Falls and Immobility

Question 1

what has a higher mortality - falls or sepsis

Answer 1

falls - 1 fall related death every 5 hours

Question 2

how much do falls cost the NHS

Answer 2

£4.6 million

Question 3

what is rhabdomyolisis

Answer 3

muscle fibres die and release their contents (esp myoglobin) into blood and can cause renal failure

Question 4

mental health problems follwing a fall

Answer 4

anxiety and fear of falling

Question 5

6 risk factors for falls

Answer 5

age >80
Hx of falls
arthritis
depression
cognitive impairment
use of walking aids

Question 6

3 categories of fall causes

Answer 6

intrinsic, extrinsic and situational

Question 7

signs a seizure caused the fall

Answer 7

bitten tongue, no memory of event, confusion after, aura before

Question 8

what is an intrinsic cause of a fall

Answer 8

some kind of illness causing it

Question 9

what type of cause is vitamin D deficiency

Answer 9

intrinsic

Question 10

what type of cause is seizure

Answer 10

intrinsic

Question 11

what type of cause is anti-hypertensive medication

Answer 11

situational

Question 12

what type of cause is wonky floor

Answer 12

extrinsic

Question 13

which of the following medications isn’t a common cause of falls

a) antidepressants
b) immunosuppressants
c) benxodiazepines
d) antihypertensives
e) anticholinergics

Answer 13

b) immunosuppressants

Question 14

what is syncope

Answer 14

temporary loss of consciousness - fainting

Question 15

4 causes of orthostatic hypotension

Answer 15

haemorrhage, diarrhoea, parkinson’s, antihypertensives

Question 16

how do cardiac arrhythmias cause syncope

Answer 16

transient lack of blood flow - loss of brain perfusion

Question 17

what is a neurally-mediated syncope

Answer 17

something like vasovagal (like if you see blood) faint where your BP suddenly drops due to neural input

Question 18

which kind of antidepressants cause most falls

Answer 18

TCAs

Question 19

3 broad stages in controlling balance

Answer 19

sensory proprioceptive input –> processing in all of brain –> musclar response

Question 20

what type of syncope is it when you poo and pass out

Answer 20

neurally-mediated - situational syncope