U.S. Troops Are Losing Their Hearing

A Marine takes an audiogram test on Camp Pendleton, Calif., on July 13, 2011.

Khoa Pelczar/Marine Corps

Troops' Hearing Is Often A Casualty Of Fighting, Training -- Stars And Stripes/The (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer

FORT BRAGG -- On his two deployments to Iraq with the 18th Airborne Corps, Spec. Jon Michael Cripps spent more time keeping the Army’s computers running than he did in combat, but he can’t forget what he heard.

The constant roar of generators along with the hum of computer servers and the high-powered air conditioners required to cool them damaged Cripps’ hearing and left an intermittent ringing in his ears.

“You think about maybe getting wounded in battle, getting those kinds of scars,” Cripps said after his annual hearing test at a health center on post recently. “Losing your hearing is just not something you think about.”

Read more ....

My Comment: My father blamed the lost of most of his hearing from serving as a Soviet soldier in the Second World War. Because of his math degree he found himself always commanding artillery companies .... well .... artillery does produce a lot of noise .... both outgoing and incoming when the enemy has figured out where you are. It became a standard joke in our family .... we never talked to each other .... what we did was always yell at each other.

Strange .... it was always very frustrating at the time .... but now .... after reading this story and remembering those days .... I miss it (my father passed away in 2005).

Is There A Link Between Higher Breast Cancer Rates And Serving In The Military?

Photo: Warrior: 'The dog tags and camouflage are real. I am still active duty,' said Barbie, as she posed for the Scar Project to raise awareness about breast cancer

Mystery Of Soaring Breast Cancer Rates Among Women AND Men In U.S. Armed Forces... But Government STILL Won't Cover Treatment -- Daily Mail

A startling percentage of servicemembers have been diagnosed with breast cancer and experts have not been able to determine why.

Historically, rates of cancer among military members have been relatively low compared to the rest of the population, especially for diseases like lung, cervical and colorectal cancers.

But for some reason, more and more men and women in the armed forces have been diagnosed with breast cancer at young ages, as female soldiers are 20 to 40 per cent more likely to get the disease.

Read more ....

Update: Alarming breast cancer rates among troops -- Army Times

My Comment: Not everyone is in agreement that there is a link between higher breast cancer rates and serving in the military.

Study Pinpoints Brain Damage In Vets Similar To Football Injuries

Drs. Lee E. Goldstein and Ann McKee, authors of a paper on chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Gretchen Ertl for The New York Times

Brain Ailments In Veterans Likened To Those In Athletes -- New York Times

Scientists who have studied a degenerative brain disease in athletes have found the same condition in combat veterans exposed to roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan, concluding that such explosions injure the brain in ways strikingly similar to tackles and punches.

The researchers also discovered what they believe is the mechanism by which explosions damage brain tissue and trigger the wasting disease, called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E., by studying simulated explosions on mice. The animals developed evidence of the disease just two weeks after exposure to a single simulated blast, researchers found.

Read more ....

More News On Brain Ailments In Veterans Likened To Those In Athletes

New study links exposure to even a single bomb blast to serious life-long brain disease -- Stars and Stripes
Report: Single Bomb Blast Causes Soldiers NFL-like Brain Trauma -- US News and World Report
'Blast Wind' Linked to Chronic Brain Injuries in Military -- US News and World Report
Explosions cause brain damage through head movement -- New Scientist
Boston scientists lead team that pinpoints brain damage in vets similar to football injuries -- Boston.com
Study links athletic, military brain injuries -- CBS/AP
Soldiers' brain damage similar to football players', study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy shows -- CBS
Veterans exposed to explosions may be at risk for dementia -- USA Today
Signs of brain disease found in soldiers exposed to IEDs -- CTV

Report: U.S. Troops Are Stressed To The Breaking Point

Troops Stressed To Breaking Point -- Washington Times

Report cites sustained combat, redeployments.

A recent Army health report draws an alarming profile of a fighting force more prone to inexcusable violence amid an “epidemic” of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the mental breakdown attracting speculation as a factor in a massacre of Afghan civilians this month.

Based on an exhaustive study of nearly 500,000 soldiers, reservists and veterans, the report finds that troops are more likely to commit suicide and violent sex offenses, and notes that as many as 236,000 suffered from PTSD since the beginning of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Read more ....

My Comment: I know exactly what they mean when they say that sustain combat has a profound impact on the mental health of soldiers. My father served for 4 years on the Russian front in the Second World War .... and I can honestly say that it was only when he retired and started to enjoy life in his early seventies .... (50+ years) after the war .... that he started to forget about the war. My Godfather was not so lucky ... he committed suicide 17 years after the war .... he could never reconcile with what he had experienced in the conflict.

