Veteran Disability Lawyer
As if our veterans haven’t struggled enough while overseas,
they appear to be facing new physical and psychological difficulties when they return
home.
According to a study currently being conducted at a VA
hospital in Massachusetts, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan appear to be
growing old before their time.
Scientists are seeing early signs of heart disease, diabetes, slowed
metabolisms and obesity – maladies that are more common in middle age or later.
This study is in its early stages to determine if these
veterans have a form of early aging.
These symptoms appear to be most common in those with blast-related
concussion and PTSD.
The Army, mindful of the strain of combat is allowing troops
more time between deployments. The
length of each deployment has also been decreased from a year down to nine
months.
Matt Pierce, a veteran of multiple deployments in Iraq and
Afghanistan, is participating in the study.
A young man who should be in the best shape of his life struggles with
high blood pressure, vivid nightmares, and a body that always aches.
Another example is a former soldier who came through the VA
hospital a couple months before the study officially started. He was suffering from obesity, high blood
pressure, diabetes, and brain legions. His
MRI scans looked like those of someone in their 70s; however, he wasn’t even
40.
This theory may not be proven until these veterans are
studied over the next decade. One thing
is certain, though – we all benefit from the sacrifice of these veterans and
must ensure that they receive the care they deserve when they return home.
To learn more or read the original article, please visit:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-08-06/veterans-aging-study-trauma/57608072/1?loc=interstitialskip
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