her into an under-14s team.

Geh was the tallest female player in the world and was poised to play in the US, but a medical examination revealed a heart murmur. She was prepared to sign a waiver to absolve the university of any responsibility but Alabama Birmingham officials weren't willing to let her play and sent her back to Australia.

Geh was then picked up by the AIS and made her Opals debut, playing a pivotal role at getting Australia's first Olympic Games win.

She scored 10 points, had four assists, blocked three shots and grabbed three rebounds as Australia beat Yugoslavia.

"If it wasn't for [Geh] and Jenny Cheesman and that Canberra team that won 19 straight games [in the Women's Basketball Conference], the Capitals wouldn't be in the WNBL," Lee said.

"Sue and Jenny were probably the reason we stepped from division two into the WNBL. Sue passed away at a young age and she was frail. She was long and lanky, but certainly had it."

Former Basketball ACT general manager Brian Franklin spoke at Inge's funeral on Friday and will accept Geh's award on Monday alongside Errol Raiser.

"[Inge] was pretty pleased when she got the news and I understand she got the official letter [of Geh's award] three days before she died," Franklin said.

"[Geh's] height was the advantage, she was the tallest woman in Australia. She wasn't what you'd call a player with all the moves. But she was very effective and established her reputation in the game with a blinder at the 1984 Olympics."

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Belfast mum Hollie McCutcheon bullies should be ashamed, funeral told

By Brett Campbell | June 21 2019

The school bullies whose nasty words ultimately led to the death of a young Belfast mum who suffered a heart attack on Saturday "should be ashamed of themselves", a clergyman has said.

Hundreds of mourners gathered in St Matthew's Parish on the Shankill Road to say goodbye to Hollie McCutcheon (27) yesterday, including her seven-year-old son Nathan and partner Chris.

Rev Campbell Dixon praised the loving family of the former Girls Model pupil, including her heartbroken parents Janet and Leslie, for the support they provided right up until Hollie lost her battle with eating disorders.

"Hollie was a tall girl with a solid physique who was subjected to bullying at school," he said.

"This led to her being hospitalised for anorexia and bulimia, but her mum, dad, brother Andrew and sister Hannah were her constant champions.

"Sadly on Saturday morning her heart couldn't take any more.

"The damage caused over so many years took its toll and she slipped away."

The clergyman said the middle child had enjoyed a happy life until she started secondary school where she encountered those "who caused her death far too early".

"Did those who made Hollie's life a misery as she entered her teenage years ever give one thought about what their nastiness would do to a well-balanced and happy child?" he asked.

"They should be ashamed of themselves."

Rev Dixon also had strong words for the person who started a rumour on social media falsely claiming that Hollie had taken her own life.

"Shame on you," he told them.

The clergyman then rubbished an old rhyme as he warned the congregation that calling someone names can hurt more than sticks and stones ever could.

"Words can cause terrible pain and bring about untold suffering," he added.

He told mourners Hollie managed to complete her GCSEs after being released from the Donard Unit of Knockbracken Healthcare Park before starting her first job in Costa Coffee. She then moved on to work for Value Cabs where romance blossomed when she met Sean. "The pair were overjoyed when Nathan was born a few years later," Rev Dixon said. "But Hollie never stopped fighting her demons. Her and Sean later broke up, but Nathan was the best thing that ever happened to her and he became a source of encouragement whenever her illness was too much to bear.

"Janet believes he was a wee Godsend because Nathan gave her something to live for."

The clergyman said Sean continued to be a huge source of support even after Hollie met her partner Chris, who doted on her.

Hollie's sister Hannah previously said the "very, very close" couple did everything together.

Those gathered in the church were told Hollie only "found her niche in life" two years ago when she started working as a carer.

"Hollie really loved her work and made great friends through it.

"She was a fun girl despite her debilitating illness and by all accounts she was the life and soul of the party who loved dancing and singing," Rev Dixon said.

This was evident from the slideshow of pictures which played throughout the service.

"But it was a tragic life in many ways," the clergyman continued.

"Here was a larger-than-life character who loved people, socialising, working and caring for those who needed help - but despite all appearances she was brought down into the depths of despair."

Dozens of Hollie's colleagues from Quality Care Services formed a guard of honour outside the church as her coffin was carried away. On the casket was a note from little Nathan who sobbed uncontrollably while following behind. "To Mummy, I love and miss you xxx," it read.

Loved ones tried desperately to console the youngster as his mum embarked on her final journey to Roselawn Crematorium.

