Beware! Falling has become the number one killer of the elderly. How to prevent it is the key?

Elderly falls, a seemingly trivial matter, actually concerns countless families. It happens quietly in the details of life, but often has far-reaching consequences. Every fall may become a stumbling block on the road to health for the elderly, and also bring a heavy burden to the family and society. Therefore, we need to face the problem of elderly falls, deeply understand its causes and effects, and find ways to prevent and deal with it, so that every elderly person can enjoy their old age.

Image source: Pixabay

The main causes of falls in the elderly

There are many reasons why the elderly fall. It is necessary to comprehensively consider factors such as the elderly’s physical condition and living environment and take corresponding preventive measures.

Image source: Pixabay

1. Decreased function of the skeletal system: With age, bones and muscles gradually degenerate, and problems such as osteoporosis and joint stiffness become increasingly prominent, making the elderly more prone to falls.

2. Decreased nervous system function: The nervous system function of the elderly declines, and their ability to control the body weakens, making them prone to body shaking, loss of balance, and falling.

3. Decreased sensory functions such as vision and hearing: The elderly are prone to problems such as blurred vision and hearing loss. They are unable to accurately perceive the surrounding environment and are prone to falling while walking or standing.

4. Drug factors: Some elderly people may take certain drugs for a long time. These drugs may affect the nervous system and make them more prone to falls.

5. Environmental factors: The living environment of the elderly may also increase the risk of falling, such as slippery floors and unreasonable furniture placement.

Why osteoporosis is a killer in wrestling

Osteoporosis is called the "invisible killer" because it is a latent disease that may not have any symptoms in the early stages. It has a high incidence rate and a long course of disease, and is often accompanied by complications such as fractures, and may even cause disability or death. It has become one of the chronic diseases that seriously threaten human health.

As people age, many hormones that are beneficial to bone formation in the human body will gradually decrease, while inflammatory factors that increase bone absorption and bone loss will gradually increase. Elderly people will lose muscle and bones, making them very susceptible to osteoporosis. Once an elderly person with osteoporosis falls, it is not only easy to cause fractures, but also complications. Even a fracture caused by a minor trauma of a fall may result in bedriddenness, lung infection, lower limb thrombosis, or even loss of life.

The harm caused by fractures in the elderly cannot be ignored. Fractures can cause pain in the elderly, which not only affects their quality of life, but also causes psychological pain. Fractures limit the mobility of the elderly, and they often need to rely on others for care, which is a great blow to their self-esteem and independence. Fractures in the elderly may also lead to other complications, such as pneumonia and venous thrombosis caused by long-term bed rest, which poses a greater threat to health.

In order to reduce the risk of fractures in the elderly, a series of preventive measures should be taken. The elderly should pay attention to their diet and increase their calcium intake by eating calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products, soy products, and seafood. The elderly should strengthen physical exercise, especially some aerobic exercises, such as walking and dancing, which can enhance the function and strength of bones. In addition, the elderly should also undergo regular bone density tests to detect and treat osteoporosis problems in a timely manner.

Image source: Pixabay

The increased risk of fractures in the elderly is closely related to osteoporosis, which poses a huge threat to the physical health and quality of life of the elderly. We should pay enough attention to prevent fractures in the elderly through scientific diet, moderate exercise and regular testing to ensure their health and happiness. At the same time, it also requires the joint efforts of all sectors of society to improve the elderly care service system, improve the quality of life of the elderly, and provide better protection for their health and happiness in their later years.

How to prevent osteoporosis?

Preventing osteoporosis is an important part of maintaining bone health. In order to prevent osteoporosis, we can start from the following aspects:

1. Balanced diet: Maintaining a balanced diet is the key to preventing osteoporosis. You should consume foods rich in nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, such as milk, soy products, fish and shrimp, etc. At the same time, you should also pay attention to controlling your salt intake to reduce calcium loss.

2. Proper exercise: Proper exercise can enhance muscle strength, increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis. It is recommended to do weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, jogging, dancing, etc., to increase the load on the bones and promote bone growth and development.

Image source: Pixabay

3. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption: Smoking and excessive drinking will affect the absorption and utilization of calcium and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Therefore, you should quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

4. Regular examination: Regular bone density examination can detect osteoporosis early and take timely treatment measures. It is recommended that middle-aged and elderly people have a bone density examination once a year.

In short, prevention of osteoporosis needs to start from diet, exercise, lifestyle, etc. By maintaining a balanced diet, proper exercise, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, and regularly checking bone density, we can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and maintain bone health.

Source: Chongqing Tianji Network Co., Ltd.

Audit expert: Li Zhigao

Statement: Except for original content and special notes, some pictures are from the Internet. They are not for commercial purposes and are only used as popular science materials. The copyright belongs to the original authors. If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete them.