When I was living in Menlo Park, California in the years 2011-2015, I got to be pals with an affluent, patriotic man who was a benefactor the VA hospitals in Palo Alto and Menlo Park. He introduced me to a psychiatrist with whom I got to be pals, and on a few occasions I was given permission to accompany him when he visited his patients.
By far the most common injury I saw was what neurologists call a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). According to the National Institutes of Health (Occupation and Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury in the Millennium Cohort Study) rom 2000 to 2021, an estimated 449,026 active-duty U.S. service members experienced a TBI. These injuries were often caused by combat-related incidents, such as explosive blasts, and are considered a “signature injury” of post-9/11 conflicts.
The vast majority of these injuries are considered mild, but a “mild” diagnosis is cold comfort for those suffering from the syndrome and their family members, as mild symptoms include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Blurred or double vision
- Balance problems
- Cognitive: Confusion or difficulty concentrating, memory loss or problems with recall, Difficulty with attention or problem-solving, and slowed thinking or processing speed.
- Emotional: Irritability or mood swings, anxiety or depression, difficulty sleeping, and changes in appetite.
- Other: Ringing in the ears, loss of consciousness (briefly), and seizures (rare).
The following 2023 news segment presents a pretty good overview of the epidemic. Note that, as of this posting, it has only received 235 views.
Hellbound and Down 