Read the original article

Since you are interested in avoiding breast cancer I'll send you some links I dug up for someone who had breast cancer. (I regularly "spam" people with info like this. I feel so blessed to know stuff like this that I just have to share)

First: Bras cause breast cancer because they shut off the flow of blood to breast: http://www.all-natural.com/bras.html

Women who wore their bras 24 hours per day had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer. Women who wore bras more than 12 hour per day but not to bed had a 1 out of 7 risk. Women who wore their bras less than 12 hours per day had a 1 out of 152 risk. Women who wore bras rarely or never had a 1 out of 168 chance of getting breast cancer. The overall difference between 24 hour wearing and not at all was a 125-fold difference.

Second:  Milk has IGF-1, a hormone produced in the liver of the mother cow, which turns a little calf into a big cows in a few months, but when this hormone reaches breast and prostate cancer cells it causes them to grow rapidly too. (Despite my telling my mother and husband this, I can't get them to stop drinking milk arggg!)

Link: http://www.notmilk.com/drlarsen.html

On January 23, 1998 researchers at the Harvard Medical School released a major study providing conclusive evidence that IGF-1 is a potent risk factor for prostate cancer.

Should you be concerned? Yes, you certainly should, particularly if you drink milk produced in the United States.

This woman cured her breast cancer by eating raw food (it's a very inspirational story too):

This woman did too.

Another link. 

Sincerely, Sarah

Individuals with EDS have a defect in their connective tissue, the tissue that provides support to many body parts such as the skin, muscles and ligaments. The fragile skin and unstable joints found in EDS are the result of faulty collagen. Collagen is a protein, which acts as a "glue" in the body, adding strength and elasticity to connective tissue. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a heterogeneous group of heritable connective tissue disorders, characterized by articular (joint) hypermobility, skin extensibility and tissue fragility. There are six major types of EDS. The different types of EDS are classified according to their manifestations of signs and symptoms. Each type of EDS is a distinct disorder that "runs true" in a family. This means that an individual with Vascular Type EDS will not have a child with Classical Type EDS.

Susanne wrote: "Please include details of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, as Doctors tend to forget about it, especially if they are short. An endocrinologist told us we have it after viewing an xray of my daughters hand (while assisting us with her height)." 

I have found the following websites of interest: Ehlers Danlos National Foundation and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Support Group.

The website "Tall Girls Inc. Australia" (run by Janet Cregan-Wood) was dedicated to women who, as prepubertal and adolescent girls, were exposed to synthetic estrogens (i.e. DES - di-ethyl-stilboestrol) to inhibit their growth. Tall Girls Inc. was an organisation that has been formed to support these women and their families, and to promote investigation of this treatment and its outcomes. Sadly their website has disappeared and I'm not sure if there's a replacement. If you know something please get in touch.

If you want to read more about DES visit www.desaction.org or www.desaction.org.au.

I also recommend the article "Estrogen Given to Pre-Teen Girls to Inhibit Growth" and the book "Normal at Any Cost" by Susan Cohen and Christine Cosgrove. (Thanks to 6'3" Jheri for the hint!)

The Website of the Human Growth Foundation is an essential addition to this section. They provide an article about "normal" and "abnormal" growth scenarios as well as a piece on the Patterns of Growth. If you want to read even more about the Human Growth Hormone visit the Magic Foundation website.

Marfan Awareness Month Social Media Campaign

Awareness of Marfan syndrome and related disorders leads to early diagnosis, treatment, and an extended lifespan. The most powerful way we can raise awareness is through you, our volunteers. Your circles of relatives, friends, co-workers, and neighbors, your knowledge, your personal journey, and your commitment cannot be matched by anyone outside of our community.

February is Marfan Awareness Month and you can do your part from the comfort of your own home with this Marfan Awareness Month Social Media project guide. In addition to sharing information from our Facebook page, Twitter feed, and YouTube Channel, you can create your own status updates, tweets, and posts to increase Marfan awareness. This guide walks you through steps to raise awareness among your online friends using social media.

Visit the Marfan Foundation Website

P.S.: The Marfan issue is of great importance to me since my good friend Ashley suffered from Marfan Syndrome and died very early (aged 27) on November 1st, 2015. I still miss her.

My 6'2 1/2" friend Kim Glass (who is also listed in the Famous Tall Ladies section) has just created a new website which includes a blog. Kim won an Olympic silver medal with the US ladies volleyball team in Beijing and is a great role model.

This was taken off her website because she can tell you about herself better than I ever could:

At the age of 17, Kim was the number 2 recruit in the country, and was named the 2001 Pennsylvania State Gatorade Player of the year. Kim attended the University of Arizona, where she became the 2002 National Freshman of the year, and became the first Wildcat to record 2,000 kills. She still holds the records for aces and kills, as well as many other records in categories amongst the now, Pac-12, (formerly the pac-10). In 2010, she was inducted into the University of Arizona Hall of Fame. In 2015 Kim was inducted into the Pac-12 All Century Team.

