Health

CAPT Martin Lloyd Sanders is a valiant captain that works hard to protect his countrymen, a war hero and an officer at the US Public Health Service. In a recent interview, he discussed the health problems faced by US veterans that few people know about. It is worth noticing that while most people tend to talk about PTSD and similarly discussed conditions, statistics show that many other health problems are common among US veterans, including those discussed below, which are not that well-known.

Autoimmune Disorders

These are diseases that happen as the immune system is attacking healthy tissue. Martin Lloyd Sanders mentions that these are disproportionately common with veterans and the main culprit is stress. While post-traumatic stress disorder is often discussed and is a really serious mental health issue, it is not the end of the suffering noticed by veterans. PTSD causes damage that will cause various symptoms, including the development of autoimmune disorders.

Hearing Loss

The possibility that a US veteran will suffer from some type of hearing loss is much higher than people believe, according to CAPT Martin Lloyd Sanders. This is because of the nature of the job. Military personnel often stands close to firing guns, jet engines or is exposed to explosions. Military service is officially listed as a high-risk occupation for hearing. Dampened aural sense is just the beginning, with numerous other symptoms being prevalent because of exposure to vibration and extreme noise. Ear ringing, for instance, is something that many veterans report.

Lung Problems

Lung problems are common among veterans because of where they were stationed and is more common for those that were deployed overseas. For instance, soldiers stationed in Iraq, at Balad AFB, reported that air was filled with smoke that was coming from the waste disposal burning of the base. Various items were burned there, including paint, metals, medical waste, chemicals, plastics and munitions. Unfortunately, being close to such a burning pit often causes serious lung problems. Smoke toxins led to various eye, lung, skin and even cardiovascular problems.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Commonly referred to as TBI, traumatic brain injury is a very serious health issue affecting head trauma recipients. Something like this can happen following any object hitting the head, explosive blasts, and heads striking objects, like in car accidents.

In veterans, TBI is often caused by roadside explosive blasts as they were deployed in active war zones. Even if the soldier sits at a large distance, pressure waves caused by explosions will cause damage to brain tissues. Contrary to popular belief, the brain is much more delicate than people say and constant exposure to explosions can lead to TBI.

Final Thoughts

US veterans are faced with numerous health problems and unfortunately, the help offered to them is much less than what it should be. People like Martin Lloyd Sanders fight to make a change but this is hard to do since most people do not even know about the high risks mentioned above, which is just a part of all that could go wrong in a war zone.

Back pain affects more people than many of us realize. Most of us experience back pain at some point, whether it’s through an accident or injury or through the simple act of bending and tying a shoelace and thereby straining our backs. But if your back pain has become chronic, you need relief from the pain. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help you deal with back pain, and they’re worth a try if you want to feel better, even if only temporarily.

• There is a vicious cycle when it comes to back pain: when you don’t sleep enough, you can get back pain. But when you have back pain, you can’t get the sleep you need. So, what should you do? One thing you can do would be to find a good position for sleeping. You can try to lie on your side rather than on your back. But if you feel better sleeping on your back, you can put a pillow underneath your knees. Pay attention to your mattress as well; a firm mattress is better for back pain.
• You should also watch your posture. The truth is, slouching isn’t good for you. And if you slouch all the time, your back pain can only become worse. If you have to work at a desk, keep your back straight and avoid slumping. Keep your shoulders in a relaxed position with your body leaning against your chair’s back. For further relief, put a pillow or small rolled up towel in the area between your chair and lower back.
• If your back pain has become too intense, you may certainly be tempted to rest and lie down. In the past, many doctors recommended bed rest when it came to back pain. But not anymore – today, doctors say that too much bed rest (more than 48 hours, for instance) may result in worse pain or complications. The best thing you can do is begin moving around again – you can try being more active with activities such as swimming, yoga, or simply
• See a chiropractor. The thing with chronic or regular back pain is that if it goes on for too long, it can begin drastically affecting your quality of life. But although you can take medication for it, such as over-the-counter pain relievers, often, this is not enough. Perhaps further issues need to be addressed, and this is where the help and expertise of a chiropractor can be very useful. A Cirencester chiropractor such as one from Dyer St. Chiropractic can give you an assessment and examination and provide you with a plan for treatment, whether it’s through manipulation, massage, mobilisation, a home exercise plan, or even medical acupuncture. With proper professional help, you have a better chance of addressing your back pain once and for all.