Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is 81 years old. His recent fall, resulting in a concussion and a hospital stay, was newsworthy, but hardly news. Each year, millions of Americans 65 and older fall. In fact, one in four older people fall each year, though less than half inform their doctor. Falling once doubles the chance of falling again.
For older people, falling can be calamitous. One in five falls results in a serious injury, such as broken bones or head trauma. Each year, 3 million seniors are treated in emergency departments for falls, with roughly one-third hospitalized, usually due to a hip fracture or head injury.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are seven fall deaths every hour in the United States, accounting for approximately 32,000 deaths annually. The fall death rate increased 30% from 2007 to 2016 among older adults.
The risk factors for falling: lower body weakness, vitamin D deficiency, walking and balance difficulties, use of medications that make the person unsteady, vision problems, foot pain or poor footwear, and environmental hazards, such as broken or uneven steps or rugs/clutter that can be tripped over.
Body of Knowledge
Go ahead and play with your weenus. You won’t feel a thing. Well, maybe something, but not much. Your weenus — or more precisely, olecranal skin — is the extra flesh on your elbow. And because it has fewer sensory neurons than elsewhere, it’s less sensitive to touch. You can knead it as long and as hard as you want. It’s like a stress ball always at hand — or at least up the forearm from a hand.
Get Me That, Stat!
An estimated 98% of Americans have detectable levels of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS (also known as “forever chemicals”), in the bloodstream. PFAS are manmade chemicals broadly used in nonstick pans, firefighting foams, cosmetics, paper straws and waterproof fabrics. They have been linked to increased risk of cancer, birth defects and other health problems. By the end of the year, the Environmental Protection Agency has promised to propose new national drinking water standards for PFAS levels.
Mark Your Calendar
April is awareness month for autism, oral and testicular cancers, Parkinson’s disease, sarcoidosis, irritable bowel syndrome, sexually transmitted infections, sexual assault, child abuse and, well, given everything else, stress.
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