6 Health Tips For Military Veterans
A healthy lifestyle can significantly enhance your overall happiness and promote well-being. Regardless of your profession, staying active and engaging in healthy lifestyle choices can help you live a longer and healthier life. But as a military veteran, adopting an invigorating lifestyle is crucial, especially after retirement.
During your years of active duty, your body must have undergone hours of grueling training to provide excellent health and fitness conditions. Besides being physically fit, your mind also gets conditioned to perform well and help you fulfill your missions. However, since all these exercises are part of your routine, staying in shape is easier while you’re not yet retired. Once these everyday drills no longer remain part of your schedule, they may adversely impact you and cause your health to deteriorate.
Military veterans are prone to developing conditions like PTSD, arthritis, or even rare cancers like mesothelioma. If you let yourself go entirely and stop taking care of yourself, these illnesses can quickly worsen.
If you value your independence and want to live a retirement life free from any medical worries, follow these tips to ensure healthy living.
1. Demand compensation for mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that mainly develops in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Its leading cause is asbestos exposure and is most common in those individuals who have worked with or been around asbestos in the past. In the United States, around 30% of mesothelioma cases are of military veterans because of widespread asbestos use in the armed forces until the 1980s. Its use makes you highly susceptible to developing this cancer. However, mesothelioma VA benefits provide veterans and their families monetary compensation to cover medical costs and other expenses.
Since cancer treatment is costly and full of uncertainties, these benefits can provide you with funds to cover hospital fees and connect you with the best physicians. Getting timely treatment will help you regain strength, allowing you to live out your remaining life in good health.
2. Exercise regularly
One of the best ways to feel better, increase your energy, and improve your quality of life is to exercise regularly. Since military veterans are in the habit of engaging in physical activities, a workout routine can be good for your body. After retirement, most veterans start living a sedentary lifestyle that may quickly cause adverse health effects. These may include weight gain, weakened muscles and bones, and greater risks of heart diseases. Some individuals may even engage in substance abuse or smoking to cope with the stress of the post-duty period.
Besides maintaining your physical health, exercise also stimulates the release of endorphins or “feel-good” chemicals. Here are a few activities you can include in your routine:
- Walking
- Boxing
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Weightlifting
3. Prioritize your mental health
Veterans returning from war are at high risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. It is a psychiatric disorder that occurs in people who have experienced a traumatic or shocking event. All the things you encountered during active duty, coupled with any trauma in the past, may push you towards self-harm and even suicidal thoughts. Other disorders like insomnia, anxiety, and depression are also common and can make it extremely challenging to navigate everyday activities. Unfortunately, most individuals only work on improving their physical health and give little regard for mental health.
Prioritize your mental health by consulting a therapist or seeking help from other professionals who can help you work out these obstacles. By teaching you how to articulate your feelings better, you’ll understand your trauma better and pave the way to emotional well-being.
4. Get enough sleep
Sleep deprivation and insomnia are common occurrences for veterans returning from war. Not getting enough hours of rest can impact your physical and mental health and take a toll on your body. Carrying out daily life activities can become increasingly challenging, which can further cause you to worry and grow tired. To prevent this from happening, make a concentrated effort to sleep and wake up at the right time. Mobile and laptop screens also have a severe effect on your sleep-wake cycle. Therefore, you must limit your screen usage, especially when it’s almost bedtime.
5. Eat a balanced diet
While you’re still actively involved with the military, you’re likely to consume a carbohydrate-rich diet regularly. But once you leave the service, your physical burnout won’t be as extensive. Therefore you won’t need as many calories. Your meals in a post-military lifestyle must consist of all food groups in a well-balanced amount while considering your current activity level. If you stick to your old dietary habits, you soon start gaining fat which will cause you to get tired quicker and more inactive.
Consult a nutritionist or a primary caregiver to ensure you receive all the necessary nutrients to stay healthy and fit.
6. Engage in mindfulness
Mindfulness refers to purposely focusing your mind and being aware of what you’re feeling and sensing in the present time. Military veterans often find it difficult transitioning from a life of active duty to that of a civilian. They may spend too much time thinking about their time in the force and reanalyzing their previous operations. By engaging in mindfulness activities, you can bring your mind back to the here and now and redirect your attention from things no longer in your control. They can also help you remain calm and relaxed, allowing you to cope better with stress or anxiety.
A healthy mind contributes to having a healthier body, and together they promote a happier life.
Conclusion
For every individual, the approach to self-care and maintaining a healthy lifestyle may differ. However, the primary objective remains the same. Now that you’ve played your part in serving the country, it’s time to take care of yourself and prioritize your well-being. Engage in wellness activities and see which of these above work best for you before setting into a new routine that allows you to live happily and healthily.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
