OCR Text |
Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 8 Volume II, Issue XX October 15, 2000 How Serious is Whiplash? By Dr. Lewis D. Harper You’re sitting at a stop sign waiting for a 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 sudden movement of the head—backward, forward or sideways—from auto accidents, sporting activities or from injuries at work are 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 Recent studies show that accidents occurring at even five miles per hour, produce cervical spine and soft tissue injuries. In accidents where no bones are broken, the head doesn’t hit the windshield, and minimal damage is sustained on the vehicle, 62% - 98% of occupants complained of neck pain which normally started between 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 the victims also suffered headaches. There are many different factors that play an important role in the severity of an injury. Women and children seem to be injured more seriously than men are. Age plays an important role because as the body becomes older, ligaments become less pliable, muscles become weaker and less flexible, and there is a decrease in normal range of motion. Headrest placement can assist in lessening the degree of an injury. Pre-existing health problems such as arthritis can increase the severity of an injury. One of the biggest myths about whiplash is, “If I don’t have pain right away, I’m OK.” 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 symptoms of whiplash can be delayed, and there is a 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 the conventional medical treatment of patients with whiplash injuries is disappointing. Chiropractic care, on the other hand, shows the greatest response for improvement. Walter Spitzer, M.D. 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 and 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 exam by a qualified chiropractor that can, not only find the problem, but correct it before irreversible damage sets in. Why Develop An Estate Plan? Every Dollar Lost To Estate Expenses Is A Dollar Less For Your Family Without such a plan in place, a substantial portion of your estate may be consumed by estate expenses, leaving only a fraction of what you had intended to pass on to your loved ones. Taxes, fees, debts and administration expenses must all be paid before an estate can be settled, and before any money reaches your family. These expenses can eat away at your estate, reducing it by 50 percent or more. It’s a sad fact that many estates lack sufficient cash to pay estate settlement expenses. This often results in the forced sale of securities, real estate or business interests—sales that usually occur at an inappropriate time, resulting in still more losses. What An Estate Plan Can Do For You Estate planning is the logical next step to the careful financial planning you’ve done over the years. With the help of a qualified team of experts that includes your attorney, insurance advisor, trust officer and accountant, you can plan for the distribution of your assets and significantly minimize taxes, expenses and probate costs. By carefully planning now, you control how much property your family receives and when they receive it. Your estate plan can be as simple or as complex as your needs dictate. What’s important is that you coordinate all of the tools that are available to accomplish your goals, taking into consideration your will, contracts, property ownership arrangements, trusts, charitable gifts and life insurance policies. A Good Estate Plan Should Offer: An organized and timely distribution, assuring that all of your assets are distributed according to your wishes. Income for your survivors, so they won’t face the added strain of a cashflow problem at your death. Liquidity to meet expenses so that your family isn’t forced to sell valuable property or assets at a heavy loss. Reduced taxes and costs, by settling your estate quickly and efficiently, minimizing the money your heirs pay to the government or courts. Effective management of your estate, an important benefit that makes sure your estate will be managed prudently with the expertise of competent professionals. Work With A Team Of Professionals To Keep Your Estate Intact After considering your estate planning goals, you should rely on a team of experts that includes your attorney, insurance advisor and accountant, to help you develop a creative, customized estate plan that meets your unique financial and personal needs. These experts should be able to accomplish the following for you: Illustrate the likely results of your current plan if it’s insufficient, or the consequences of no plan at all. Create a personal financial profile to help you identify your specific goals. Estimate the total cost of settling your estate, based on the facts you provide. Find creative alternatives that satisfy your objectives and provide a written analysis that makes specific recommendations. After agreeing on the best course of action, your estate planning team should draft the necessary documents to implement your plan. And that’s just the beginning. You should also expect these professionals to keep you informed on changing tax laws, and to make sure your estate plan continues to meet your objectives, long after you’re gone. Don’t leave a lifetime of careful financial planning incomplete. Preserve and enhance what you’ve created over a lifetime with an estate plan. Note: This article has been provided courtesy of Calvin Welling, CLU, ChFC, CFP, Heritage Financial Group Independently owed and operated, Ascend Financial Services Inc., Member NASD/SIPC. A registered Investment Advisor. Subscriptions available for out of area residents at $15.00 annually. Send payment with mailing address to: THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS P O BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 |