THE DOCTOR IS IN
OP / ED BY DR. ADIL MANZOOR
If you have ever played a contact sport before, chances are that you are no stranger to falls. Likewise, if you have ever had a toddler around, you will notice they fall several times a day. Quite simply, falls can happen to anyone, and they are usually really nothing to be worried about, even among toddlers, who can simply just get up and continue with their business.
Considering all of these, it may shock you to know that in 2020 alone, 36,508 older adults (that is, adults above 65) in the United States died due to falls. In the same year, emergency departments recorded three million visits for older adults falls. There’s more. According to the CDC, in a year, the medical costs used in managing falls to older adults amount to $50 billion. While falls do not constitute a serious problem for most of the population below 65, above that age, it can lead to some disastrous outcomes. With that said, let’s consider some key details about falls you need to know.
As I have stated earlier, falls usually do not constitute a serious health hazard. That, of course, depends on the type and nature of the fall. While with most falls, the individual can walk out unscathed, some can result in serious injuries. According to reports, one in five falls can cause broken bones or head injuries. Since older adults have weaker bones, they are at a much higher risk of breaking their bones than younger individuals.
Furthermore, the risk of brain injury after falling is more significant in older adults. Therefore, if an adult over 65 falls and injures their head, health authorities recommend they visit their healthcare provider immediately. Unfortunately, many don’t comply with this advice. The CDC states that one out of four older people (that is, above 65 years) falls every year. However, less than half of people that fall tell their doctor. This is consequential, as there is a risk of brain injury after falling for older adults, and also because falling once doubles your chances of falling again.
Despite the inherent risk of falls for older adults, 36,000 deaths in a year due to these falls is not at all desirable. While the report does not expatiate the causes of these falls, they are most likely due to the following reasons: older people have a worse vision, balance problems, muscle weakness, they have conditions that may cause confusion and dizziness, and blood pressure problems. Some medications may even cause confusion and dizziness among older adults and increase their chances of falling.
Some risk factors for serious falls among older adults include the intensity of work done regularly, binge drinking, steroid use, family history, and gender. The latter point – gender – operates in different dimensions. For one, older women are more prone to fractures as they are at a higher risk of osteoporosis. On the other hand, older men are more likely to be working jobs that increase their risk of falling, especially jobs that involve ladders.
In any case, the number of falls observed among older adults in the United States has to be reduced. Practical ways include regular vision checks and using glasses if necessary, close monitoring of blood pressure, ensuring older adults live in a free, non-slippery environment, and doing strength and balance exercises. It may also be necessary to get a medical practitioner to review medications in use to ensure no medications are greatly increasing the risk of falls.
Finally, if falls do occur, older adults must speak with their doctor. Yes, even if these falls seem innocuous. This is important in quickly identifying and managing any brain injury that may arise from the fall.
This article was written by Dr. Adil Manzoor, DO, a Board-Certified Internist & Board Certified Pediatrician who works as a Hospitalist and Emergency Room Physician. He is also the current President of Garden State Street Medicine, a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide free preventive and acute urgent care services for the homeless. He is also the co-founder of his own unique medical practice, Mobile Medicine NJ & House call Doctors. He is also currently pursuing an Executive MBA and a Master’s of Science in Healthcare Leadership at Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.
References
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/05/22/fatal-falls-older-americans/
- https://www.cdc.gov/falls/facts.html
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/falls/
