Fall Proof Yourself

Fall proof yourself

By:

Dr Madan M Vasandani

            Do you remember the time when you last fell or almost fell down? If you are 65 and older and you are one of those people who has had many close shaves with the Earth then this article is for you. The risk of falls and resulting serious injury increases with age, but falls are not an unavoidable consequence of aging. Did you know that if you have a history of a fall, you have two to sixfold increased risk of a future fall? Non-injurious falls are a harbinger of potentially life threatening events, and an opportunity for physicians to intervene 

            There are certain risk factors that could contribute to a fall. These risk factors include advancing age, female sex, past history of stroke, heart attack, fracture or fall. You cannot change these risk factors. What you can do to prevent yourself from falling is modify these following risk factors

1. Medicine – If you are taking medications – psycotropics, antihypertensives or diuretics – you are increasing your chances of falling. Ensure that you visit your physician to review the necessity of these medications.
2. Your health – Diabetes Mellitus, Dehydration, Vertigo and Parkinson Disease are some of the health reason which might lead to a fall. These health issues should be properly managed. If you have been having episodes of light headedness or you just had a recent ‘slip’, do not wait too long before these symptoms results in a fall and a serious injury as a consequence
3. Your Muscles – If you are 65 do this following test - (you need to time yourself for this.) Get up from your seat and walk a distance of 3 metres (10 feet) and back. Do this as fast as you can. If you are 60-69 years of age you should be able to complete this walk in 9 seconds; a person 70 – 79 years in 10.2 seconds; and a person 80 – 99 years in 12.7 seconds. Slower times warrant further assessment. If you have unsteadiness or you are not able to get out of the chair without the use of your arms, this suggests that you have muscles weakness and you need to be assessed
4. Your heart – A non-rhythmic heart results in light-headedness and may result in a fall.
5. Your Eyes – When was the last time you got your glasses and/or prescription checked? If you are wearing bifocals, your chance of a fall increases.
6. Your Environment – Your house can be the most comfortable place on earth but if you are 60 years old and above it can also be the most dangerous. Here are a few tips to fall-proof your house:

a.   Remove rugs, or use double-sided tape 

    or non-slip backing so rugs will not move.

b.    Remove clutter, including cords or wires, from walkways.

c.    Turn on lights in hallways and stairways.

d.    Be sure that handrails are attached well on both 
      sides of all stairways.

e.    Use a non-slip rubber mat in the bathtub.

f.     Install handrails in the bathtub and near 
     the toilet.

Remember, always think prevention. Prevention goes beyond Heart Attacks, Stroke, Cancer and Kidney disease. It includes prevention of fractures by fall-proofing yourself and your environment. Remember, if you’ve just had a near miss, it may be time you get yourself checked before it leads to a serious injury.