Patient Resources
Get Healthy!
Results for search "Military".
Health News Results - 63
Could War Zone Blasts Raise Veterans' Odds for Alzheimer's?
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- March 14, 2024
- Full Page
Combat veterans who suffered traumatic brain injuries due to explosive blasts may have markers in their spinal fluid similar to those of Alzheimer's disease, new research finds.
"Previous research has shown that moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries may increase a ...
Brain Cancer Risk Rises in Vets After Serious Head Injury
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 16, 2024
- Full Page
People who've suffered a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury have a greatly increased risk of brain cancer, a new study of military service members finds.
Brain cancer is relatively uncommon, occurring in fewer than 1% of people in the United States, researchers sa...
Vietnam War Veterans at No Higher Risk for Suicide: Study
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- December 29, 2023
- Full Page
The Vietnam war was a traumatic event in American history, most especially for those who served.
However, there's a glimmer of good news from recent research: Suicide rates for Vietnam veterans over the past four decades were no higher than that of the general population...
1 in 8 U.S. Military Families Now Resorting to Food Banks, Study Finds
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- November 10, 2023
- Full Page
About one in eight military families are turning to food banks and community pantries to make ends meet and feed their children, a new study finds.
More than 13% of military families with at least one child said they used a food bank at least once in the past 12 months, ...
Suicides Among U.S. Veterans Jumped 10-Fold in Decades After 9/11
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- August 28, 2023
- Full Page
Suicide has become an urgent issue among American military veterans, with rates increasing by more than 10 times in nearly two decades, a new study reveals.
"Suicide rates for post-9/11 veterans have steadily increased over the last 15 years and at a much faster pace tha...
Carcinogens Found at Montana Nuclear Missile Base as Cancer Cases Rise Nearby
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 8, 2023
- Full Page
An investigation into a high number of cancers at a Montana nuclear missile base has led to the discovery of unsafe levels of a likely carcinogen.
The hundreds of cancer cases appear to be connected to underground launch control centers at Malmstrom Air Force Base.
VA Hospitals Offer Quality Surgical Care: Review
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 11, 2023
- Full Page
While the U.S. Veterans Affairs health system has been criticized for long appointment wait times and limited access to specialists, the quality of care and access to a range of surgical services is as good as or better than at non-VA health centers on several measures, new re...
In California Study, Many Veterans at Risk of Suicide Have Unlocked Gun at Home
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- April 28, 2023
- Full Page
A new study on veterans, gun storage and suicidal thoughts points to an urgent need for mental health and substance-related services, according to researchers.
Pentagon Study Finds Higher Cancer Rates Among Pilots, Ground Crews
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 20, 2023
- Full Page
Military pilots and the ground crews who fuel and maintain their aircraft have higher rates of certain types of cancer, a new study shows.
The Pentagon researched can...
VA Announces Plan to Give Free Care to Any Vet in Suicide Crisis
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- January 16, 2023
- Full Page
While U.S. veterans are already eligible for emergency suicidal crisis care, starting Tuesday they can get it for free.
Care available at any VA facility or any private facility will include up to 30 days of inpatient or crisis residential care, the Department of Veteran...
Suicidal Service Members With Guns at Home Often Keep Feelings Secret: Study
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- January 9, 2023
- Full Page
Military service members who conceal their suicidal thoughts are also more likely to store their guns unsafely, a new study reveals.
“These findings highlight a real problem with our suicide prevention system,” said
3-Week Program Effective in Helping to Ease Combat-Linked PTSD
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- January 5, 2023
- Full Page
A short but intensive approach to "talk therapy" can help many combat veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a new clinical trial has found.
The study tes...
Veterans Often Reluctant to Admit Struggles With Sleep, Addictions
- By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 16, 2022
- Full Page
A new study of U.S. military veterans reveals they are more comfortable getting help for physical ills than for mental health issues.
"The majority of participants indicated they would be willing to seek treatment for both physical and mental health problems. However, th...
