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Falls
Summary
Falls can be dangerous at any age. Babies and young children can get hurt falling off furniture or down the stairs. Older children may fall off playground equipment. For older adults, falls can be especially serious. They are at higher risk of falling. They are also more likely to fracture (break) a bone when they fall, especially if they have osteoporosis. A broken bone, especially when it is in a hip, may even lead to disability and a loss of independence for older adults.
Some common causes of falls include:
- Balance problems
- Some medicines, which can make you feel dizzy, confused, or slow
- Vision problems
- Alcohol, which can affect your balance and reflexes
- Muscle weakness, especially in your legs, which can make it harder for you to get up from a chair or keep your balance when walking on an uneven surface.
- Certain illnesses, such as low blood pressure, diabetes, and neuropathy
- Slow reflexes, which make it hard to keep your balance or move out of the way of a hazard
- Tripping or slipping due to loss of footing or traction
At any age, people can make changes to lower their risk of falling. It important to take care of your health, including getting regular eye exams. Regular exercise may lower your risk of falls by strengthening your muscles, improving your balance, and keeping your bones strong. And you can look for ways to make your house safer. For example, you can get rid of tripping hazards and make sure that you have rails on the stairs and in the bath. To reduce the chances of breaking a bone if you do fall, make sure that you get enough calcium and vitamin D.
NIH: National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Aging
Patient Handouts
- After a fall in the hospital Medical Encyclopedia
- Bathroom safety for adults Medical Encyclopedia
- Exercises to help prevent falls Medical Encyclopedia
- Preventing falls Medical Encyclopedia
Older Adults
- Balance Problems American Geriatrics Society
- Falls Prevention: Unique to Older Adults AGS Health in Aging Foundation
- Older Adult Fall Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Diagnosis and Tests
- Balance Tests National Library of Medicine
- Fall Risk Assessment National Library of Medicine
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Accidental Falls National Institutes of Health
Statistics and Research
- Facts about Falls Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- FastStats: Accidents or Unintentional Injuries National Center for Health Statistics
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Fall Prevention: Simple Tips to Prevent Falls Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Keep on Your Feet — Preventing Older Adult Falls Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Preventing Falls: Tips to Keep You on Your Feet National Institutes of Health
Start Here
- Falls and Fractures in Older Adults: Causes and Prevention National Institute on Aging
Related Issues
- Keeping Your Balance Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation
Find an Expert
- National Institute on Aging National Institute on Aging
Encyclopedia
- Preventing falls – what to ask your doctor Medical Encyclopedia