Falls happen. They happen more as we age, and often people end up with broken hips and other bones. In the US, two people fracture their hips each minute! Max Larkin reports on the latest research for the Harvard Gazette.
The average age of people in the US with hip fractures is 81. And, more often than not, it’s a woman who has the fracture. People with low bone density or osteoporosis are most likely to fracture their hips.
Hip fractures are no joke. More than one in five people who fracture their hip end up dying within the year. But, these fractures are not inevitable.
People have ways to prevent these fractures, or at least minimize their risk, through fall prevention strategies and maintaining bone density. There are ways to promote bone health, but too often people are not getting the treatment they need to do so.
Bones are always forming and wearing away. Hormones can affect the build-up and wearing away of bones, so endocrinologists are involved in studying bones. As you age, the loss of estrogen for women and the loss of testosterone for men can weaken the bones. Parathyroid hormones also play a role in bone health.
Even if you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, it’s not inevitable for you to break a bone. Strength training can build bones and exercises can help with balance to prevent falls. There are also medicines that can help build up the bone and help keep the bone from wearing away.
If you have low bone density, talk to your doctor about the best strategy for you to prevent breaking your bones. Most doctors don’t tell their patients about medicines that can help, and most people–86 percent of them–do not take medicines to strengthen their bones.
How can you reduce your risk of fractures?
- Stop multitasking and slow down: Multitasking causes distractions that increase your risk of falling.
- Declutter: Give away any loose rugs and make sure blankets don’t end up on the floor where you could slip on them.
- Don’t pick up heavy objects or grandchildren, especially lifting them from the floor.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- How to prevent falls and their sometimes horrific consequences
- Caregiving: Keeping Parents Healthy – Water, Walking, Watch out for Delirium
- Stay healthy: Eat more nuts
- Preventive care: Bone density tests and osteoporosis
- Osteoporosis, bisphosphonates and how to keep your bones strong
