This week, VA’s Office of Research and Development published three News Briefs highlighting research finding on toxic exposure, cancer and suicide risk, and alternative treatments for chronic pain.
Non-combat exposures linked to breathing problems
VA researchers showed that Veterans who performed heavy equipment and aircraft maintenance were at higher risk of lung problems. A total of 1,712 Veterans whose military service occurred mostly outside of conflict zones like Afghanistan and Southwest Asia participated in the study.
About 7% reported shortness of breath, 7% had chronic bronchitis and 15% reported wheezing. Exposure to fumes and dust while performing heavy equipment and aircraft maintenance significantly increased the risk of these conditions. The researchers excluded exposures from burn pits, instead focusing on less-studied exposures outside of deployment. The researchers suggested airborne exposures encountered outside of combat and deployment should be taken into account when assessing Veterans’ respiratory health. View the full study from “JAMA Network Open.”
Suicide rate higher in new cancer patients
VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention researchers discovered Veteran cancer survivors have a suicide rate 37% higher than those who never had cancer. In nearly 440,000 Veterans diagnosed with cancer between 2010 and 2020, the risk of suicide was highest in the first year after diagnosis or recurrence and remained high for five years before falling to rates similar to those in Veterans without cancer. Veteran cancer survivors older than 85 died by suicide at a rate almost eight times that of other Veterans, and those from 70 to 84 were nearly five times more likely to die by suicide. Cancers with the highest suicide rates were esophageal, pancreatic, male reproductive, head and neck, and respiratory cancers. Also, the higher a Veteran’s cancer stage, the higher the rate of suicide. The findings suggest the need for screening newly diagnosed cancer patients for suicide risk and providing appropriate services. View the full study in the “Journal of Affective Disorders.”
Alternative treatment methods improve chronic pain
Minneapolis VA researchers learned that complementary and integrative health treatments delivered through both VA and community care benefited Veterans with chronic pain, but differences in effectiveness and implementation existed. VA outperformed community care in pain reduction from acupuncture and chiropractic services, but community care medical massage had better results. Overall, more sessions of all three treatments led to more pain reduction for both VA and community care. Differences in effectiveness may be explained by how services are delivered, according to the researchers. VA Whole Health offers a wide range of services, while community care tends to focus primarily on symptom recovery. The findings demonstrated comprehensive and integrative health treatment can be effective at reducing chronic pain in both VA and community care settings, leaving the patient to determine which approach best meets their needs. View the full study in “Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health.”
For more Office of Research and Development updates, visit ORD online or go to https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/.
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I suffer from chronic pain and been through a lot from Accupunture to chiropractor and they helped but the massage I got from the chiropractor massage gave me more relief than the exercises however I now believe it was all inclusive that helped. So here in Florida – JAH Tampa they stated no money for medical massages and I can’t afford them myself so I’m thankful that this VA is setting the tone for helping us get the all inclusive care we can utilize as a true Whole Health
I am a patient at the VA Long Beach Hospital. I was approved for Accupuncture Treatment for my Chronic, Intractible Pain. However, at my first visit, after my Accupuncture treatment, I was informed that we can only have ONE TREATMENT EVERY 4-6 WEEKS!!! That is completely and utterly useless!!! For Accupuncture to be effective, you need treatments every single week. And, based on the severity of your pain, usually 2 to 3 times per week is needed. So, yes, you may be approved for Accupuncture by the VA, but it will do absolutely nothing for you, based on their refusal to treat you weekly!! What a joke this “research” is!!!
So why is acupuncture not on the list of 30 from VA community care authorizations. I have no problems with my VA, all of my doctors and specialists are there but this acupuncture is really helping with the pain, the problem is I only get so many visits and then I have to reapply and that sometimes takes 2 months, by then we have to start all over again. I would like to get to the level of just going in for maintenance visits, just sayn. The article that was posted, ” Alternative treatment methods improve chronic pain” says it all.
Thank you for your time
I would like to know if there is a list which my name can be added for being stationed in an area where foam was dumped and the base was closed due to this matter. I also worked on ships that possibly had asbestos. At the present, I have medical issues that may be related to these issues.
Getting good care at the V.A. depends on what V.A. you are going to. In Albany N.Y. I got great care at the V.A. I moved to Va. to help my son and the V.A. here in Richmond really sucks. They are destroying my health because they are being Blackmailed by the State of Va. and won’t let the Doctors practice medicine as they were taught in medical collage. I believe I will loose at least ten years off my life for what the Doctors are doing and not doing. When I came here I walked 3 to 5 miles every day but now I can’t walk a block. A 4 inch by 6 inch chunk fell out of the back of my left leg. That doesn’t even begin to tell what they have done to me. Every month I run out of pain meds for 7 to 14 days before I get a new bottle.
What happened to the salt baths. Bio feed back and other testing for environmental exposures. Neurological issues from exposures
I was 67 before I first walked into a VA clinic. Prior to that, my impression of the VA was not very good. My impression came from treatments a couple of my uncles received in the 50s and 60s. I walked in because a fellow Vet told me I could get hearing aids from the VA. Aids were very expensive at the time and still are. Regardless, I was soon overwhelmed with the care and concern shown by the VA and the Wyoming, Michigan VAMC (Battle Creek). I would put the care and respect I receive from the VA and the Wyoming/Battle Creek VAMCs up against any civilian clinic I’ve ever been associated with. The use of Community Care, when needed was an additional boost for problematic issues these clinics do not cover.
Admittedly, some of my feelings toward the VA over the years came from the way Vietnam Vets were treated after coming home. But some of this is on the back of the military as well. The heaped praise on us and made all kinds of promises, most not delivered, when we were recruited and for many drafted. When we came back from Nam, they couldn’t wait to get rid of us. I like many was not given a release physical of any kind and had no idea of what my benefits were or what the VA did. Some of this is on me, as I just walked away mad at the world. 54 years later, I look back and see the benefits that were available and did not see nor was I informed of such. The VA is doing a great job now of informing our fellow Vets getting out of the service today.
When will the VA approve renal cell carcinoma as a service-connected disability?
Thank you. Norman, U S Army CIC Ft Holabird and ROK