Falls Among Elderly is a Big Concern

This article in the NY Times details that even though injuries from falls in people over 65 do not seem serious at times, many complications such as rhabdomyolysis, which causes kidney failure, can arise from such falls. In the article, an 88 year old woman was admitted into the hospital after falling and lying on the floor for more than 15 hours. Even though there was no bruising or visible injuries, by lying in her bedroom floor for so many hours with her legs pinned beneath her, her muscle cells became inflamed.

A solution that prevents kidney failure in rhabdomyolysis is sodium bicarbonate infusions, but the problem is that treatment could overwhelm the heart of a senior citizen by building excess fluid in the lungs which can prove to be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of death from injury among people over 65. Relatives and friends should inspect the homes of seniors for slippery surfaces and other fall-inducing conditions regularly to prevent falls from occurring.