Biden to Sign Bill That Helps Veterans Exposed to Toxic Burn Pits
- By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- August 10, 2022
- Full Page
President Biden was poised on Wednesday to sign a bill that expands health care benefits for U.S. veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.
Known as the PACT Act, the legislation is the biggest expansion of veterans' health care and benefits in more than 30 years, the White H...
How Service Dogs Help Vets with PTSD
- By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 1, 2022
- Full Page
A service dog can lower the severity of a U.S. military veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder, according to past research.
Hoping to learn more about this therapeutic bond, researchers worked with 82 vets and their trained
Telehealth, Phone Visits a Lifesaver for Veterans Addicted to Opioids
- By Sydney Murphy HealthDay Reporter
- July 28, 2022
- Full Page
There are many obstacles to opioid addiction treatment, but a new study shows one that one outgrowth of the COVID pandemic -- telehealth -- is enabling more U.S. veterans to get help.
Researchers examined care given to vets before and after a transition to telehealth vis...
Disability Payments Can Help Keep Veterans With Diabetes Out of the Hospital
- By Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling HealthDay Reporter
- July 8, 2022
- Full Page
More disability payments led to fewer hospitalizations for Vietnam veterans with diabetes, according to a new report.
Veterans May Face Lower Risk for CTE Than Ex-Athletes
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- June 10, 2022
- Full Page
A degenerative brain condition uncovered in some former professional athletes has been reported in military veterans as well, but a new study suggests it's uncommon and questions whether service itself confers the risk.
Veterans at Higher Risk of Deadly Skin Cancers
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- June 7, 2022
- Full Page
U.S. veterans are at higher risk for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, than most Americans, and new research finds they are also more likely to have advanced-stage disease when it's detected.
Nerve Gas Sarin Probably Caused Gulf War Syndrome
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- May 12, 2022
- Full Page
After 30 years, researchers believe they finally have definitive evidence of the primary cause of Gulf War syndrome: exposure to low levels of the nerve gas sarin.
U.S. Surgeons' Group Is Working to Save Trauma Victims in Ukraine
- Alan Mozes
- April 1, 2022
- Full Page
Images of Ukrainians being carried on stretchers from bombed-out buildings, wounded and bleeding, are heartbreaking, but one American surgeons' group is doing its part to help teach the war-torn country's citizens how to halt
'Lives Turned Upside Down': Ukraine's Refugees Struggle in Health Crisis
- March 16, 2022
- Full Page
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, millions have fled their homes and sought refuge wherever they could find it.
Each individual story is intensely personal, but mental health experts warn of a refugee crisis that risks leaving a nation of 43 million with deep psychological s...
Army Reservists Can Face Alcohol Issues After Deployment, With Little Support
- March 10, 2022
- Full Page
U.S. National Guard soldiers are at heightened risk for problem drinking after military deployment, but less likely to receive help with their alcohol struggles than active-duty service members, a new study finds.
Exposure to combat during deployment was the strongest ri...
Surge of U.S. Military Medical Personnel to Ease Medical Worker Shortages
- Robert Preidt
- January 13, 2022
- Full Page
President Joe Biden plans to announce Thursday that a "surge" of U.S. military medical personnel will soon be deployed to hospitals struggling with staff shortages amid soaring COVID-19 cases.
More than 1,000 will begin arriving at hospitals nationwide starting next week...
U.S. Army COVID-19 Vaccination Rate Nears 98%
- Robert Preidt
- December 16, 2021
- Full Page
Nearly 98% of the U.S. Army's active duty force had received at least one coronavirus vaccine dose as of Wednesday's deadline for mandatory vaccination, officials said Thursday.
However, more than 3,800 soldiers have refused to get a shot and could start being discharged...
Biden Announces New Lung Health Program for U.S. Veterans
- Robert Preidt
- November 11, 2021
- Full Page
A new program to help U.S. veterans with lung problems caused by inhaling toxins while deployed was announced on Veterans Day by President Joe Biden.
