by Art Young

Created on: June 15, 2010   Last Updated: June 17, 2010

When songwriter Randy Newman wrote that  “Short people got no reason to live,” his tongue was placed securely in his cheek. After the song “Short People” became a hit, the writer, who is known for his satirical bent in constructing lyrics, clarified his objectives in writing the song.

Newman pointed out that what “Short People” was really about was the irrational urge that some people have to cast aspersions on anyone who might be a little different from them. This could involve the color of their skins, their accent or even their size.

While short people are not evil as they are satirically portrayed in this song, apparently they do have unique challenges when it comes to their health – especially with regard to heart disease. A recent research report notes that short men and women are challenged by more than their height.

The Research Involved More than 3 Million People

Over the years, there have been studies that have suggested that people of smaller stature might be at higher risk for heart disease. However, in June 2010 the "European Heart Journal" published the results of a comprehensive review of medical literature on the subject.

The research was led by Tuula Paajanen of the University of Tampere in Finland and it analyzed 52 studies involving more than 3 million people. It found that adults who were shorter than 5’3” were about 1.5 times as likely to develop heart disease and to die from this disease as taller adults. For purposes of this analysis, adults that were 5’7” or taller were defined as tall. This increased risk was found to be true for both men and women.

The research was conducted in order to highlight what many cardiologists have long believed. In the report, the researchers noted that they hoped that their finding would encourage additional research on why people who are shorter may be at increased risk for heart disease.

Why Does Size Matter for Heart Disease?

The latest statistics from Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. It accounts for more than 631,636 deaths each year (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/faststats/lcod.htm) and this is higher than deaths from cancer, diabetes, respiratory diseases and accidents.

Clogged arteries which can lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes and other heart diseases are often the results of poor nutrition, smoking or sedentary lifestyles and subsequent

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