The research, conducted in South Australia, found that the dizziness experienced by older people with post-prandialhypotension can be alleviated by simply walking a short distance after eating.
Post-prandial hypotension is a fall in blood pressure seen within two hours of eating a meal and has linked to a high incidence of falls among older people.
"Although this condition is common in older people, many are not aware of it," said the University of Adelaide's Professor Renuka Visvanathan, Director of the Adelaide Geriatrics Training and Research with Aged Care (G-TRAC) Centre, and Director of Aged and Extended Care Services at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
"Falls among older people often result in fractures, and those who experience a fall may lose confidence as well as lose their independence. Falls can also be fatal for older people," she says.