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Preventing Elderly Falls

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By KYW Medical Editor Dr. Brian McDonough

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - None of us plan on falling, and despite our best efforts to be clumsy and uncoordinated, most of us are able to avoid falls largely due to the fact that our body has a built in set of reactions to prevent them.

Unfortunately, as we get older, many of these systems don't work as well.

But there are certain people at greater risk of having falls. They include those who have fallen before, people with weakness in their leg, people who take four or more medications, and those with chronic diseases including heart problems, dizziness, parkinson's, dementia.

If you are older and want to try to prevent falls, you have to think of things like getting your hearing and vision checked, staying active, avoiding too much alcohol, and taking a few minutes to sit at the side of the bed before getting up in the morning.

Simple steps that can prevent missteps.

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