An answer in your ears?

Most folks assume that falling down is something that simply happens more often when you get older. But new research shows that many of these falls may in fact be caused by an inner-ear disorder.

You see, as we age we’re more prone to a condition called vestibular dysfunction. It impacts an estimated 35 percent of Americans over the age of 40, and half of everyone over the age of 60.

It turns out that disorder, which includes symptoms such as vertigo and dizziness, can increase your risk of falling by a factor of 12.

The study, published in May in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that even folks who suffer from vestibular dysfunction but have no symptoms are three times more likely to fall than healthy people.

It’s an easy condition to test for: Your doctor will ask you to stand on a padded foam mat and close your eyes. But don’t try that on your own. If it turns out you have this disorder, you’ll fall over onto that mat shortly after you shut your eyes.

No one quite understands the exact cause of vestibular dysfunction, but we do know most of the risk factors, and they’re all lifestyle-related: smoking, diabetes and hypertension.

These are all conditions well within our control, and underscore the need to take care of yourself – not just when you’re older, but as you travel down that road of aging.

Those of you who aren’t quite ready for retirement may not realize how big an impact these falls have on our seniors. But most elderly people know these spills can be life-changing and even deadly.

Nearly 3 million Americans are injured in falls each year. Many end up hospitalized as a result, and some suffer permanent injuries, leading to a loss of critical independence.

Even more tragic, nearly a quarter of all older Americans who fracture their hips during a fall die within six months. Australian researchers even found an increased risk of dying for a period of five years after any low-trauma fracture, and 10 years following a hip fracture, according to a study published in February in the Journal of the American
Medical Association.

That should tell you everything you need to know about the importance of keeping your bones healthy and strong, and the time to take care of it is now – not when it’s too late.