It will also assess the potential connection between cancers and time spent overseas breathing poor air, according to the...
White House Announces Plan to Reduce Gun Suicides
- Robert Preidt
- November 2, 2021
- Full Page
The Biden administration unveiled a plan on Tuesday that aims to cut gun suicides in the United States.
Equine Therapy: Horses Help Veterans Struggling With PTSD
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 1, 2021
- Full Page
As a Marine Corps veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Matthew Ryba understands what life in a combat zone can do to soldiers' minds, leaving many struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Now, new research shows that equine therapy might go a long way ...
Pentagon Says Troops Must Start Lining Up Now for COVID Shots
- Robin Foster and Robert Preidt
- August 25, 2021
- Full Page
Unvaccinated U.S. troops must immediately start getting COVID-19 vaccines, says a memo issued Tuesday by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which recently received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will be added to the li...
Pentagon to Make COVID Vaccination Mandatory for Military
- Ernie Mundell
- August 23, 2021
- Full Page
Following on full U.S. regulatory approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the Pentagon announced on Monday that all military personnel -- including 1.3 million active-duty troops -- must get their shots.
According to the Associated Press, Department of Defens...
U.S. Military Members Must Get COVID Vaccine by Mid-September
- Ernie Mundell and Robin Foster HealthDay Reporters
- August 10, 2021
- Full Page
All members of the U.S. military must get a COVID-19 vaccine by mid-September, the Pentagon announced Monday.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin noted that the deadline could be moved up if the vaccine receives final approval sooner from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...
Defense Department Isn't Protecting Service Members From Toxic 'Forever Chemicals': Audit
- Robert Preidt
- July 28, 2021
- Full Page
The U.S. Department of Defense isn't doing enough to guard service members against exposure to so-called "forever chemicals" associated with a range of health problems, the department's inspector general said Tuesday.
The internal audit also noted that the department is ...
'Light Therapy' Could Help Brain-Injured Veterans Struggling With PTSD
- Serena McNiff HealthDay Reporter
- April 28, 2021
- Full Page
A popular treatment for the seasonal depression that strikes during dark winter months may also benefit veterans with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, a small pilot study suggests.
Results from 16 older veterans found that bright light therapy...
Nearly Half of U.S. Veterans Cited 'Personal Growth' During Pandemic: Survey
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- April 9, 2021
- Full Page
Could there actually be a mental health upside to the ongoing pandemic?
In a word, yes. At least that's the finding of a new survey, in which roughly four in 10 U.S. military veterans said that the experience has in some ways proven psychologically rewarding.
Nearl...
Sleep Issues Are Soaring in U.S. Military: Study
- Robert Preidt
- April 5, 2021
- Full Page
Serving in the U.S. military can be stressful, and new research suggests the effect of that is showing up in a dramatic increase in two types of sleep problems.
From 2005 to 2019, insomnia increased 45-fold and sleep apnea rose more than 30-fold among those who serve, re...
Counseling on Gun Safety Could Cut Suicide Rate in Military: Study
- Cara Murez
- December 29, 2020
- Full Page
When U.S. military personnel get gun locks and counseling on safe storage of their weapons, they store those guns safely, and that could be key to lowering the military suicide rate, researchers report.
"Suicide mortality is higher in homes with a firearm and the majorit...
Reduced Drinking May Improve Veterans' Chronic Pain
- Robert Preidt
- October 9, 2020
- Full Page
Cutting back on booze may reduce chronic pain and use of other substances among U.S. veterans who are heavy drinkers, according to a new report.
The study included about 1,500 veterans who completed annual surveys between 2003 and 2015, and reported heavy drinking in...
New Leash on Life: How Dog-Walking Is Helping Veterans Battered by PTSD
- Robert Preidt
- July 1, 2020
- Full Page
Many soldiers experience traumas on the battlefield that leave them emotionally wounded, but something as simple as walking a dog might bring these veterans desperately needed psychic relief.
