Fwd: WHY DO SENIOR CITIZENS FALL?

[tejinder pal singh gill]

>      
> An interesting note
> on the subject mentioned therein--useful
> for kal aaj aur   kal
> population ,for knowing
> the origin of the problem they have/may have,
> for preparing
> themselves about what they may have to face in future,
> and for educating
> themselves to develop a sympathetic attitude towards
> persons facing
>  this problem in their circles
> respectively.
>
>
>
>
>
> By
> Dr.Achala Balasuriya MD
>
> Consultant Physician
>
> (Special Interest- Elderly Care
> medicine)
>
>
> Falls among elders is
> a common cause of morbidity,
> hospitalization, disability and death. Nearly a third
> of the elderly have
> falls that trigger a chain of events that usually have
> them succumb to
> the situation or leave them bed-ridden till the end
> comes. With age, the
> ability of the body to heal itself reduces
> considerably and the immunity
> drops. The muscles and  ligaments
> tend to get more lax with bones becoming more brittle
> and porous.
>
>
>
> Under
> these circumstances, even a trivial looking fall may
> prove fatal.
>
>
>
> *Common causes of
> Falls*
>
>
> Reduced muscle
> strength, coordination and reflexes
>
>
>
>
> Poor sensation in the
> lower extremities due to diabetes
> or degenerative conditions
>
> Poor
> balance due to neurological diseases, hypothyroidism or
> ear problems
>
>
>
> Poor
> vision
>
>
> Postural
> drop in blood pressure
>
>
>
>
> Seizure
> disorders
>
>
>
>
> Strokes, transient
> ischemic attacks
>
>
> Abnormalities of cardiac
> rhythm
>
>
> Multiple
> medication use
>
>
> Environmental hazards eg poor
> lightning,carpets, rugs,
> clutter etc
>
>
>
> *Osteoporosis*
>
> Osteoporosis is one major risk
> factor for falls. What is
> debatable is whether brittle bones
> break after a fall, or break when stressed and in turn
> cause a fall. In
> either event, a decrease in bone
> density contributes
> to falls and resultant injuries
>
>
>
> Osteoporosis is a condition wherein
> bones become more
> porous, less resistant to stress, and
> more prone to fractures. Caused by
> hormonal changes,
> calcium and vitamin D deficiency, and a decrease in
> physical activity,
> osteoporosis is a chief cause of fractures in older
> adults, 
> especially
> among women.
>
>
> *Prevention
> Tips*
>
> "Eat
> or drink sufficient calcium. Postmenopausal women
> need 1,500 mg of calcium
> daily. Calcium-rich foods include milk, yoghurt,
> cheese, fish and
> shellfish, selected vegetables such as broccoli,
> soybeans, tofu and
> almonds.
>
>
>
> "Get
> sufficient Vitamin D in order to enhance the
> absorption of calcium into bloodstream. Vitamin D
> is formed
> naturally in the body after exposure to sunlight,
> but some older
> adults may need a supplement.
>
>
>
> "Regularly do weight-bearing
> exercise.
>
>
>
>
> *Lack of
> Physical Activity*
>
> Failure to
> exercise regularly results in poor muscle tone,
> decreased strength, and loss of bone mass and
> flexibility. All contribute
> to falls and the severity of injury due to
> falls.
>
>
>
> *Prevention
> Tips*
>
>
> "Engage regularly (e.g., every
> other day for about 15
> minutes daily) in exercise
> designed to increase muscle and bone strength, and to
> improve balance and
> flexibility.
>
>
>
> "Undertake daily activities in
> a safe manner, such as
> reaching and bending properly, taking
> time to recover balance when rising from a
> chair or
> bed, learning the proper way to fall, and learning how
> to recover
> after a fall.
>
>
>
> "Wear
> proper fitting, supportive shoes with low heels
> or rubber soles.
>
>
>
> *Impaired
> Vision*
>
> Age-related vision diseases can
> increase the risk of
> falling.
>
> Cataracts
> and glaucoma alter older people';s depth
> perception, visual acuity,
> peripheral vision and susceptibility to glare. These
> limitations hinder
> their ability to safely negotiate their
> environment, whether
> it be in their own home or in a shopping
> mall.
>
>
>
> Young
> people use visual cues to perceive an imminent fall
> and take corrective action. Older adults with visual
> impairments do not
> have this advantage to the same
> extent.
>
>
>
> *Prevention
> Tips*
>
>
> "Have
> regular checkups by an ophthalmologist to discern
> the extent of age-related
> eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma, muscular
> degeneration etc.
>
>
>
> "Use
> colour and contrast to define balance-aiding
> objects in the home (e.g., grab bars and handrails).
> Add contrasting
> colour strips to first and last steps to identify
> change of level.
>
>
>
> "Clean eye glasses often to
> improve visibility.
>
>
>
>
> *Medications*
>
>
> People
> taking multiple medications are at greater risk of
> falling Sedatives,
> anti-depressants, and anti-psychotic drugs can
> contribute to falls by
> reducing mental alertness, worsening balance and gait,
> and causing drops
> in systolic blood pressure while
> standing.
>
>
>
> *Prevention
> Tips*
>
>
> "Know
> the common side effects of all medications
> taken.
>
>
> "Talk
> with your physician or pharmacist about ways to
> reduce your chances of falling by using the lowest
> effective dosage,
> regularly assessing the need for continued medication,
> and the need for
> walking aids while taking medications that affect
> balance.
>
>
>
> "Remove all out-of-date
> medications and those no longer
> in use.
>
>
>
> Limit
> intake of alcohol as it may interact with
> medication 
>
>
>
>
>
>  
>
>
>
> Environmental
> Hazards
>
>
>
>
> Indoors
>
>
> At least
> one-third of all falls in the elderly involve
> environmental hazards
> in the home. The most common hazard for falls is
> tripping over objects on
> the floor. Other factors include poor lighting, loose
> rugs, lack  of
> grab bars or poorly located/mounted grab bars, and
> unsturdy furniture.
>
>
>
> *Prevention
> Tips*
>
> It is
> useful to conduct a walk-through of your home to
> identify possible problems that may lead to
> falling.
>
>
>
> *Outdoors*
>
> Repair
> cracks and abrupt edges of sidewalks and
> driveways.
>
>
> Install
> handrails on stairs and steps.
>
>
> Keep floor
> dry, devoid of wet areas and greasy
> surfaces.
>
>
> Keep walk
> areas clear of clutter, rocks and mud.
>
>
> Install
> adequate lighting by doorways and along walkways
> leading to doors, gates.
>
>
>
> *Prevention
> Tips*
>
>
> Ensure
> adequate lightning inside the house.
>
>
> Remove
> unnecessary furniture and over crowding.
>
>
> Keep floor
> dry and clean and devoid of wires, toys
> etc
>
>
> Indicate
> steps, stairs by painting in contrasting
> colours.
>
>
>
>
> If a
> person has had a fall, he should get him self properly
> checked out by a physician to assess the risks of
> falling again and to
> ensure safety at home. When you go to see the doctor
> after a fall please
> remember to tell the doctor about all your current
> medications and
> medical conditions.