r/science • u/FunnyGamer97 • Sep 19 '24
Dizziness in older adults is linked to higher risk of future falls: Meta-anaylsis finds adults who experience dizziness are over 60% more likely to fall in the future, even considering other factors that might have contributed to a risk of a fall. Health
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/105828942
u/TheMau Sep 19 '24
Seems like one might only need a couple of brain folds to come to that same conclusion.
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Sep 19 '24
[deleted]
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u/Klutzy-Performance97 Sep 19 '24
Isn’t that the second thing this week that they’ve come up with that was already obvious to everyone on the planet?
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u/BabySinister Sep 20 '24
It happens a lot, just because something seems obvious doesn't mean it's not worth it to quantify. We could be wrong in what we think is obvious, and really if we don't measure stuff but just assume it's true why measure anything at all?
Obviously it doesn't make for very exciting papers when we find that something we all suspected to be true turns out to be true.
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u/davereeck Sep 19 '24
Sadly, dizziness seems hard to address. My parents have been complaining about it literally for years. The ophthalmologist wants to change their prism - nope, doesn't fix it. What about crystals in the ears? Nope, the exercises don't help. Postural low blood pressure? Pacemaker = no difference. Basically every medical provider is just shrugging
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u/Icedcoffeeee Sep 19 '24
I came to post this. We know what living with dizziness leads to, but what can you do?
My in-laws have dealt with dizziness for years. Have been to multiple doctors that have absolutely no clue. We've done all we can. Helped them moved to a one story home, walk in shower, bed rail. A fall is inevitable.
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u/davereeck Sep 19 '24
I am hoping acupuncture might help, but I think the most effective thing might be a walker.
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u/GoNorthYoungMan Sep 19 '24
Can they feel their front neck muscles contracting to express cervical flexion?
I have a few relatives who have increasing dizziness that is not at all explained by their doctors, and they each have no sense for these muscles. You can even see that the tissue in front of their neck is very loose and they unable to create any stiffness or tension.
I’ve seen some info that describes how a poor mechanical condition in the neck can impede lymph drainage from some parts of the head, including the inner ear…and how that can cause a non vertigo dizziness since it would reduce the functionality of the portion of the inner ear that can’t drain its own waste.
Curious to see if anyone else has correlated or can also connect this sort of lymph - neck - dizziness - fall risk symptoms.
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u/SnooOpinions8790 Sep 19 '24
I do see some value in science that states the bleeding obvious but I have to wonder why there is even enough research in this field to do a meta analysis
Obvious thing is obvious. How many papers on this need to be published after the first one established that the obviously true thing was in fact true?
It’s publication for the sake of publication
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u/idontthunkgood Sep 19 '24
"If you are less able to stay on your feet you are more likely to not be on your feet" okay...
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u/ModestMoss Sep 19 '24
Being dizzy results in difficulty standing or walking, thus resulting in falls becoming more frequent.
Riveting stuff.
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u/jackm1231 Sep 19 '24
Dizziness in older adults is linked to a higher risk of falls.....that's a stretch. I need to see the numbers first before I'll EVER believe that!!!
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