Bottom line .... it will be years before most of our veterans who experienced sustain combat are able to recover from it .... and some .... unfortunately .... will not. But by recognizing this problem we are taking a big step in helping our veterans .... because believe me .... they will need it.

What Medical Reasons Will Stop A U.S. Soldier From Going Into Combat?

Afghan Local Police and members of coalition special operations forces load an ALP member needing medical care onto an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a medical evacuation in Shah Joy district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, Jan. 27. Helicopters provide the fastest way to transport personnel with medical needs from rural areas of Afghanistan to medical facilities located at larger coalition bases. Dvids

What Injuries Stop A Soldier From Going Into Combat? -- L.A. Times

Robert Bales, the U.S. staff sergeant suspected of killing 16 Afghan civilians, reportedly suffered a concussive head injury on an earlier tour in Iraq. But his attorney says he was found suitable for redeployment. What kind of injuries stop a member of the Army from being sent into combat again?

The rules are lengthy and complicated. Medical problems stop some people from heading into combat in the first place: Before they enlist, U.S. Army soldiers are screened by physicians hired by the military.

Read more ....

My Comment: I guess Cpl. Klinger had a point.

U.S. Army Suicides Up 80 Percent Since Invasion Of Iraq

Troops In Afghanistan Face Mental Health Issues, Studies Say -- L.A. Times

After an American soldier allegedly killed 16 Afghans in their homes in a horrific shooting spree during the weekend, military officials speaking on condition of anonymity said it was believed the suspect in the slayings had suffered a mental breakdown.

Though the reason for Sunday's tragedy remains under investigation, mental illness has been a persistent and growing problem for members of the military in Afghanistan, according to several recent studies.

Read more ....

More News On The Growing Mental Health Breakdown Of U.S. Military Soldiers/Vets

Army suicides up 80 per cent since the start of the Iraq War -- Daily Mail
Suicides, Mental Health Woes Soar Since Start of Iraq War, Study Finds -- ABC News
Suicides among Army personnel up 80% in four years -- L.A. Times
Study: Suicide rates among army soldiers up 80 percent -- CBS News
Soldier Suicide Rate Rose 80% in 4 Years: Young, Low Rank & Active Combat at Highest Suicide Risk -- Medical Daily
Army Suicide Rates Soar Since Start Of Afghanistan And Iraq Wars -- IBTimes
Army Suicide: Tip of the Service’s “Mental Health Iceberg” -- Mark Thompson, Time

Lung Problems Found In Iraq, Afghanistan Vets

Lung Problems Found in Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans -- FOX News/Reuters

Shortness of breath and reduced fitness among some military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan may be caused by lung damage from smoke, sandstorms and toxins, a new study suggests.

Researchers who performed lung biopsies on 38 veterans with unexplained breathing problems found a form of tissue damage — called constrictive bronchiolitis — that is rare in young adults and doesn't show up in standard tests.

In all but one case, a "lacy black pigment" also coated the delicate lung surfaces.

Read more ....

More News On Growing Health Concerns For Returning Vets

Downrange deployments linked to untreatable lung ailment -- Stars and Stripes
Something in the air may cause lung damage in troops -- Science News
Lung disease found in soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq; most linked to mine fire -- Washington Post
Breathing Problems Strike Soldiers Returning From Iraq. Exposure to some unknown toxin in the air could be the cause, experts say. -- US News and World Report
Rare lung disease diagnosed in soldiers -- The Tennessean
Afghan, Iraq deployment linked to lung ailment -- Seattle PI/AP
Lung damage found in Iraq, Afghanistan veterans -- MSNBC/Reuters

Mental Health Problems For Children Whose Parent(s) Are Deployed In war Zones

Mental Problems of Soldiers' Kids Tied to Wars -- FOX News/Reuters

The longer U.S. soldiers were deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan, the more likely their children would be diagnosed with mental health problems, according to a study published Monday.

The study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, analyzed medical records of 307,520 children of active-duty Army personnel, aged 5 to 17 years old. It found almost 17 percent of them exhibited mental health problems.

Read more ....

More News On Soldiers' Kids Having Mental Health Problems When They Deployed In War Zones

Kids with parent in Iraq or Afghanistan more likely to have mental health problems -- Houston Chronicle
Parents' Military Deployment May Harm Kids' Mental Health -- U.S. News And World Report
Parental Combat Deployment Tied to Mental Problems in Kids -- Medscape
Study finds lengthy deployments contribute to mental health problems in children -- Government Executive
Child mental health linked to combat time -- hc2d
Kids’ mental health problems linked to their parents’ deployments -- Military Times

Troops Who Serve In The Middle East Are Suffering Respiratory Problems

Soldiers who served in Iraq or Afghanistan complain of lingering coughs, shortness of breath, dizziness and other symptoms. Now, scientists say troops who served in the Middle East have higher rates of respiratory problems compared to those who served elsewhere. WSJ's Shirley Wang reports.

