People taller than 5'9 could be at 'higher risk of more than 100 health problems'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

People taller than 5'9 could be at a higher risk of more than 100 health conditions, a new study claims. The study, published in PLOS Genetics, found that taller men and women may be more prone to serious health problems including blood clots, bone infections, and nerve damage.

Researchers looked at more than 1,000 different conditions among 250,000 white, hispanic and black men and women in the US.Of the conditions studied in taller peopler - defined as above 5'9' - some of those identified include irregular heartbeat, brain cell damage, leg and skin ulcers, and varicose veins.A number of less serious conditions were also identified such as calluses, dizziness and light-headedness, and leg pain.The study, by Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Centre, concluded that: "height may be an unrecognized but biologically plausible risk factor for several common conditions in adults."It added that more research will be required to further investigate the links between height and health conditions.The study identified the links between height and certain health issues, but did not identify a clear reason why taller people could be at higher risk.The research refers to past investigations that suggest circulation could be a contributing factor, as blood must be pumped a longer distance to get around the body.This could reduce overall blood flow which is key for good health.Another cause of certain conditions could be increased weight-bearing, as taller people will likely be heavier, according to the study.The study states: "We describe associations of genetically-predicted height with conditions that may result from the effects of increased weight-bearing such as acquired toe and foot deformities." Speaking to the Mailonline,