Modifiable risk factors include those related to a patient's lifestyle choices. Although we can reduce the potential for falling and for fall-related injuries by changing these lifestyle characteristics, patients need support and encouragement to help them change lifelong, ingrained habits. Lifestyle risk factors include the following:

• Inadequate nutrition, which increases the risk of falling and also the chance of serious injury from falls
  o Inadequate calcium and vitamin D intake leads to low bone mass
  o Inadequate protein and calorie intake leads to low muscle mass and weakness
• Excessive alcohol intake, whether acute or chronic, which contributes to a variety of short- and long-term problems with balance, nutrition, weakness, and movement control
• Inactivity, which causes deterioration in muscle strength, bone mass, and joint flexibility
• Loss of strength and flexibility which lead to loss of confidence and fear of falling
• Lower bone mass which makes injury more likely when a fall occurs
• Smoking, which leads to poor cellular oxygenation and low bone mass

—Carole Eldridge, DNP, RN, CNAA-BC