The older you get, the harder you may find it to recover from a broken hip. Hip fractures are serious injuries that may have a significant impact on your quality of life, and many hip fractures that occur across Arizona and the United States are the results of falls.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls now cause more than 95% of all hip fractures. Often, those who fall and suffer hip fractures are older adults.
Hip fracture statistics
More than 300,000 older adults undergo hospitalization every year as a result of hip fractures. You face an elevated chance of experiencing a broken hip during a fall if you are older and female, with about three-quarters of all hip fracture injuries affecting women.
This may be due in part to the fact that osteoporosis, which is often a contributing factor to hip fractures, is more common among women than it is men. You are also statistically more likely to fall and hurt yourself as a female, as opposed to a male.
Hip fracture prevention
There are a number of steps you might take to lower the chances of a hip fracture. As you age, it becomes increasingly important that you undergo screenings for osteoporosis. That way, you know if you need to have treatments that might help strengthen your bones and prevent falls. Performing certain strength and balance exercises and having regular eye exams may also help lower your fall risk.
While hip fractures often take a financial toll, they may also take an emotional one. Depending on what caused your hip fracture, you may be able to hold the responsible party accountable for covering your medical and other expenses.
