Physical Health & Aging
Fall Prevention
Fall Prevention. Falls are a high priority concern for middle age and older people since they are at increased risk for bone fractures and other fall-related injuries. Using a cane or eventually a walker helps many individuals to be steadier and more confident while walking. Some of the reasons, clients cite for falling are: tripping on something, their legs just “giving out”, and feeling dizzy. One often overlooked cause of unsteadiness and lightheadedness is dehydration. As we age, our sense of thirst tends to decrease – so it is important that we consciously make sure to drink plenty of water every day. An easy way to help fight the dehydration that can occur over the course of the night is to keep a glass of water on your night stand. When you wake up, sit up and drink the water before getting out of bed. Also, squeezing your calves and circling your ankles *before you get out of bed* will help increase your lower body circulation and make you feel steadier when you do get up and on your feet. For more fall prevention tips, check out http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fall-prevention/HQ00657 .
Patient Advocacy for Older Adults
Patient Advocacy for Older Adults
One lesson I learned years ago from my mother (a retired nurse) and have continued to see the importance of to this day is how critical it is for older adult patients to bring a family member, friend or companion with them when they visit their doctors.
It is important for everyone to do this when possible but especially vital for older people who can use the help of someone they trust to remind them of their questions for the doctor and to write down what the doctor’s answers are.
Prescribed medications tend to increase as we age and many medications have side effects which are compounded by the combinations, potential contraindications, various times they need to be taken, etc. All of this information can be both confusing to remember and necessary to review on a regular basis.
Doctors can tend to change dosages and prescriptions and sometimes generic medications are suddenly substituted rather than brand ones when the generic versions become available. It is important for patients to log the effects of any of these medication changes.
A written log/chart can be brought to the doctor with them. The patient advocate can remember to bring the chart, remember questions, and write down explanations. If the patient is feeling poorly, it is especially important to be accompanied. Patients who are symptomatic at the time of the visit can find even more challenge to communicate since they are dealing directly with their illnesses and associated pain, weakness, side effects of treating medications, etc.
My experience and that of many others is that, more often than not, doctors will pay better attention to you if you are accompanied by a friendly patient advocate.
Dehydration Can Cause Dizziness
It is my experience and research backs this up that older people are often dehydrated. A region in the brain called the mid cingulate cortex predicts how much water a person needs, but this region malfunctions in older people. So, in essence, our aging brains underestimate how much water we need to drink in order to steroid-usa rehydrate. Our sense of thirst decreases.
One of the side effects of dehydration can be dizziness or lightheadedness. If an older person experiences dizziness, particularly in the morning, he should consult with his MD of course. If he does not have ear problems which can cause dizziness, and if his medications are not the problem, and no other obvious medical problem seems to be the cause, it is a very simple step to see if dehydration might be the root of the problem.
The Mayo Clinic advises this routine: Put a large glass of water (10-12 oz) on your nightstand. In the morning *before getting out of bed*, sit up and drink the entire glass of water. Wait about 15 minutes before getting up. Try this several mornings and see if your dizziness lessens. I have seen this help numerous people. It’s free, it’s non-invasive, good for us and easy to try!
It may not help but if it does, what a relief for dizziness sufferers!
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From Mayo Clinic website article on dehydration:
Older adults. As you age, you become more susceptible to dehydration for several reasons: Your body’s ability to conserve water is reduced, your thirst sense becomes less acute and you’re less able to respond to changes in temperature. What’s more, older adults, especially people in nursing homes or living alone, tend to eat less than younger people do and sometimes may forget to eat or drink altogether. Disability or neglect also may prevent them from being well nourished. These problems are compounded by chronic illnesses such as diabetes, by hormonal changes associated with menopause and by the use of certain medications.