Brain Health for Military Veterans and First Responders
Many combat veterans return from deployment and are diagnosed with PTSD and TBI. Some veterans are subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, dementia, ALS and other neurodegenerative conditions. Large population studies demonstrate that combat veterans are predisposed to neurodegenerative conditions. This correlates with exposure to repeated blasts (a blast injury is equivalent to multiple concussions) and other concussive forces, as well as toxic exposures. Many first responders also experience those injuries.
When the cause of symptoms is blast forces and toxicity, the treatment may be different. Trauma and toxicity may affect testosterone and other hormone levels, which also affects brain health.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used with positive outcomes in patients with neurodegenerative conditions. Once a neurodegenerative process has begun, it is critical to stop the progressive worsening and begin a healing process. HBOT is the only therapy that has been shown to heal a brain injury condition. Treating neurodegenerative conditions with medications does not result in healing, but only temporary symptomatic management. The brain can always be rewired, re-networked, retrained—but biological physiological healing is necessary to maintain brain health.
The website TreatNow.org is a good reference for published research using HBOT to treat brain injury. The book The Oxygen Revolution by Dr. Paul Harch is a good resource to explain the process.
Neurologist Carol L. Henricks, M.D., of NorthStar Hyperbaric, in Tucson, is screening post-9/11 military veterans and first responders with diagnoses of neurodegenerative conditions for participation in therapy. Connect at 520-229-1238 or NorthStarHBOT.com.
NORTHSTAR HYPERBARIC - 7598 N La Cholla Blvd, Tucson, AZ
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) saturates the body with oxygen, reducing inflammation and enhancing recovery from central nervous system injury including: traumatic brain injury, post-co... Read More »
