Originating Article: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2025/surprising-fall-risks.html
Briefing Document: 15 Surprising Fall Risks
Introduction
This document summarizes the key findings from an AARP article titled "15 Surprising Things That Can Increase Fall Risk." The article highlights various, sometimes unexpected, factors that contribute to falls in older adults, a significant health concern affecting millions annually. The goal of the article and this briefing is to raise awareness and offer preventative measures. The article emphasizes that falls are preventable and provides actionable steps to mitigate risks.
Main Themes and Key Ideas
The article identifies 15 distinct risk factors for falls, categorized here for clarity:
- Medication and Health Conditions:
- Medications: A variety of medications, including psychoactive drugs (antidepressants, opioids, sedatives), antihistamines, muscle relaxers, blood pressure medications, and anticholinergics, can cause side effects like dizziness, blurry vision, or delayed reaction time, increasing the risk of falls.
- Quote: "Medications can keep you healthy, but side effects that can cause dizziness, blurry vision or a delayed reaction time can make you more prone to falling."
- Diabetes: Complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy, and hypoglycemia associated with diabetes can significantly increase fall risk.
- Age-Related Diseases: Conditions such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, arthritis, and peripheral artery disease impair mobility and increase the likelihood of falls.
- Postural Hypotension: A significant drop in blood pressure upon standing can cause lightheadedness and lead to falls. Contributing factors include certain medications, dehydration, diabetes, and Parkinson's.
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm: Irregular heartbeats can cause dizziness and lightheadedness.
- Weak Bones (Osteoporosis): Not only do bones break more easily when someone falls, but research suggests those with osteoporosis are more prone to falls in the first place.
- Physical and Sensory Impairments:
- Changes in Vision: Worsening vision, particularly when uncorrected, can impair balance and depth perception.
- Quote: “any change in vision in one or both eyes should prompt a visit to an eye doctor.” The use of bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses, which make it harder to see the ground below, are also a factor.
- Hearing Loss: Hearing and balance are linked, so hearing loss is often accompanied by balance problems.
- Bunions and Foot Problems: Foot abnormalities can affect balance and stability.
- Muscle Loss (Sarcopenia): Age-related muscle loss weakens mobility.
- Walking Too Slowly: Older adults who walk slower are more likely to fall than those who walk at a safe pace.
- Environmental and Lifestyle Factors:
- Pets: Excited pets can jump and knock people over or create a tripping hazard.
- Quote: "A 2009 CDC study found that 86,629 fall injuries each year were associated with cats and dogs."
- Home Hazards: Area rugs, phone chargers and cords, poor lighting, and clutter contribute to falls.
- Weight: Both being overweight (especially if weight is carried around the middle) and underweight increase fall risk.
- Cognitive Factors:
- Worsening Memory and Dementia: Cognitive decline can affect gait and navigation, increasing fall risk.
- Quote: "When someone has dementia, the brain can have trouble telling the body what to do and how to navigate when walking, put
