taller when sleeping?

[gingerflaps]

is it true that you are a quater of an inch taller when you are asleep, if so then how is this possible?

[woofgang]

yes its true in theory. The discs in your spine are made of elasticcy stuff. Gravity has an effect on these so when you are lying down they are in an uncompressed state. When you stand up, gravity cmpresses them and you get shorter. Astronauts grow in space for the same reason

[VINNY100_2]

I think your find most men  wake up a few inches longer!!Why I havent got a clue? (:)

[shaneystar]

Must be all the Becks beer they drink !!

[woofgang]

Oh Behave you guys!

[Buenchico]

It's certainly true that a person's height varies according to the time of day. (As woofgang says, it's because the discs in the spine become compressed). Where I would disagree with the statement, in the original question, however, is the idea that someone is shorter when they're asleep. What actually happens is that the discs compress during the day (so we're at our shortest last thing at night). During sleep, the body is horizontal so that the discs are no longer under compression and slowly return to their uncompressed state. So, if anything can be said to happen about our height - or should that be 'length' when we're horizontal? - it's that we actually get taller during sleep.

This shrinking/growing effect is more pronounced in some people than others. Gingerflaps mentions a quarter of an inch variation. In most people it's probably closer to half an inch - it can be more. I certainly notice it when I'm driving. I always have to adjust the rear view mirror each morning because I'm slighter taller than when I was when driving the night before.

Chris

[Buenchico]

Oops -
Error in the last answer. I put 'shorter' instead of 'taller'. Sorry about that. (It's what comes of trying to type before I've opened the beer!)

Chris

[MsBehave]

I realised this a while ago. In the evenings when i get in my car to drive home from work i always have to move my rear view mirror from where it was in the morning. I ended up asking my dad and he was able to tell me about the body 'growing' at night. Its pretty amazing to think that your body does stuff like that huh.