Car accidents have been a serious problem in the United States for years. The CDC reports that around 2.5 million people are victims of car accidents every year. These accidents caused people to miss 1 million hours of work and cost the country $18 billion in lifetime medical costs. While these statistics can be daunting, they overshadow the real consequences of car accidents: the pain and suffering of the victims. People that suffer from car accidents will often experience significant health issues. Health problems can be inevitable after a major accident. However, some of them will only get worse if the right care is not taken. You need to be aware of the risks of health issues following an accident. You need to take every possible precaution to prevent additional issues. Here are some of the things to look out for.
Make sure that you know about hidden injuries
You might not know what injuries to expect after an accident. Many attorneys have urged their clients to get extensive medical check-ups to find injuries they might not even be aware of. The fact that you didn’t anticipate a particular injury does not mean it won’t have a devastating impact on your health and well-being. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries. Around 20% of car accident victims suffer from it, but they don’t notice other problems. Some unrecognized injuries that you need to look out for include:
- A herniated disc
- Knee trauma
- Injuries to your shoulder
- Blood clots
- Internal bleeding
According to Citywide Accident & Injury, an auto accident doctor in Houston these problems will only progress if they are not diagnosed and treated. You need to catch them as soon as possible after suffering from an accident. Some of these problems can be life-threatening, but they might not show serious symptoms right away. Abdominal discomfort is a prime example. This could be a sign that you are suffering from internal bleeding. Headaches are a common symptom of blood clots, but they often go ignored.
Try to stay as active as possible to minimize the risk of diabetes
It is not at all uncommon for people to gain considerable weight after a car accident. One of the biggest issues is that they are not able to be as active as they used to be, which often stems from a decreased range of motion from their injuries. The weight that they add could put them at a heightened risk of developing diabetes. You might not be able to go to the gym as much as you used to. However, there are still going to be some things that you can do to stay active. You want to do them as much as possible to offset the risk of getting diabetes.
Don’t underestimate the damage psychological trauma can cause
Psychological trauma is catch very common after suffering from a car accident. Many people recognize the impact to their mental health, but don’t appreciate the severity. You need to understand the extent of psychological trauma. It can lead to all kinds of other issues that will affect your physical health as well. One of the biggest problems is that it can lead to insomnia. You also may develop an anxiety disorder, which can take its toll on your health. You should consider speaking with a therapist if you are seeing significant psychological scars. They can help you resolve the trauma and avoid future problems that will impact your long-term health.
Seek support from different healthcare providers
The art of medicine is very complicated. You should definitely work closely with your primary care provider. However, you also need to recognize that they have their own limitations. You might also want to consider working with specialists, such as chiropractors, orthopedists and internists.
Take preventive health measures after an accident
Car accidents can be very painful and traumatic. You might not even know the extent of your injuries until days or weeks later. You want to familiarize yourself with all of the risks and take every possible precaution to minimize them. This can help reduce the threat of future health issues.