Don't Fall Down! Medications and fall prevention

Fall prevention researchers have identified two types of factors that increase the risk of falls; things going on inside you (intrinsic) and things going on outside of you (extrinsic).  A person usually doesn't have much control over the intrinsic factors however an increased awareness can lead to acceptance and understanding which can significantly reduce fall risk.  Examples of intrinsic fall risk factors are advanced age, cognitive processes and medical conditions.

The more medical conditions, the greater the risk of a fall.   What does a doctor do when you are diagnosed with a disease or illness?  He/She prescribes a medication.  If you have several diseases processes going on, you are taking more than one medication.  Four or more medications have been identified as a fall risk and how you manage those medications also contributes to your risk of falling.  
Thus, medication management is an extrinsic fall risk factor because this is something you have some type of control over.  If you are taking multiple medications, it is your responsibility to educate yourself about EACH medication so you know when is the best time to take it, what foods you should and should NOT take with each drug and what body organ is affected by each medication. 

I recently discovered an amazing website and I want everyone to bookmark this webpage and start using it!!!  The website is Drugwatch.com  (click HERE to be instantly connected).  This fabulous resource will not only educate you about drug side effects but also provide information about drug-to-drug interactions and food-drug interactions. 

If you are getting different medications from different doctors,  it is absolutely critical that you put all these different medications into one bag and go to your pharmacist or one doctor.  The purpose of this is to make sure you're not taking two of the same medications or that one medication doesn't cancel out the desired effects of another. 

Listen to me....due to slowed clearance time (impaired kidney function) drugs stay in your system longer as we get older.  The (older) adult dosage is HALF of recommended amounts.  Everything you ingest is processed through the kidneys and liver.  Be kind to your body.  I talk all about this in my new handbook, Don't Fall Down.   Order your book today.    For $10, you cannot afford not to.

Increasing awareness through education,

The Fall Prevention Lady
(916) 821-5715
info@thefallpreventionlady.com