Vets With PTSD More Prone to Heart Risk Factors

Young Vets With PTSD Are More Prone

to Heart Risk Factors!!!

Researcher suspects mental health issues may lead

to unhealthy habits...By

Kathleen Doheny, Health Day Reporter

TUESDAY, Aug. 4 (Health Day News) -- Veterans

of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts who have

mental health problems such as post-traumatic

stress disorder (PTSD) are also at higher risk for

having cardiovascular disease risk factors, a new

study suggests.

While previous studies have found that those

with PTSD, a common mental health problem

among veterans who have seen combat, are at

increased risk of developing and dying from

cardiovascular disease, risk factors for heart

attack and stroke have not been evaluated in

this group, said Dr. Beth E. Cohen, an assistant

professor of medicine at the University of

California San Francisco and staff physician at

the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

Cohen led the study, published in the Aug. 5 issue

of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"Our main finding was that vets with mental health

issues -- both PTSD and others -- had a

significantly increased risk of being diagnosed with

a variety of heart disease risk factors," Cohen said.

Cohen and her colleagues looked at national data

from veterans who sought care at VA facilities,

comparing more than 267,000 male vets with

and without mental health diagnoses and nearly

36,000 female vets with and without mental

health issues.

In PTSD, the sufferer "relives" the trauma

via flashbacks or in other ways, such as

becoming hyper-vigilant to everyday sounds.

Other mental health issues seen among vets

include depression, anxiety disorder,

adjustment disorder and alcohol and

substance abuse.

Cohen's team looked at doctors' codes in the

records for cardiovascular risk factors,

including tobacco use, high blood

pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels,

obesity or diabetes. "Because their average

age is 30, they are typically too young to have

already developed heart disease," Cohen said.

"So, we looked at risk factors."

---------------part 2 coming soon------------------

SOURCES: Beth E. Cohen, M.D., assistant professor,

medicine, University of California, San Francisco,

and staff physician, San Francisco VA Medical Center;

Mark Kaplan, Dr.P.H., professor, community health,

Portland State University, Oregon; Aug. 5, 2009,

Journal of the American Medical Association;

Aug. 7, 2009, presentation, American Psychological

Association annual meeting, in Toronto.
Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.

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ANOTHER HERO REMEMBERED

Cpl Michael B. Presley U.S. Marine Corps


Cpl Michael B. Presley, 21, of Batesville, Mississippi, died
December 14, 2005 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
in Germany of wounds sustained from a suicide, vehicle-borne
improvised explosive device while conducting combat
operations against enemy forces in Fallujah, Iraq, on Dec 12.

Presley was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion,
2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.
Brandon joined the Marine Corps in 2003. He graduated from
Parris Island in Dec of 2003 and continued his training in Fort
Leonard Wood, Missouri. Then he served one year with the 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing at Okinawa, Japan.

After Japan, Brandon reported to the 2nd Combat Engineer
Battalion for duty as a Motor Transport Operation in March of
2005 at Camp Lejeune. Cpl Presley deployed to the theater of
operation in Sept of 2005 and supported numerous combat
operations in support of the 2nd Marine Division, 8th Marine
Regiment in Fallujian, Iraq.

On Dec 12th, 2005, while conducting a logistical convoy to
the civil military operations center to deliver ballots and voting
supplies in support of the Iraqi national election, the convoy
that Cpl. Presley was participating in came under attack from
a suicide vehicle borne improvised device (SVBIED).

Cpl. Presley was the vehicle commander for the second
Medium Tactical Replacement in the convoy. As the convoy
passed, a taxi that had pulled off to the right side of route Fran,
the taxi pulled out and into the path of Presley’s vehicle.

When Cpl. Presley observed this, he immediately started to
initiate escalation force procedures. Due to the fact that the
taxi was non-responsive, Cpl Presley drew his M16A4 and
was preparing to engage the lone occupant of the taxi. As he
did this, the SVBIED initiated its device early, before it
had actually impacted the MTVR.

This quick action saved not only his driver, but also the cargo
that they were carrying, the Iraqi ballots. He valiantly put his
fellow marines and mission accomplishment ahead of his own
safety.

Presley was wounded by shrapnel in the blast and
later died of his wounds.

Cpl. Presley will be remembered for his broad smile, love of God
love of life, love of his country and his devotion to duty.