Troops in Mideast Face Breathing Ills -- Wall Street Journal

Burn Pits a Possible Factor as Data Show Higher Rate of Respiratory Woes Among Veterans of Afghanistan, Iraq.

Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have a higher rate of debilitating respiratory illness than those deployed elsewhere, according to a new study that bolsters concerns among some medical professionals and members of Congress about the potential harm to troops from toxic chemicals and dust in the Middle East.

Read more ....

Update #1: US Troops in Mideast Have More Respiratory Ills, Study Shows -- FOX News
Update #2: Dust in Iraq/Afghanistan could be sickening U.S. soldiers -- NBC

My Comment: I suspect that this health problem is just the tip of the iceberg. Long term health effects will need to be studied and chronicled. Additional steps must also be implemented to protect the health of our soldiers .... i.e. providing masks when starting fires in pits, what can be burned in these pits, and limiting contact with dust by positioning bases in places that would limit such a problem.

Soldiers Need Their Sleep

US soldiers of Bravo Company, 1-14 Infantry Battalion rest inside their armoured vehicle on the way back to the US military Camp Taji after a mission with Iraqi soldiers near Baghdad. Photo from Iranproud

Seeking Better Sleep: Lack Of Sleep Could Lead To Bigger Problems For U.S. Troops, Researchers Warn -- Stars And Stripes

Researchers are finding that longtime sleep deprivation can have devastating consequences, including chronic insomnia and psychological disorders.

Especially vulnerable are downrange troops on repeated deployments, experts say.

Army doctors now recognize that sleep-deprived troops can be a danger to themselves on the battlefield, with slower reaction times, fuzzy memories and impaired judgment.

Read more ....

My Comment: Yup .... it is time for me to go to sleep.

Is A Trip To The Bar The Best Thing For A Veteran's Mental Health?

Photo: First Lt. Travis Gilbert, 34, center, enjoys his first beer since returning from a yearlong deployment in Afghanistan. Anita Powell / S&S

For Veterans, Road to Mental Health May Begin at the Bar -- Live Science

Connecting struggling veterans to the mental health services they need is an ongoing challenge. Now, a new study finds that the process could start with a sympathetic bartender.

The exploratory study found that bartenders at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) clubs could help identify veterans in trouble and direct them to mental health professionals. Brief and inexpensive training for these bartenders would widen the safety net for veterans in need of care, said study researcher Keith Anderson, a professor of social work at Ohio State University

Read more ....

My Comment: I do not see many soldiers disagreeing with this course of treatment.

The Cost To Care For Iraq And Afghan Vets May Reach $1.3 Trillion

War Veterans' Care To Cost $1.3 Trillion -- Washington Times

New entitlement an unfunded liability; will eclipse Social Security.

The expense of caring for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars is an unfunded budget liability for U.S. taxpayers that in years to come will rival the cost of entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, lawmakers will be told Thursday.

The House Veterans' Affairs Committee will hear new estimates of the cost of lifetime medical care and benefits for returning troops disabled by their service — a total of more than $1.3 trillion.

Read more ....

My Comment: These numbers are staggering .... and I am sure that no one has looked at them until now.

The Growing Ranks Of Soldiers With Mental Health Disorders

Photo: Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, surgeon general of the Army, during an interview in his Falls Church Va., office on January 20. Thomas Brown / Staff

Mental Care Stays Are Up In Military -- USA Today

WASHINGTON — Mental health disorders caused more hospitalizations among U.S. troops in 2009 than any other reason, according to medical data released recently by the Pentagon. This historic high reflects the growing toll of nearly nine years of war.

Last year was the first in which hospitalizations for mental disorders outpaced those for injuries or pregnancies in the 15 years of tracking by the Pentagon's Medical Surveillance Monthly report.

Read more ....

My Comment: Multiple deployments, coupled with long deployments ... this is all now catching up with our men and women in uniform.

Pentagon Reports U.S. Troop Obesity Doubles Since 2003

From USA Today:

WASHINGTON — The number of troops diagnosed as overweight or obese has more than doubled since the start of the Iraq war, yet another example of stress and strains of continuing combat deployments, according to a recent Pentagon study.

The review, contained in the January edition of the Defense Department's Medical Surveillance Monthly Report, raises concerns about the overall readiness as demands on the military continue to increase, says Dr. Michael Kilpatrick, director of strategic communication for Pentagon health affairs.

"Stress and return from deployment were the most frequently cited reasons" for gaining weight, the study said. The largest increase in diagnoses of overweight and obese troops came in the last five years, the report said.

Read more ....

My Comment: The stats are worse for other NATO members.