Falls are very common among the elderly, and a survey by Taiwanese scholars over the age of 65, 35%-40% of the elderly have fallen at least once in a year, which is the direct cause of fractures in the elderly, and is considered the number one killer of the elderly, because of its high risk so help or not has been testing our society, in fact, most falls occur at home, so how to recognize and prevent falls, its significance is even greater than osteoporosis The most common causes of falls are
Common causes of falls.
They can be divided into two types of internal and external causes, with internal causes including.
1) Aging leads to dulled senses and slower reactions, and is often accompanied by diminished vision.
2) The elderly are prone to various central nervous system diseases, such as cerebrovascular accidents, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, etc., which can easily cause a decline in balance and falls.
3)Aging leads to degeneration of the skeletal muscular system and a decrease in muscle strength and joint flexibility.
4)Drug application, such as benzodiazepines, etc.
External factors are some environmental factors that tend to induce falls, including.
1)Uneven outdoor surfaces, complex traffic conditions, and poorly lit environments.
2) Indoor clutter, slippery floors, unsecured or inappropriate height beds and seats, and insufficient light.
Hazards of falls.
1) Fracture, the most common are thoracolumbar fracture, femoral neck fracture, distal radius fracture, etc. Once fractured, the mortality rate is greatly increased;
2) Psychological damage, fear of falling again and afraid to go out, afraid to move, leading to serious mental illness;
Prevention of falls.
1)Let the elderly raise the importance of fall prevention.
2) Maintain appropriate physical exercise to slow down the aging of the nervous system and skeletal muscle system.
3)Regular medical checkups to rule out the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
4) Wear appropriate glasses to improve vision.
5)Avoid going out alone, crowded environment, high speed transportation, especially public transportation.
6) Improve the home environment by arranging objects according to rules, increasing indoor lighting, and keeping the floor dry or laying non-slip mats in the kitchen and bathroom where it is easy to slip.
7) Adjust the height of beds, seats, toilets, bathtubs and stairs, and add handrails to facilitate the use of the elderly.
8) Wear well-fitting clothes and ensure that the soles of shoes are non-slip.
9) Once you fall, seek medical attention in time, do not be careless!