Falls awareness week 2022
This week marks annual falls awareness week. Traditionally this is aimed at older people, their carers and professionals. Unfortunately, you don’t have to be old to be at risk from falls when you have ME/CFS.
Falls can be triggered by:
- muscle and joint weakness
- orthostatic intolerance – irregular blood pressure and heart rate when standing
- dysequilibrium -loss of balance and spatial disorientation
- vertigo – sense of spinning or falling
- ataxia – lack of coordination
- blurred vision
Other things to look out for:
- insufficient healthy food and water
- failing eyesight
- medications
- failing hearing
- get enough Vitamin D from sunlight and/or supplements to strengthen your bones
- comfortable shoes that fit well
- hazards around the home
Find out more:
Welsh Ambulance Service: Preventing a fall and advice if you’ve fallen
Carers Wales: A top tips falls guide for carers
Age Connects Wales: Take action today
Age Cymru: Falls awareness week
Dr Lucinda Bateman: Orthostatic Intolerance (includes Interventions p 25)
Adrienne Dellwo: CFS: Dizziness – problems with balance and fainting
NB According to Public Health Wales forecasting, more than 700 older people in Wales will die from a fall this year, with a further 7,750 requiring hospital-based treatment. It also predicts that more than 132,000 older people in Wales will fall more than once in their home. It is estimated that the combined falls amongst older people costs the NHS in Wales a staggering £2.3 billion. [And that’s just older people!]
#FallsAwareness2022
