A broken bone hurts more than a broken heart –literally! And while some fractures caused by impact or aging may be unavoidable, there is still much that can be done collectively and personally to avoid them.
All you need to do is adjust your surroundings, lifestyle and habits. Read on!
Make your space ‘fall proof’
It starts with the basics! Many people don’t do very well or ignore this point altogether, but a very important part of fracture prevention revolves around making your interior spaces crack-resistant and much safer in general. Here’s what you can do.
- Clean up the mess: clothes, boxes, furniture here and there and walk obstacle-free.
- Avoid floor furniture that is a bit too slippery, or simply lay down rugs to prevent unnecessary skating failures.
- Get rid of all the wires, cables and throw the rug away.
- Install railings along stairs and in bathrooms.
- Use a rubber mat where it’s too wet – waterfalls in the shower can be messy!
- Light your interior properly so that it is easy to see especially for elderly people who are partially blind.
Don’t take your health condition lightly.
Many chronic conditions tend to become more bothersome with time. And believe it or not… older people are becoming more prone to fractures due to deteriorating physical strength, dizziness and even partial blindness.
But the tricky part is the fact that you may not realize how dangerous your situation is as chronic conditions unravel at their own pace. That’s why it’s so important to have regular checkups.
If you have a chronic condition such as arthritis, hyperthyroidism, chronic and infectious pneumonia and liver disease and possibly even cancer, talk to your doctor and ask if any of these conditions increase your chances of falling. If so, take the necessary steps to address the possible cause. The last thing an elderly person (with a chronic illness) wants is a broken hip!
Know your medicines.
Not all, but drugs tend to have side effects such as dizziness and lack of coordination; and they might just get you down. It’s worse in older age because then you’re probably relying on half a dozen pills per dose to stay fit!
Medications that commonly cause dizziness and coordination include sleeping pills, sedatives, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, and pills that are responsible for lowering blood pressure. In addition, there are medications that also increase your risk of osteoporosis which increases your chances of breaking a bone.
Avoiding medication to treat a chronic condition is simply impossible, but it is important to seek proper advice from your doctor to know which pills to avoid to reduce your chances of developing tilt.
Keep well.
Believe it or not, staying fit and adopting a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of fractures.
Keeping physically fit sharpens your reflexes and strengthens your muscles. This helps you maintain balance and avoid falling over broken bones compared to someone who is lethargic. Exercising alone also has a direct impact on the strength of your bones, making them more resistant to damage. Even if you have weak bones due to a medical condition, consult your doctor before jumping into a physical fitness routine.
Another way to strengthen bones and prevent them from breaking is, of course, by improving your diet. Most dairy products are rich in calcium and vitamin D, both of which are important for bone development and strength. And healthy bones break less often.
Walk with caution.
This is probably the most ridiculous thing ever… but it’s true: most falls and broken bones happen because people don’t look where they land their feet! Now parents have excuses, but the rest are NO! Walk with your eyes wide open and be careful with your heels… and don’t even think about running on slippery surfaces barefoot!
Any fracture – big or small – requires immediate attention. Most of these tips are easy to tick off your ignore list and will even require you to try harder on your part. But you better take precautions now before you end up with a signed cast with a smiling face telling you to “get well soon!”
Arsalan Ahmad is a passionate health and lifestyle blogger. Follow @arsalanahmedk for more updates.
