Prioritizing your health after military service

Veterans Day is a time to honor those who served. It’s also an opportunity to focus on an important part of life after military service: taking care of your health.

From routine screenings to concerns related to military service, preventive care can help veterans understand their health risks and catch potential problems early.

“Preventive care is important at every stage of life, but veterans may have health experiences and risk factors that are important to discuss with their doctor,” says Dr. Jennette Berry, a family medicine provider at Advocate Health Care. “The screenings someone needs will depend on their age, health history, family history and individual risk factors.”

Here are some important preventive health measures to discuss with your primary care provider to help you stay healthy after military service.

Start with the screenings everyone needs

Military service doesn’t replace the need for routine preventive care. Veterans should talk with their primary care provider about recommended screenings such as:

• Blood pressure: Regular checks can help detect high blood pressure, which often doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms.
• Cholesterol: Your care team can determine when and how often your cholesterol should be checked based on your age and cardiovascular risk.
• Diabetes: Screening may be recommended based on your age, weight and other risk factors.
• Cancer screenings: Depending on age and individual risk, that may include colorectal, breast, cervical, lung or prostate cancer screening.
• Vaccinations: Staying current on flu, COVID-19, tetanus, shingles, pneumococcal and other recommended vaccines is another important part of preventive health.

“There isn’t one checklist that applies to everybody,” Dr. Berry says. “Your primary care provider can look at your health history and risk factors and help you understand which screenings you need and when.”

Make hearing part of the conversation

For some veterans, years spent around aircraft, machinery, weapons or other loud environments may make hearing health particularly important to discuss with a doctor.

Hearing changes can happen gradually, making them easy to overlook or get used to over time. Tell your provider if you’re having trouble following conversations, frequently asking others to repeat themselves or experiencing ringing or other changes in your hearing.

“Don’t assume a health concern is simply something you have to live with because of your military service,” adds Dr. Berry. “If you’ve noticed a change in your hearing or another aspect of your health, bring it up. That gives us an opportunity to determine what may be causing it and what we can do about it.”

Mental health is part of your overall health

Preventive care isn’t just about your physical health. Your mental and emotional well-being matter, too.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs identifies depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use and tobacco use among the areas that many veterans should be screened for.

If you’re a veteran experiencing changes in your mood, sleep or mental well-being, talk openly with your health care provider. These conversations are an important part of taking care of your overall health.

Tell your doctor where you served

One of the most important things veterans can bring to a doctor’s appointment isn’t a test result. It’s their service history.

Military experiences differ considerably. That’s why veterans should tell their health care provider about their service and raise any concerns they have about potential occupational or environmental exposures.

That information can help your care team better understand your individual health history and determine whether additional evaluation or follow-up is appropriate.

Make your health part of your next chapter

Military service may be one chapter of a veteran’s life, but its effects on health can sometimes extend well beyond it.

This Veterans Day, encourage the veterans in your life – or take the opportunity yourself – to make preventive care a priority. Start with a primary care visit to discuss your health and military service history and find out which screenings and immunizations are right for you.

“Veterans have spent part of their lives serving others,” Dr. Berry says. “Taking time to care for their own health is an important investment in everything they want to do next.”

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