Theos-Talk Archives (June 2003 Message tt00173)

Dennis Kier wrote:
> > certain height. For example, Andre Roussimoff, aka Andre the Giant,
> > was "only" 7' 4", and quite physically able, but died at an early age
> > because his circulatory system couldn't handle his size.
>
> Was his death from his size, or did he have some disease at the time?
His disease was he had too much growth hormone, and therefore grew too 
big. A side effect was that his circulatory system could not support the 
oxygen needs of his body. Andre the Giant was quite athletic during his 
lifetime, being a professional wrestler (which can be considered a 
performance sport, like circus acrobats and stunt people), it was 
partially his continually staying in shape that allowed him to live as 
long as he did. He was billed as the world's tallest athlete.

> Aren't there some modern Basket-ball players approaching that size,
> and not dying at an early age, but instead being quite physically
> fit, and apparently healthy well into middle age, and beyond? and
> capable of vigorous exercise well past an early age?
The height where troubles REALLY start is about 7 1/2 feet. To give 
some examples, Richard "Jaws" Kiel is "only" 7' 2". The late Kevin Peter 
Hall (he died of AIDS contracted through a blood transfusion) was also 
7' 2" (playing the Bigfoot "Harry" in HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS, and the 
alien in both Predator I and Predator 2). It's about as big as the human 
frame and circulatory system can normally support.

Bart