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PTSD – Increasing the Risk of Chronic Diseases
- By Leonid Andreyev
- Published September 8th, 2008
- Therapy
- Unrated
Those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are as susceptible to long term health problems as those people who are plagued by chronic disease risk factors, such as, high white blood cell counts. Despite this being the stark reality, very few health care professionals actually diagnose PTSD patients to detect these biological markers in them.
Exposure to trauma not only results in psychological imbalances, but, also takes a very negative toll on a person's health as well as biological function, said Geisinger Health Systems Senior Investigator, Joseph Boscarino, PhD, MPH. PTSD has now come to be such a risk factor for dangerous diseases that it must now be on the diagnostics screens of doctors.
People who've survived a traumatic happening or situation, like, an accident or natural disaster are very prone
to suffering form PTSD too. All of PTSD victims are greatly exposed to several biological risk factors.
Boscarino, who happens to be a Vietnam PTSD veteran conducted a health status examination of 4,462 males in the Vietnam-era after each individual had served for 30 years in the military service. The results clearly reflected that PTSD sufferers reached an elevated white blood cell count, which happens to be a major risk factor for severe disorders like leukemia. The study subsequently revealed that veterans suffering form high rates of inflammation were under threat too.
Blood tests are a way of diagnosing for disease markers, however, PTSD is measured by virtue of a psychological test or even an examination of the mental health of an individual. Boscarino says, “although it doesn't have to be extensive, PTSD patients should get therapy as soon as possible”.
Exposure to trauma not only results in psychological imbalances, but, also takes a very negative toll on a person's health as well as biological function, said Geisinger Health Systems Senior Investigator, Joseph Boscarino, PhD, MPH. PTSD has now come to be such a risk factor for dangerous diseases that it must now be on the diagnostics screens of doctors.
People who've survived a traumatic happening or situation, like, an accident or natural disaster are very prone
Boscarino, who happens to be a Vietnam PTSD veteran conducted a health status examination of 4,462 males in the Vietnam-era after each individual had served for 30 years in the military service. The results clearly reflected that PTSD sufferers reached an elevated white blood cell count, which happens to be a major risk factor for severe disorders like leukemia. The study subsequently revealed that veterans suffering form high rates of inflammation were under threat too.
Blood tests are a way of diagnosing for disease markers, however, PTSD is measured by virtue of a psychological test or even an examination of the mental health of an individual. Boscarino says, “although it doesn't have to be extensive, PTSD patients should get therapy as soon as possible”.