So suggests a new study where researchers compared how four weeks of walkin...
Sexual Victimization Persists in U.S. Military for LGBTQs: Study
- Robert Preidt
- May 4, 2020
- Full Page
Lesbian, gay and bisexual members in the U.S. military are at higher risk for sexual harassment, sexual assault and stalking, a new study reports.
And that sexual victimization can trigger mental health problems such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, sub...
Active Older Vets More Likely to Fall, But Less Likely to Get Hurt: Study
- Robert Preidt
- April 20, 2020
- Full Page
Physically active U.S. veterans are more likely to fall but less likely to get hurt when they do, compared with inactive older adults who didn't serve in the military, a new study finds.
Researchers analyzed 2006-2015 data from nearly 12,000 veterans and nearly 37,00...
PTSD Can Take Heavy Toll on Hearts of Female Vets
- Robert Preidt
- March 26, 2020
- Full Page
PTSD can cause severe psychic distress, but it may also raise heart risks for female veterans in particular, a new study suggests.
"The association we found was incredibly strong," said lead author Dr. Ramin Ebrahimi, a cardiologist affiliated with the Veterans Affai...
U.S. Veterans With Blocked Leg Arteries Seeing Better Results
- Robert Preidt
- February 25, 2020
- Full Page
Fewer U.S. veterans are having leg amputations or dying due to serious blockages in leg arteries, a new study finds.
These blockages are called critical limb ischemia (CLI). They can cause severe leg pain, wounds that don't heal and poor quality of life, according to...
Traumatic Brain Injuries Raise Risk of Psychiatric Ills in Soldiers
- Robert Preidt
- February 14, 2020
- Full Page
U.S. soldiers who suffer a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) are more likely to suffer other mental health woes than those with other serious injuries, a new study finds.
It also showed that the rate of mental health disorders among seriously injured so...
Veterans' Tough Veneer May Influence PTSD Severity
- Robert Preidt
- February 5, 2020
- Full Page
Traits relating to traditional masculinity -- such as self-reliance and stoicism -- are associated with more severe and difficult-to-treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military veterans, researchers say.
"Overall, we found that strict adherence to masculi...
Health Care Is Top Concern for U.S. Veterans
- Steven Reinberg
- January 3, 2020
- Full Page
After discharge, military veterans are most concerned about their physical and mental health, a new study finds.
Although most vets are satisfied with their work and social relationships, they are less happy with their health care. Most are coping with chronic physi...
Veterans Often Hit Hard by Deaths of Fellow Soldiers
- Robert Preidt
- November 11, 2019
- Full Page
As Americans pay tribute to all veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces Monday, new research suggests that how comrades died can affect levels of grief among soldiers who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"Our goal was to better understand how combat veteran...
PTSD Linked to Increased Risk of Stroke in Younger Adults
- Robert Preidt
- October 17, 2019
- Full Page
Young and middle-aged adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an increased risk of stroke, new research suggests.
For the study, researchers analyzed medical data from more than 1 million veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. They ranged in age ...
Mental Ills May Put Veterans at Higher Odds for Heart Trouble
- Steven Reinberg
- September 24, 2019
- Full Page
Veterans who suffer from depression, anxiety, psychosis or bipolar disorder are more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or die from heart disease, a new study finds.
Those who have most severe mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, are at greatest risk....
Many Female Veterans Troubled by History of Sexual Assault
- Alan Mozes
- September 24, 2019
- Full Page
More than one in 10 older female veterans experienced sexual assault while on active duty, a new study shows.
Doctors "caring for older women veterans should recognize the prevalence and importance of [military sexual trauma] when assessing patients' health concerns,...
Vets With Traumatic Brain Injury Have Higher Suicide Risk: Study
- Robert Preidt
- September 11, 2019
- Full Page
The risk of suicide among U.S. military veterans who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is more than double that of other vets, a new study finds.
Researchers analyzed records of more than 1.4 million vets who received care from the U.S. Veterans Health Adm...