After leaving college, Kim played professionally for nine years, & lived in eight different countries, including Italy, Puerto Rico, Turkey, Russia, Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, China, & Brasil. Amidst her professional career, she competed in the 2008 Beijing Games as the youngest player on the team, and became a U.S. women’s Indoor Volleyball Olympic Silver Medalist.

Combating disc herniations and a desire to move on, she retired from volleyball in 2014. Intrigued with the body and her love for health & wellness, in addition to wanting to learn and educate people on how to prevent injuries, she made the transition into the fitness industry in 2015. Jump starting her personal training career w/ her Nasm certification at Equinox and being the “female in-house” trainer at Easton Gym Co. in Manhattan Beach, she relocated to Unbreakable Performance Center where she’s coached a wide range of clients from professional athletes to Hollywood elite. She often went on the road with her clients to ensure their fitness needs were being handled and to keep consistency in training.

In 2011, Kim was featured in the famed Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, as well as ESPN’s The Body Issue. She continues to work as a model within the fitness and fashion world.

In 2016, she joined the cast of MTV’s The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars, to help raise funds for Covenant House, a non-profit homeless youth shelter, in Los Angeles.

Kim is a trainer, model, television personality, motivational speaker, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. She strives to improve the lives of everyone she meets through her knowledge, experience, and her highly energetic approach to training and coaching.

Visit Kim's website, her Instagram page and read this excellent FHM piece

Life as a tall woman: Someone shouted at us on Grafton Street – ‘Yer girlfriend’s bigger than ye’

In my 20s I was often approached by men who were challenged by my height

Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 11:58

Helen Duignan

New research from the Netherlands reports that women who are taller than 5ft 9in are more likely to live into their 90s than women who are shorter than 5ft 3in.

In The Tall Book: A Celebration of Life from on High, Arianne Cohen claims that tall women are perceived to be more dominant, more confident and more intelligent. Tall women also tend to earn more money than their shorter counterparts, she writes.

I wish I'd known all this when I was a tall child growing up in the 1970s and 1980s. Height was part of my identity and part of family lore when I was young.

My ancestors were tall, my brothers were tall, my cousins were tall. Everyone was tall. My great-grandfather used to say "my great stature manifests itself sporadically in my descendants."

He was 6ft 7in. I was terrified I would take after him.

Being tall never failed to raise comment everywhere I went. Like a lot of tall children, I felt more was expected of me. I got away with less than my friends. How often did I hear "And you? You should know better." I was always either the leader (good) or the ring leader (bad) of my three best friends.

As a gangly seven-year-old I burned with embarrassment when my ballet teacher shouted "au pointe you clumsy elephant!"

I went to sleep dreaming I was as small as a Fisher Price person with an invisible suit.

From junior school into senior, I embarked on another involuntary growth spurt while my trio of tiny friends stayed tiny. They were all the same. I was different.

They followed me around as if I was their leader. They seemed to have stopped growing while I couldn't stop. I was all legs and arms and my hands seemed huge and stuck out of everything. The teeny trio were still playing hopscotch and skipping while I was getting taller than the teachers and tripping over the rope.

Stricken with self-consciousness, my shoulders fought a daily downward battle against an ever extending spine. I slouched myself smaller. I slouched to school and I slouched into classrooms and I slouched around hockey pitches and netball courts and I slouched back home again.

Well-meaning relatives made me walk across rooms with books on my head – promising that good posture would be rewarded with a career as an air hostess with Aer Lingus!

I walked tall for a while and in private hurled the books against the wall and re-arranged my shoulders.

Old men said "You're lovely when you smile. SMILE!" Older men put their arms around my waist and said "aren't you a fine strapping girl?" A man at a céilí said "There's some breedin' in them hips." I was about 13.

As I grew, my back started to hurt so a sheet of chipboard was found for my bed. A gruelling regime of swimming began. I was given too-short Speedos and told to get on with it.

My tall brothers sat at home on dark winter nights watching Top of the Pops while I slouched through the rain to the pool and slouched through the rain back home again. I was missing MASH. Tall was getting personal.

Despite the lack of sleep (turns out the chipboard should have been under the mattress) and the shame of the skin-tight Speedos, I made it through the awkward years and emerged as a relatively upright six-footer on the other side.

The well-meaning family friends upgraded my prospects from air-hostess to model. A promotion! I grimaced in response – flattered but also insulted. "She'll have to change her attitude," they said.

