The wisdom of preventing falls for the elderly: Be a healthy and happy "tumbler"

Author: Wang Peipei Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Reviewer: Zhao Huihui, Chief Physician, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

As they age, the physical functions of the elderly gradually decline, and falls become a particularly concerning issue. Falls may not only cause physical injuries such as fractures and head injuries to the elderly, but may also have a significant psychological impact on the elderly, causing them to be anxious and even afraid to walk, seriously affecting their quality of life. Therefore, understanding the relevant knowledge about falls in the elderly and taking targeted measures to prevent them, and helping them become "healthy tumblers", is an issue that every family and even society should pay attention to.

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1. Why are the elderly prone to falls?

The reasons for falls in the elderly are complex and varied, mainly including the following points.

1. Physiological factors: As people age, their muscle strength weakens and their joint flexibility decreases, which leads to weakened balance ability and makes them more prone to falls.

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2. Disease factors: The elderly often suffer from chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, etc., which may affect their physical functions and increase the risk of falls.

3. Drug factors: Improper use of some drugs, such as overdose of antihypertensive drugs, may cause adverse reactions such as dizziness and hypotension in the elderly, thereby increasing the risk of falls.

4. Environmental factors: Safety hazards in the home or outdoor environment, such as uneven ground, insufficient light, improper placement of furniture, etc., may become causes of falls in the elderly.

2. What are the dangers of falls for the elderly?

1. Fractures: As the elderly often suffer from osteoporosis, they are very likely to suffer fractures after falling, such as spinal fractures, hip fractures, forearm fractures, etc. Fractures not only bring physical pain to the elderly, but may also affect their ability to take care of themselves in daily life.

2. Brain trauma: Falling may cause brain trauma in the elderly, such as concussion, cerebral contusion, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, etc. These injuries may cause intracranial hypertension, cerebral edema, and even brain herniation in the elderly, thus endangering the patient's life.

3. Hematoma and traumatic bleeding: Elderly people may have subcutaneous hematoma and traumatic bleeding after falling. Some elderly people may suffer from cardiovascular diseases, so they often take antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulants. After falling, their blood coagulation function is reduced, which will increase the risk of physical bleeding, such as subcutaneous hematoma, prolonged coagulation time after traumatic bleeding, and even continuous bleeding.

4. Pneumothorax: Elderly people may suffer rib fractures after falling. If the broken ends of the ribs pierce the lungs, it may cause serious problems such as pneumothorax.

5. Other complications: Elderly people may also experience negative emotions or behaviors such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia after a fall. In addition, since they need to stay in bed after a fall, they may also suffer from aspiration pneumonia, decreased muscle strength, and other problems, which will aggravate the weakness of the elderly.

3. How to prevent falls among the elderly?

1. Enhance exercise: Encourage the elderly to do appropriate exercise, such as walking, practicing Tai Chi, etc., to enhance muscle strength and balance.

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2. Regular physical examinations: The elderly should undergo regular physical examinations to detect and treat chronic diseases in a timely manner and reduce the probability of falls caused by chronic diseases.

3. Rational use of medication: The elderly should take medication as prescribed by their doctor and avoid increasing or decreasing the dosage or changing the type of medication on their own to reduce adverse drug reactions.

4. Use assistive tools: Provide the elderly with assistive tools such as crutches and walkers to ensure that they walk more stably and reduce the risk of falling.

5. Improve the home environment: The home environment is crucial to the safety of the elderly. To prevent falls, the floor of the home should be kept flat and dry to avoid accumulation of debris; there should be sufficient light to prevent the elderly from falling due to insufficient light and unclear vision; the furniture should be placed reasonably to avoid blocking the walking path.

6. Strengthen publicity and education: Family members and all sectors of society should strengthen publicity and education on fall prevention for the elderly and enhance their awareness of fall prevention.

4. What should I do if I unfortunately fall?

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If a fall unfortunately occurs, the elderly and their families should remain calm and take the following measures.

1. Check the injuries: First check whether the elderly are injured. If there are obvious wounds or pain, seek medical attention in time.

2. Observe the mental state: Observe the mental state of the elderly. If confusion, headache, etc. occur, call the emergency number immediately.

3. Avoid moving: If you are unsure of the severity of the injury, avoid moving the elderly at will to avoid secondary injuries.

4. Psychological counseling: After a fall, the elderly may experience emotions such as fear and anxiety, and their family members should provide necessary psychological counseling and comfort.

I hope that the elderly and their families can gain something from this popular science article, especially the elderly friends, to enhance their wisdom in preventing falls, and strive to be patient, take their time, and not get excited, and be healthy and happy "tumblers"!