Tag: falls

Stay alert to avoid falls that can cause serious injuries

Taking care of your teeth and gums may offer benefits beyond oral health such as improving brain health, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2023. The meeting, to be held in person in Dallas and virtually, Feb. 8-10, 2023, is a world premier meeting for researchers and… Continue reading Stay alert to avoid falls that can cause serious injuries

4 Exercises to Reduce Your Risk of Falls

Decreased balance and falls are a dangerous part of getting older, but there are things you can do now in order to set yourself up for a better chance of avoiding costly, or even deadly, falls later on. The numbers are startling and frightening: the National Council on Aging (NCOA), citing information from the Centers… Continue reading 4 Exercises to Reduce Your Risk of Falls

Very Low Blood Pressure Isn’t Always a Good Thing

Patients who have unusually low blood pressure and are taking prescribed medications are twice as likely to experience a fall or faint as are those whose treated blood pressure is higher, according to a new study. The Kaiser Permanente research, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, focused on patients whose systolic blood pressure… Continue reading Very Low Blood Pressure Isn’t Always a Good Thing

How to Prevent Falls in The Home

Each year in the U.S. one in four people over 65 experiences a fall. It’s a common problem and can lead to a loss of independence, hospitalization, lack of confidence, and in some cases death. Avoiding falls in the first place is a vital aspect of living independently. Here’s how to prevent accidents in the… Continue reading How to Prevent Falls in The Home

Exercising in The Real World

Bringing exercise into a community-based setting for older adults is safe, expanding the concept from exercise in a clinical setting. A lack of exercise in old age can lead to lower independence and quality of life and increased risk for falls and chronic disease. The most recent discovery built on the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence… Continue reading Exercising in The Real World

Reducing Risks of Falls and Injuries

Every second of every day, an older adult falls.  While most incur only bumps and bruises, more than seven million sustain injuries serious enough to require medical attention or hospitalization.  In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related deaths among adults 65 years and older – and the risk of falling increases… Continue reading Reducing Risks of Falls and Injuries

3 Home Exercises to Strengthen Balance and Prevent Outdoor Falls

By now, practically nothing Mother Nature throws my way is a surprise. Depending on where you live, this time of year can be a toss-up between navigating through snow, ice, rain or mud – sometimes all at once! As we age, our balance naturally declines and inclement weather conditions and uneven ground outside only increases… Continue reading 3 Home Exercises to Strengthen Balance and Prevent Outdoor Falls

If You Fall…

It can happen to anyone. One minute you’re on your feet; the next you’re on the ground. Falls are the leading cause of all non-fatal injuries and the most common reason for visits to the emergency room. One in five falls results in a significant injury, such as broken wrists, hips, legs or ankles or… Continue reading If You Fall…

How to Conquer Insomnia

The most common sleep problem in adults age 60 and older is insomonia. People with this condition have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Insomnia can last for days, months, and even years. There are many reasons why older people in particular may not get enough sleep at night. Feeling sick or being in pain can… Continue reading How to Conquer Insomnia

A Big Risk Factor for Indoor Falls

Although the common perception may be that older people fall most frequently during the icy winter, a preliminary study shows that a majority of falls happen in the warmer months, and that falls are likelier to happen indoors rather than out. And the commonest culprits in indoor falls, the study found, seem to be throw… Continue reading A Big Risk Factor for Indoor Falls

How Health-Care Practitioners Can Help Patients Avoid Falls

Editor’s note: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.8 million elderly people are treated annually in emergency rooms for falls, while more than 800,000 patients are hospitalized every year. And the incidence is likely to rise as 10,000 people in the U.S. turn 65 every day. Additionally, the National Council on Aging… Continue reading How Health-Care Practitioners Can Help Patients Avoid Falls

Some Heart Medications May Increase Risk of Falls

Older adults who take non-selective beta-blockers, a class of cardiovascular medication, may be at higher risk of falling compared with people using selective beta-blockers, according to new research. These two kinds of drugs are already known to differ by their receptor binding properties and their systemic effects on the body. In the analysis of data… Continue reading Some Heart Medications May Increase Risk of Falls

Life-Saving Hacks for Seniors

A senior citizen falls every 13 seconds in this country. And each year, more than one million elderly people go to the ER with injuries. Families want to keep their loved ones safe but often don’t know how. For Older Americans Month, SYNERGY HomeCare has some senior life-saving hacks (tips) that can prevent injuries with… Continue reading Life-Saving Hacks for Seniors

Antidepressant Use and Fracture Risk

Antidepressant use nearly doubles the risk of hip fracture among community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The increased risk was highest at the beginning of antidepressant use and remained elevated even four years later. The findings were published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.… Continue reading Antidepressant Use and Fracture Risk

Brain Activity Linked to Falls in Older Adults

Brain activity can help predict a healthy older adult’s risk of falling, according to researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older Americans and all too often lead to physical decline and loss of independence. The findings were published in Neurology, the medical… Continue reading Brain Activity Linked to Falls in Older Adults

Guarding Against Vision-Related Falls

Editor’s note: More than one in three people over 65 fall each year. Researchers have found that falls can lead to serious consequences including physical incapacity and loss of independence. Falls may be due to loss of balance, but vision troubles are also a factor. Here, from the experts at the SeniorHealth division of the… Continue reading Guarding Against Vision-Related Falls

Higher Doses of Vitamin D = Increased Risk of Falls in the Elderly

Higher monthly doses of vitamin D were associated with no benefit on low extremity function and with an increased risk of falls in patients 70 or older in a randomized clinical trial, according to an article published online in January 2016 by JAMA Internal Medicine. A release from the publisher notes that lower extremity function… Continue reading Higher Doses of Vitamin D = Increased Risk of Falls in the Elderly