I went from an all-girls school to a (nearly) all-boys school. The teeny trio were left behind, and I fell in with a new trinity of very tall boys. We fancied ourselves and walked around town and hung out at the Bailey and pretended we were in a band. At 6ft 1in, I was the smallest. I began to un-slouch.

In my 20s I was often approached by men who were challenged by my height. Sometimes that meant they had something to prove. Other times they wanted to know who the hell I thought I was – taking up so much space in the world and acting as if I counted.

But with age and experience came a fragile confidence and eventually the ability to give as good as I got. But as the years passed, the family friends and relatives fretted on the side-lines when there was no husband in the offing.

They'd heard that the most recent boyfriend had dumped me after someone shouted after us on Grafton Street – "Yer girlfriend's bigger than ye!"

"She'll have to go abroad to find a husband!" cried the friends. Their tall sons were offered for dates. I declined. Their lips turned into tight lines. "She'll have to change her attitude," they said.

And as I edged into my late 20s, my modelling prospects were downgraded: "Have you thought about becoming a guard?"

My daughter is tall and getting taller (my great grandfather's stature manifesting itself sporadically in his descendants), and I'll probably have to witness the shoulder-slouch phase with her very soon.

My heart will go out to her but then I'll remind myself I was lucky then and I'm lucky now, and then I will remind her that she is lucky too.

Read the original article

Lindsay Kay Hayward had one specific person in mind during her ambulance ride to the hospital after a health scare... fellow giant Shaquille O'Neal!

We got the "My Giant Life" star and 6'9" pro wrestler Friday in Vegas after she was hospitalized last week -- for what she thought was a blood clot in her lung -- and she's got a funny way of remembering her time on the stretcher.

Good to see Shaq helped Lindsay stay positive in what could have been a serious problem. Big folks gotta stick together... in sickness and in health.

Read the full article

It seems that the Marfan Syndrome is a relatively common illness as far as tall people are concerned. Because of the fact that I am neither tall nor a woman I rely on you ladies to take part and add information to this page. Remember that the Website for Tall Women is supposed to be the Number One Internet resource for tall women and I'll do my best to reach that goal. Any assistance is gladly accepted :-)

Marfan related Links:

• The National Marfan Foundation
• The Canadian Marfan Association

Megan from the UK wrote in to tell me that famous English model Erin O'Connor who is 6'1" also suffers from Marfan Syndrome. Thanks for the info, Megan!

Shelly brought the "Osgood-Schlatter Disease" to my attention recently. It occurs when the growth platelets at the end of the tibia are overstimulated and form a lump of extra bone beneath the main tendon in the knee. This makes kneeling extremely difficult and sports can be painful (the extra bone rubs against the tendon during physical activity, causing micro-tears in the tissue which result in inflamation and pain). Here's another link regarding the illness.

Amy wrote to me (December 9th 2002): "I just wanted to share some information about Osgood Schlatter, which my 6'2" sister suffered from. Recently our chiropractor informed my sister that Osgood Schlatter may have been prevented/corrected by chiropractic treatment. The extra bone forms because the tibia grows so fast that the tendons lose their grip on the bone and the body grows new bone to try to reconnect it. A chiropractor knows how to work the tendon to help reattach itself to the bone, if successful, the tendon will grip the bone and the body doesn't need to develop new bone. Please share this information! I know how terrible my sister feels knowing now that there might have been something she could have done about this condition, but now as an adult she has to live with knee problems. It may be a treatment worth looking into."

Comment from a lady with a science background (January 17th 2003): "One thing you may want to correct (I am a copy writer/editor with a science background) On the health page under Osgood Schlatter, very near the beginning, it's not "growth platelets" of the tibia, it should be "growth plates." :)

Also, it's not really an illness, but this is an interesting health tidbit for tall women. After becoming pregnant with fraternal twins, I learned that big tall women have a higher frequency of twinning. Not of identicals, since that is due to the first division of the zygote. The cells separate creating two individuals. That can happen with equal frequency in any woman. But fraternal twins come from two separate eggs. Releasing two eggs in a single ovulatory cycle is dependant on levels of a certain hormone (I forget what it is). That is why fraternal twins "run" in families, it is hereditary to have higher levels of the hormone. But big, tall women tend to have higher levels, thus higher frequency of twins!"

Elizabeth commented as follows: 

Regarding The Osgood-Schlatter disease: As per the Mayo-Clinic Staff, Osgood-Schlatter is not related to greater height. It occurs more often in athletic kids than in non-athletes, affecting as many as one in five adolescent athletes. The condition develops most often in boys ages 13 to 14 and girls ages 10 to 11. It is slightly more common in boys. Refer to www.mayoclinic.com.

