Physical Well-Being
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Soldiers can now get counseling for a drinking problem and stay deployable
Type of content: News
The Army wants to make it easier for soldiers to seek alcohol abuse treatment on their own, rather than be mandated by their commands, and a new directive makes that possible.
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VA to Roll Out Community Care Expansion Even If IT Systems Aren't Ready
Type of content: News
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie on Wednesday told a skeptical House Committee that his agency is sticking with the June 6 rollout date for expanded private health care options, even if the IT systems aren't fully in place to handle the transition.
In testimony before the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Wilkie said the Mission Act requires the new rules on access to community health care for veterans to go into effect regardless of whether the systems are operational.
- Topics
- Mental Health
- Physical Well-Being
- VA
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VA offers $15 million in grant funding to support adaptive sports for disabled Veterans
Type of content: News
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the availability of up to approximately $15 million in grants for community organizations that provide adaptive sports, including therapeutic recreational opportunities for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the armed forces.
VA awards grants to qualifying organizations to plan, develop, manage and implement programs serving Veterans.
- Topics
- Benefits
- Physical Well-Being
- VA
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Heart Disease a Growing Threat to U.S. Veterans
Type of content: News
MONDAY, March 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- More U.S. veterans are at increased risk for heart disease, a looming public health problem, researchers say.
They analyzed data from more than 153,000 people who took part in the National Health Interview Survey, conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
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Study shows new mental health services have positive outcomes for veterans
Type of content: News
WASHINGTON, DC – A recent study by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open on March 1, showed positive outcomes for Veterans struggling with multiple mental health conditions.
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Purple Heart recipients will get top priority for their claims, VA announces
Type of content: News
WASHINGTON – Veterans awarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds in combat will receive top priority for their claims with the Veterans Affairs Department, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie announced Tuesday.
Beginning in April, veterans with the Purple Heart medal will be placed in the department’s top-priority category for disability benefit claims, along with Medal of Honor recipients and those with severe, service-related disabilities.
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CDC to test for carcinogens around eight U.S. military bases
Type of content: News
Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will begin testing humans for exposure to toxic fluorinated compounds surrounding eight former and current military bases in the United States.
The CDC will work with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to check for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, the agencies announced last week.
PFAS are used in firefighting foam on military bases.
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Yes, your supportive texts to your battle buddy actually help prevent military suicide, study says
Type of content: News
(Reuters Health) - Military service members who are at risk for suicide may be less likely to attempt to harm themselves when they receive supportive text messages, a U.S. study suggests.
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Study shows drug commonly prescribed to veterans could be making suicidal thoughts worse
Type of content: News
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A FOX 17 News investigation found a drug treating PTSD in our veterans could be killing them. Prazosin is a blood pressure medication commonly prescribed to treat PTSD nightmares. Only two drugs are approved by the FDA to treat PTSD, and Prazosin is not one of them.
Retired Sgt. Allen Chapman said he takes 10 pills a day to treat depression, PTSD, and all the other side effects that come with working in a war zone overseas.
“I’ve got so many medications, it takes a while to take them all in the morning,” Sgt. Chapman said.
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Does PTSD Really Harm Veterans' Hearts?
Type of content: News
By itself, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) doesn't raise the risk of heart disease for U.S. veterans, a new study finds.
"Instead, a combination of physical disorders, psychiatric disorders and smoking -- that are more common in patients with PTSD versus without PTSD -- appear to explain the association between PTSD and developing cardiovascular disease," said study author Jeffrey Scherrer. He's research director in the department of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri.
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