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Show Page 12 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume II, Issue IV January 2000 How Serious is Whiplash? By Dr. Lewis D. Harper You’re sitting at a stop sign waiting for the car to pass when suddenly you hear the screeching of tires behind you and the harsh sound of metal hitting metal. Before you can brace yourself, you feel your car moving forward from some unseen force. You have been rear-ended. What happens in these few seconds can have tragic consequences. And what you do about it in the next hours, days and weeks can affect your health forever. Injuries to the neck caused by a sudden movement of the head, backward, forward or sideways from auto accidents, sporting activities or injuries at work is referred to as whiplash. The biggest danger with whiplash injuries is that the symptoms can take years to develop. Too often people don’t seek treatment until more serious complications develop. Some of the typical symptoms include ·Neck Pain and/or stiffness ·Headaches ·Low Back Pain ·Blurred Vision ·Shoulder Pain ·Nausea ·Difficulty Swallowing ·Dizziness ·Ringing in Ears ·Numbness and Tingling ·Pain in the Face or Jaw In recent studies it was found that accidents of five miles per hour do produce cervical spine and soft tissue injuries. In accidents where no bones were broken, the head didn’t hit the windshield or minimal damage was sustained on the vehicle, 62% - 98% of occupants complained of neck pain which normally started two hours to two days following the accident. This is often the result of tightened muscles that are reacting to either muscle tears or excessive movement of the joints due to ligament damage. The muscles tighten to act as a splint to support the neck and head. It was also found that 66% - 70% of victims also suffered headaches. There are many different factors that play an important role in the severity of the injury. · Women and children seem to be injured more seriously than men. · Age plays an important role because as the body becomes older, ligaments become less pliable, muscles become weaker and less flexible and ranges of motion decrease. · Headrest placement can assist in lessening the degree of injury. · Pre-existing health problems such as arthritis can increase the severity of the injury. One of the biggest myths about whiplash is, “If I don’t have pain right away, I’m O.K.” The truth is, even if you feel normal after an accident, with no symptoms, you should be thoroughly examined. Symptoms can be delayed for days, and in some cases may not surface for years. Undiscovered whiplash injuries can also result in long-term problems such as osteoarthritis and premature disc degeneration. Since whiplash can have a delay in symptoms and the possibility of long-term effects, it is very important to get examined after any accident. A study published in the Journal of Orthopedic Medicine states that conventional medical treatment of patients with whiplash injuries is disappointing. Chiropractic care, on the other hand, shows the greatest opportunity for improvement. Doctor Walter Spitzer performed research for the province of Quebec and found that chiropractic adjustments are one of the only proven remedies for whiplash injuries. The chiropractic approach to these types of injuries is to use specific, gentle chiropractic adjustments to help restore spinal function. By restoring normal motion, spinal curvature and by reducing inflammation with various modalities, the body is able to heal correctly without long-term side effects. Sporting activities, auto accidents and slip and fall accidents can result in whiplash type injuries. With the possibilities of long-term permanent injuries, it is very important to have a thorough examination by a qualified chiropractor who can, not only find the problem, but also correct it before irreversible damage sets in. Resolved: New Year Brings Opportunity to Review Your Future It’s January and the new year is in full swing. You’ve made resolutions—maybe even broken one or two already. If reviewing your investment portfolio wasn’t on your list of resolutions, now’s a good time to prepare to do so. This resolution is one worth keeping, because your future depends on it. Examining your investments can be somewhat time consuming, but it’s one of the most important things you can do as you plan for your future. Most people at age 65 can expect to live another 20 years—that’s another third of a lifetime. The question you should ask yourself as you review your investments is: What do I want my life to be like? Most people spend more time planning vacations than planning their retirement. They ignore their investments, hoping everything will “all work out.” Ignoring the performance of your portfolio, however, is a mistake that could cost you. It could mean the difference between a meager and a comfortable lifestyle, and will affect all aspects of your life, from the types of food you eat, to the medical care you’re able to procure, to the type of car you’ll drive. It even makes a difference in where you live, and whether you’ll be able to afford a few vacations each year—if that’s what you envision for your retirement. What can change in the space of one year? It’s especially important to review your investment portfolio if last year brought a major life event, such as a marriage, a child, or a transition toward retirement. The average portfolio review takes about six hours total. That’s less than one day of work annually — with a payoff that can last for years. The time you spend now could translate directly to increased quality time you’ll spend in your retirement years. I’m too busy this year. Can’t this wait another year? You should review your investment options at least annually. Because income typically increases as time passes, investments should increase accordingly. The cost of waiting to invest, or not regularly increasing investments as your income rises, can be great over the long term. Hypothetically, if you save $1,000 per year and earn 10 percent assumed interest on your account balance, here’s the difference a year can make: If you save for 30 years $180,943 If you save for 29 years $163,494 Your potential loss: $17,449 Where to start When you’re analyzing your portfolio, there are four things you should consider for each investment: 1. Does it fit your asset allocation philosophy? 2. Does the management philosophy fit in with your own? Is it consistent? Can it be replicated? 3. What are the fund’s historical, longterm returns? At this point, look back five to ten years or even longer if statistics are available. 4. Are the risks the fund managers have taken relative to the fund’s return? If the first question threw you for a loop, or you find the following questions a bit daunting, consider consulting a professional. Ninety-five percent of people don’t know how to analyze investments—it’s nothing to be ashamed about. Just as you wouldn’t try to doctor yourself, you should consider a professional point of view when deciding how to invest your money. A financial professional can help you with the following: · Creating an inventory of your current savings and investments · Writing up financial goals and other key factors · Selecting a suitable portfolio ·Reviewing and updating your program annually Calvin D. Welling, CLU ChFC CFP 2506 Madison Avenue Ogden, Utah 84401 801 399 5409 801 745 2391 This information is provided to you courtesy of Ascend Financial Services, Inc., member NASD/SIPC 98-0227-85002R |