Tall men are less likely to have heart problems

Researchers have found that men who were 6 feet or over (1.8 meters) were 24% less likely to report having heart failure than those who were 5 foot 8 inches or smaller (1.72 meters). This was after their age and weight, as well as whether they had high blood pressure and diabetes, had all been taken into account. Scientists think that one reason is that shorter men may have had childhood diseases that stunted their growth. In adulthood this could have led to the build-up of plaque in their arteries and higher blood pressure. But they also think that the biology of taller men may put them at less risk. They say that there is greater distance between certain points in their arteries and their hearts which puts the heart under less strain.