Can PTSD Produce Health Related Symptoms and Health Risk Behaviors?

Can Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Produce Health Related Symptoms and Health Risk Behaviors?

Retrieved December 3, 2012, “Why Do We Stick to Our Bad Habits”

http://medicineworld.org/news/news-archives/cancer-blog/Dec-20-2006.html

Over the past years the amount of veterans receiving PTSD treatments are steadily multiplying. The question has aroused whether PTSD symptoms lead to other mental and/or

physical problems. The image above represents bad habits. Smoking and consuming a large amount of alcohol are bad habits that can be formed due to PTSD symptoms. When depression takes over the body, the body cries for help and leans on other negative activities or people for comfort.

Two possible important mediators of the connection between PTSD symptomology and health- related functional effects are health symptoms and health risk behaviors. PTSD has been linked both to increased risk of somatic symptoms such as dizziness, fainting spells, pounding or racing heart, or shortness of breath  and to medical illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, nervous system disease, and gastrointestinal disorders(Vasterling 2008). Health risk behaviors were measure by the amount consumed during a certain amount of time.

Although several mental and genetic mechanisms may explain the connection between PTSD and health effects, alcohol use, tobacco use, and poor sleep hygiene stand out as potentially adaptable risk factors for poor health effects in individuals showing high levels of PTSD symptoms. For example, the tragic September 11^th terrorist attack in New York where among more than 2,000 adults residing in there had excessive alcohol use which was associated with both PTSD symptoms and poor mental health functional status (Vasterling 2008).

            My father has developed the sleeping disorder sleep apnea and horrible sleeping patterns since all of his deployments. He has to sleep hooked up to a loud machine with a mask that helps his breathing while he is sleep. Most nights he goes to sleep without it because he does not like it or is up too late and forgets.   He is always tired and takes plenty of naps during the day; therefore he has quite a few late nights of just sitting on the couch watching television. He also had poor eating habits and tends to drink alcohol more than usual. Just analyzing the small amount of negative health related issues that has increased over the years I do believe that the impact of PTSD extends beyond adverse emotional sequel to health symptoms and health-related day-to-day functioning (Vasterling 2008)

Vasterling, J et al. (2008). Post-traumatic stress disorder and health functions in a non-treatment seeking sample of the war veterans: the prospective analysis.Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development.,Retrieved October 27, 2012 from the  Academic Search Complete database.

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