Want to read up on the latest trends in staying healthy? Read the latest pqBlog entry to learn more. Falls remain the leading cause of injury and death for older Americans. As we age, a variety of factors can affect our balance. In addition to the overall decline in flexibility and strength, impairments in our vision, hearing and inner ear, reflexes, and position sense (or proprioception) can cause us to be at greater risk for falls.
There are many other reasons older people fall. They may lose their footing when stepping off a street curb. Or they may fall after getting dizzy from taking medicines. Some studies have shown that chronic pain can increase a senior's risk of falling, as can carrying too much weight on your frame. Many falls may be related to the results of a stroke or other medical conditions, like diabetes — research shows that complications from diabetes greatly increase the risk of falling. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, over 76% of older adults are diabetic or pre-diabetic, and when a diabetic or pre-diabetic falls, a fracture is 12 times more likely.
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