Submitted by Pamela Cousar,
Proud Mother of CPL. Michael B. Presley (Brandon)


Semper Fi, Brother
Doc E. Everett McFall

Vietnam Class of 1966-1967

Laptops for the Wounded Annual Charity Golf Tournament

Laptops for the Wounded has set the date for it's
Annual Charity Golf Tournament. It is October 9th
at Hawk's Landing Golf Course in Southington, CT. If
you would like to play at the outing, please follow the
instructions on the attached registration document.
Laptops for the Wounded Golf Outing Event - 2009.doc
(63KB)

Since last years event, they attainment of the federal
recognized 501c3 charity status. This has opened up
considerable doors for the advancement of the charity
to aid our wounded service members. Another change was
the redesign of the www.laptopsforthewounded.com website
by 2 Brothers Web Design in Branford , CT. This allowed
our mission statement and pertinent information to be
presented in a more intuitive, professional manner.

A new and greatly appreciated supporter of
Laptops for the Wounded comes in the form of the
NJVC Company out of Vienna, Virginia www.njvc.com. Over
the Christmas season, NJVC had a fundraiser for our charity,
the results raised $20,000. Another NJVC fundraiser was a
golf tournament recently held in Chantilly, Virginia that raised
an additional $13,000! 20-laptops have been purchased and
built by Laptops for the Wounded and 16 laptops delivered
to Walter-Reed Hospital, and 2 being sent to the Richmond
Virginia VA hospital for spinal cord injured troops.

50+more laptops are going to be ordered within the next
couple-weeks to bring Fort Stewart, Haley VA in Tampa and
new military hospitals up to a comfortable level of laptops, as
well as further supporting Walter-Reed.

The 8th Grade class of the Woodstock CT Middle School also
had a fundraiser to raise their own money for buying laptops
for the wounded troops. They were able to raise the money
to purchase 3-laptops and I was honored to be able to assist
in their build up as well as being able to personally deliver
those laptops with Viziflex Vision Aid keyboard stickers to
Walter-Reed on June 25th.

Thank you for thinking of our wounded troops health and well-being,

Phil Drouin - President / CEO
Laptops for the Wounded
Acworth, New Hampshire
ALL Donations are WELCOME!!
www.laptopsforthewounded.com
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"Freedom Isn’t Free…..Someone Paid the Bill"
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Doc E. Everett McFall,
Host of “The Veterans Forum” Talk Show.

JBVAMC Farmer's Market

Today’s Guest on the VETERAN'S FORUM were Dr. Sarah Catanese, Coordinator for the MOVE Program at JBVAMC Chicago, IL and Jenny O’ Donohue, NP, Coordinator for the MOVE Program for VISN 12. Move stands for: Managing Overweight/Obesity for Veterans Everywhere (http://www.move.va.gov/)

They announced the launching of the First Annual Illinois Medical District Farmer’s Market, sponsored by the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, IL.

Excess weight is a major problem for US citizens (64%), but an even greater problem for Veterans (72.7%). This is particularly alarming because the consequences of being overweight or obese include increased mortality, greater cost of care, and decreased quality of life. Not to mention other health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension, blindness, lost of limbs, etc,etc… The MOVE program at the VA focuses on losing weight for health and wellness of its Veteran clients.

The Market will run from July 10th until October 2nd, it will take place every Friday from 7 am until 1 pm on the Arthington Mall, on the UIC Medical School Campus across from the Jesse Brown VAMC (820 S. Damen Avenue, Chicago 60612) off of Damen between Taylor and Polk. Although JBVA’s patients are Veteran’s, their dependants, and Military personnel, the Farmer’s Market is open to the public.
This project would provide access to healthy food and education about the benefits of fresh produce, provide a pleasant oasis in a busy urban environment and serve to reduce stress, and establish the VA as a partner with the adjacent medical centers in promoting healthy eating habits.

Vendors will be selling fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh cut flowers, tomatoes, salsas, pasta sauces, and preserves. There will be music, recipe ideas, and contact information for the MOVE! Program at JBVA. "We are also looking into offering short 'soothing massages' to help relieve stress for a small fee,'' Dr. Catanese said.

JBVA is one of four large medical centers within an economically under served area just southwest of downtown Chicago. Each of three other Medical Centers (UIC, RUSH, and John Stroger Hospital of Cook County) will share a mutual benefit with JBVA. The Farmers Market will provide a chance for the local community and the medical district to enjoy the benefits of social gathering and community activity in a serene and healthy environment.

Tables and booths still available Vendors should contact: Megan Richardson 312-569-6561 or Dr. Catanese 312-569-8505. ----------------------------------------------------- Doc E. Everett McFall, HostThe Veteran’s Forum http://internetvoicesradio.com/
To listen to previous broadcast shows click on “Archives”, then click on E. Everett McFall.
"I CAN STILL HEAR THEIR CRIES, EVEN IN MY SLEEP'' ISBN: 9 781432 704575 Amazon.Com and book stores everywhere! Author Autographed copies available only $14.95 including shipping: E. Everett McFall, PO Box 11557, Merrillville, IN 46411