Joseph R. Anticaglia MD
Medical Advisory Board
Recently, Shirley, a 75 year old neighbor rang my doorbell at approximately 9:30 p. m. and said, “I fell.” She was holding a handkerchief against the right side of her forehead and blood was streaming down the right side of her face.
I asked her to come into my apartment, sat her down and applied pressure with sterile gauzes to the right side of her forehead to control the bleeding. This was the second time she had fallen and hurt herself within the past month. The first time resulted in minor scrapes and bruises. However, this time she required a trip to the E. R. She suffered a 2 inch ragged gash on the forehead that required suturing to close the wound.
When we arrived at the emergency room, Shirley told the doctor, “I don’t remember exactly how it happened. I lost my balance and think I tripped on the carpet and hit my head against the furniture.”
After suturing the wound, the doctor said, “I recommend a CT of the brain, a type of X-ray, particularly to rule out bleeding within the brain.” The CT was negative for any evidence of bleeding or other brain injuries.
Afterword, Shirley did fine. She kept the appointment with her family doctor to better understand the reasons she’s falling. Furthermore, she started a physical therapy program to prevent future episodes of falling.
The fear of falling affects both men and women of all ages but elderly women are particularly prone to falling and injuring themselves. Perhaps you or one of your parents or grandparents is worried about falling? Rightfully so, because according to the CDC-Center for Disease Control and Prevention
A combination of risk factors cause falls such as your age and home environment. We’re more likely to fall as we age, especially people older than 75 years. Both genders are at risk of incurring injuries because of falls but it’s more frequent in women in the U. S. Also, children at various developmental stages are also prone to injuries due to falls.
Those who work under hazardous conditions such as at elevated heights, have a higher incidence of deadly falls. Side effects of medications or medical conditions can cause loss of balance or dizziness predispose to falls.
Alcohol and substance abuse can lead to falls. An unsafe environment at home, poor vision, inactivity and poor mobility are risk factors that make it more likely for you to fall.
A combination of approaches is best utilized to reduce injuries from falling. Successful prevention programs reduce the number of people who fall and the severity of injury. For those people with a history of falls, it decreases significantly the likelihood of future falls. Below are suggestions to prevent falls.
Falls are common, costly and often preventable. They’re a major health problem robbing individuals of independent living. A previous fall puts you at risk for another one; but there are steps you can take to prevent future visits to the emergency room
This article is intended solely as a learning experience. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options.
