Legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen died at the ripe age of eighty-two. According to Leonard Cohen's manager, Robert Kory, in a statement said that the singer fell in the middle of the night and died in his sleep last November 7. Leonard Cohen's death cast a light on the dangers of falling and its underlying health issues.
Leonard Cohen: Singer died in sleep after fall https://t.co/aQ8R7EeERc
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 17, 2016
Falling especially when it happens to the elderly is sometimes a symptom of underlying health issues. The risks of falling are also affected by the elderly's current health conditions or the corresponding side effects of the elderly's medications.
According to Dr. Tanya Gure, "Falls are often a sign of a medical condition or several things that may have run amok." People, especially the elderly, should immediately have their health provider check them out after they fell or within the week of the falling incident. Sometimes injuries caused by falling could show up a few hours after the incident occurred.
The dangers of falling could result in serious injuries to the elderly like a broken bone or a severe head injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in four U.S senior citizens experiences a fall. About 2.5 million people, mostly the elderly, are rushed to emergency rooms due to cases of falling while more than half of the adults have experienced falling before the age of seventy.
The dangers of falling rises in people who have weak muscles on the lower body, balancing problems due to lack of exercise or due to neurological problems, a drop in blood pressure when someone suddenly stands up, numbness in their feet or unaware of where they are stepping, and vision problems.
Medications such as tranquilizers, sedatives, or antidepressants whose side effects include dizziness and confusion would most likely contribute to the possibility of falls. Patients should immediately consult their doctors regarding the side effects of their medications. Changes in the dosage of the drugs taken could reduce the risk of side effects and the possibility of falling.
The dangers of falling could also be reduced by evaluating the home of the patient. Loose rugs, dark hallways, lack of rails or supports, or cluttered stairs may contribute to a higher chance of falling to occur. Steps should be taken to address these issues to prevent falling especially if the household has an elderly member.
The elderly should also take precaution when they already have vision problems and or motor problems. Having their vision checked by their doctors and following the recommended exercise regimen can reduce the dangers of falling in the elderly.
The elderly should also not be truthful enough to report when they experienced falling. It is better to be checked upon by doctors to ensure that no serious injuries were sustained during the fall. Everyone, not only the elderly but should also be aware that when falling is inevitable. There are proper ways of falling down to prevent serious injuries.
