Archive for November 9th, 2007
Every year about 1.5 million Americans have heart attacks and for about 500,000 of them, that is the end of the road. If that half a million had known how to read the signs, many of them would have taken the right turn and would be around today.
Myocardial infarction, heart attacks, don’t generally happen like they do in the movies where the guy grabs his chest and falls to the floor and dies. In most cases there are warning signs that, if paid attention to, can provide the time needed to get help, or take aspirin, or alka seltzer (which contains aspirin and works faster according to an article I read today).
Warning signs
vary between men and women in some cases, so spending a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the feelings that shouldn’t be just blown off, is a few minutes well spent.
In general, a heart attack will produce some or all of the following symptoms,
* Uncomfortable chest pain, pressure or a squeezing sensation in the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes
* Pain that radiates to the shoulders, neck, jaw or arms
* Chest pain accompanied by dizziness, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath
There is what is called a silent heart attack. It is more common in women and can have symptoms such as nausea, pain in the upper abdomen, or a heart burn type of feeling. While I’m not suspecting that a person should run off to the ER every time they are nauseous, popping an aspirin if you have one of those symptoms that just seems out of context sure can’t hurt. And if it comes back, maybe seeing a doctor would be a good idea.
Bottom line. Without going overboard, if something doesn’t feel right, there’s a chance it’s because something isn’t right. Out of the 1.5 million people, there are a million that can probably still find their way to affordable life insurance. That number could be higher if we knew how to read the signs.
November 9th, 2007
I just go on and on, every day harping on this and that and suggesting this and that. I really mean well and hope people catch the drift that I really just want them to be healthy and pay life insurance companies less money. But, no preaching in this one.
I just came a cross a website that is crammed full of health information and health quizzes and I think you ought to go check it out.
Bottom line. I have never steered you wrong and this is no exception.
November 9th, 2007
I know there is logic galore for putting off the purchase of life insurance until just the right time, or until you’re just the right weight, or until your cholesterol is just the right level…..and the logic fails completely when you drop dead before you reach the optimal time.
My nephew has been working with a client for the past year and a half. The guy wanted to start planning early to supplement his retirement with life insurance, and in spite of the suggestion that there really is no time like the present to put life insurance in force, he wanted to put it off and have the policy go in force concurrently with his retirement taking effect.
We don’t push around here, but we do make sure that people understand that postponing buying life insurance is just a bad idea. You never know what health change could change your grand scheme.
Well, the saying goes that timing is everything. In this case it turns out the timing was absolutely nothing. The man was very specific with my nephew that he wanted a call today to get the application started. The call was made and his widow of about 4 hours answered the phone. He died of a massive heart attack earlier today.
The only thing his widow can count on today is that, since he hadn’t retired yet, he did have a $50,000 policy at work, about equal to one year’s salary. She isn’t sure she will get any of his retirement. She knows he planned to get an additional $500,000 but never did anything about it. Any man that dies without adequate life insurance should have to come back and look at the mess he’s left behind.
Bottom line. A year and a half ago this person knew they needed $500,000 of life insurance. The need was there then, but in his mind the timing wasn’t right because he never considered the thought that he might pass away before he got there. I’ve said it so often, put something in force and then, when the timing is right, tweek the product so it meets your needs. He could have put a 10 year term insurance policy in force for pocket change and if he was still around right now he would be working with my nephew to apply for a longer term policy to supplement his retirement.
A show of hands. Everyone out there that knows for a fact that they will be alive a year from now, raise your hands……..and all of you that raised your hands, keep them up if you have never had a friend, acquaintance or family member die suddenly and prematurely. Thought so. Don’t be foolish. Protect your family now.
November 9th, 2007