I just received an email from Kirsten who states

"It is a degenerative condition resulting from lack of proper bone structure & mass. While it is a dibilitating that can affect anyone (especially women), I've seen it really affect a lot of tall people. My 6'4" father was told a cancerous tumour was disintegrating a vertebrae in the middle of his back earlier this year. Doctors have determined the vertebrae was earlier damaged due to osteoporosis. Because he is so tall, the pressure from the weight of his upper body further pulverized the bone. Though the cancer has been treated successfully, now he can still barely sit for an hour or two without pain because of the bone, and the bone will likely never heal to normal again. If for no other reason than this... remember to eat a balanced diet including foods high in calcium like milk, or take a calcium supplement if you're lactose intolerant.

Always maintain good posture also, for good posture can result in naturally (*slightly) trimmer tummies, lees back pain, and keep you from developing the characteristic hunch in older women, but especially those who are tall."

Thanks for that input, Kirsten!

Advice from a biologist

As for osteoporosis: if you need calcium and are lactose intolerant, besides industrial supplements (there are many people who have a side-effects when using them) the best ones are fermented milk products: sour milk, cheese (especially fresh), yoghurt, kefir and such because they contain calcium and phosphorus in physiological ratio. Also, I recomend use of vitamin D or their precursors (especially in food rich in them: fish, fish oil, yeast...) because organism needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and phosphorus properly. Though, as for milk products, there is some caution needed: some people are allegic on casein, a major protein component of milk and its products, so they should avoid them.

Also, for a females who menstruate profusely, eat food with iron: spinach, liver etc along vith lots of vitamin C (fruits, vegetables), because without vitamin C you cannot get enough of iron, and will become anemic, as well as can get a scurvy.

Tall women have big organisms, so they need more food than avarage women. Be proactive, and find out what is optimal for you.

And be careful. Bones of tall people break more likely than of small ones, because they are much longer, but not much thicker. Also, if you trip and fall, or someone causes you to fall, your injuries can get more serious, especially for upper body parts, because of fall from greater hight and therefore harder impact when you hit the ground. So, be carefull for injuries of head, arms, ribs and upper spine, especially neck.

So, Your Highnesses, stay well and good
Sincerely yours, Tomo

Joerg adds:

I have done a bit of googling and came up with the website of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (USA). There is also the National Institutes of Health Website re. Osteoporosis, the Osteoporosis Society of Canada and, for my European visitors, the National Osteoporosis Society Website from the UK. For even more info check the Google Directory entries for Osteorporosis.

Tariq Saeed - Updated Mar 24, 2017 09:39am

TOBA TEK SINGH: Zainab Bibi, Pakistan’s tallest woman and a former holder of the ‘world’s tallest woman’ title in Guinness Book of World Record in 2003, has been suffering from diabetes and osteoporosis diseases.

She told reporters in her house in Rajana, 14 kilometres from Toba, that her height started increasing when she was 15. Now she is 45 years old. She said when she was 22, her height was 7’ 2.

Zainab has five sisters and belongs to a poor family. She is still single, as, according to her, her height was a hurdle in her marriage.

In 1998, she became a known figure when she appeared in PTV’s Neelam Ghar programme and in 2003 she was declared world’s tallest woman by Guinness Book of World Record. She has visited 15 countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Through public appearances in the country and abroad, she earned money. Back in 2008, she sought asylum in the UK on political grounds, but her plea was turned down.

She said when she was in exile in Saudi Arabia, she had met Nawaz Sharif there who had promised a monthly stipend and other measures to meet her needs after coming into power. She said she was just reminding Mr Sharif of his own words.

She said she was spending her days by using insulin and was even unable to go to hospital as she cannot travel by a bus or a rickshaw due to tallness and in critical illness she was forced to hire an ambulance to reach hospital. One of her sisters sells Pakoras outside the house and she bears Zainab’s needs. She urged the prime minister and the chief minister to help her get treatment and meet expenses.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2017

Read the original article

Some other links of interest:

• The Mesothelioma Group has an "understanding cancer" guide
• The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO)
• Health Expert Advice - is a non-profit organisation that brings you a lot of information on health and related issues

• Check out Dr. Torsten Stein, the World's Tallest Chiropractor
• Not a topical website either but they do a lot of good work: The American Cancer Society
• Young Survival Coalition - for young women with breast cancer

You can participate here:

• Do you have experience with illnesses that could be contributed to the fact that you are tall?
• Would you like to write and tell others about it (anonymously if preferred!)?
• Do you have information (books, links etc.) that could prove helpful to women with height-related illnesses?

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