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Why senior citizens are prone to falls - and what you can do to help

Jamie Ciaccio, MDOne in four people over the age of 65 suffers a fall each year - and these falls can be deadly. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury among senior citizens, and they are responsible for about 2.8 million visits to a hospital emergency department every year. Upstate emergency physician James Ciaccio, MD, left, routinely cares for people who have fallen. He explains why it's as crucial to determine what caused someone to fall as it is to treat the complications from a fall. Chronic medical conditions, acute illnesses and medication side effects can all contribute to someone falling. Ciaccio also notes that recovery can be lengthy.

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