Pop music has people falling all over the place. There's Harry Styles' "Falling," Alan Walker's "All Falls Down," and Glen Hansard's "Falling Slowly."

And it turns out that older Americans are also falling a lot — with terrible results.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows that unintentional fall-related deaths have skyrocketed by 70% in the past 20 years among people ages 65 to 74, and by more than 75% for those ages 75 to 84. In 2023, more than half of the 41,000 people who died from falling were 85 or older.

Why are falls increasing?

The dual epidemics of obesity and Type 2 diabetes affect balance, eyesight, hearing, nerves in the feet, muscle tone, and heart health.

Higher risk of falling could also result from increased use of medications such as antihypertensives and antidepressant that can cause dizziness,

Whatever the cause, it's vital to protect yourself from falling. Exercises that strengthen leg muscles and improve balance include chair yoga, walking, strength-training, tai chi, and working out with stretchy bands.

I practice balance for one minute each day by standing on each foot in a furniture-free corner (if I lose my balance, I can catch myself easily). I also take a "learn to fall" class at a ski resort every five years.

Maintaining a healthy weight is also important for balance, as is preventing, reversing, or controlling diabetes.

And if you're suffering from chronic inflammation or other chronic conditions, explore the power of therapeutic plasma exchange to get you on firmer ground.