Health

Hearing loss is biggest disability among military veterans, expert says

Published

2 months ago

November 9, 2024

Hearing loss is biggest disability among military veterans, expert says

As thousands of wounded warriors and military veterans battle disabilities and injuries every day, the most common ailment often gets overlooked.

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, is the leading disability in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), according to Dr. Tom Tedeschi, chief audiology director for Amplifon Hearing Health Care.

Utah-based Tedeschi, who is also a Vietnam-era Army veteran, shared with Fox News Digital how prevalent hearing loss and complications are among the veteran community.

TIPS FOR LEARNING AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME

About 60% of Vietnam veterans and 50% of Gulf War veterans suffer from hearing loss, according to the expert.

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, is the most prevalent disability in the VA today, according to an audiologist. (iStock)

“It’s estimated that probably one out of every three veterans has some degree of hearing loss or tinnitus,” he said. “And it’s just because we’re around noise all the time … The military is not a quiet place.”

Everyone’s hearing is different, Tedeschi said, with various sound levels affecting people in different ways.

WWII VETERAN, 95, STILL WORKS OUT AT LOCAL GYM EVERY WEEK: ‘I’M IN CONTROL’

“For some people, if they hear a loud noise like a gunshot, it can damage their hearing permanently,” he noted. “Other people can sustain a lot of noise, and it won’t cause permanent damage right away.”

Different roles in the military will have different levels of exposure to loud sounds, Tedeschi said – but for some combat-facing soldiers, even during peace time, there’s plenty of “sustained” noise.

Soldiers in camouflage uniforms aiming their rifles ready to fire during military night operation

For some combat-facing soldiers, even during peace time, there’s plenty of “sustained” noise, the expert said. (iStock)

Although hearing protection is issued for military personnel, Tedeschi said it’s not always “practical,” especially in active combat.

“There are more people now under the age of 50 with hearing loss than over the age of 50.”

When hearing is lost, it “doesn’t grow back,” the expert cautioned — and even mild hearing loss in young veterans can become more severe with time.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“When we’re young, we still believe we’re invincible and that hearing loss is not going to happen … that it’s an ‘old person thing,’ which isn’t true,” he said.

“There are more people now under the age of 50 with hearing loss than over the age of 50.”

Care and protection

The biggest hurdle in addressing hearing complications among veterans is acknowledging the problem, according to Tedeschi.

“Most people who have hearing loss do not acknowledge it,” he said. “It’s the people around them who notice.”

Tedeschi urged veterans to seek help if they experience a constant ringing in the ears, otherwise known as tinnitus, or trouble hearing while having conversations or watching TV.

Many young veterans mistakenly assume that hearing loss only happens at an older age. (iStock)

“We can’t cure [tinnitus] or make it completely disappear, but there are different protocols and strategies to help,” he said.

This could include wearing hearing aids, which Tedeschi said are “light years ahead” of what they were a decade ago.

CHEMOTHERAPY DRUG COULD HAVE A SERIOUS AND SURPRISING SIDE EFFECT, STUDY FINDS

Tedeschi emphasized the importance of wearing proper hearing protection, like ear buds and earmuffs, both in and out of combat.

“We live in a noisy world,” he said. “If you’re out mowing the lawn, you should pop in some hearing protection. A lot of people love to go to concerts … Those are loud and they can sustain damage.”

Man mowing the grass with hearing protection

Hearing protection should be worn during other loud activities, like mowing the lawn or attending a concert, experts advise. (iStock)

If you hear ringing after a concert or other loud event, that means you’ve sustained some damage to your ears, Tedeschi cautioned.

While there is usually a recovery period, in some cases the damage can be permanent, he said.

For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/health

Some medications, like aspirin, can cause hearing loss as a side effect, Tedeschi warned.

“If you’re taking a lot of aspirin for arthritis or things like this, you need to be careful – and talk to your doctor about whether there is an alternative,” he advised.

“It’s just a normal thing, like wearing glasses,” the expert said about using hearing aids. (iStock)

Tedeschi encouraged veterans to seek help to avoid further complications linked to hearing loss, such as cognitive decline.

“We’re seeing more and more individuals with untreated hearing loss who have faster decline in their cognitive function, because the brain is working overtime to compensate,” he told Fox News Digital.

“We’re seeing more and more individuals with untreated hearing loss who have faster decline in their cognitive function.”

“For our veterans, you need to know there’s help out there for you, and there’s no need to experience all the co-morbidities associated with hearing loss.”

Veterans can visit their local VA center to have their hearing evaluated or connect with their counselor for a referral to a hearing loss specialist.

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.

Health

Dance eases depression symptoms in Parkinson's patients, new study suggests

Published

2 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Dance eases depression symptoms in Parkinson's patients, new study suggests

Putting a swing in their step could be just the thing to help ease the symptoms of depression in some Parkinson’s patients, a new study suggests.

Patients who took months of dance classes found their depression eased, a small study published recently in the Journal of Medical Internet Research says.

Not only did depression symptoms ease for the Parkinson’s patients, their brain scans displayed changes in their brain areas related to mood, researchers said.

PARKINSON’S DISEASE RISK IS LINKED TO GUT HEALTH, RESEARCHERS SAY

“It was very cool to see that dance had a positive effect on the mood circuits in the brain, which we could see in the imaging,” senior researcher Joseph DeSouza, an associate professor of neuroscience at York University in Toronto, Canada, said in a university news release.

“These improvements that we could see on MRI brain scans were also reported by the participants via survey,” DeSouza said.

A new study followed participants in a dance program who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease — as well as healthy people (not pictured). Depression symptoms eased for the participants. (iStock)

“Our study is the first to demonstrate these benefits across these two detection methods,” he also said, as news agency SWNS reported.

The study followed 23 participants in the Sharing Dance Parkinson’s program at Canada’s National Ballet School who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease — as well as 11 healthy people, some of whom were relatives of the patients.

The team measured mood and depression scores in all participants.

Advertisement

Participants took weekly dance classes for eight months, which progressed from simple leg and foot work and pliés to interpretive movements, waltzes and more complicated, choreographed dances, the outlet reported.

‘PENDULUM LIFESTYLE’ COULD BE KEY TO JUGGLING DAILY CHALLENGES

Researchers honed in on a node in the brain, the subcallosal cingulate gyrus (SCG), that has been shown in previous research to be implicated in depression.

The team measured mood and depression scores in all participants using a recognized scale before and after every class, plus they conducted regular MRI scans at York.

Brain scans taken during the study displayed changes in the patients’ brain areas related to mood, according to researchers (not pictured). (iStock)

After each dance class, they found that reported depression rates dropped — and the effect was cumulative from class to class, with “significant” improvements seen after eight months.

The team also found that the MRI scans showed reduced signals in a frontal-cortex brain region associated with emotional regulation and that in a smaller subset of the participants, a significant decrease in depression scores correlated with changes in the SCG node.

WHAT IS ‘BRAIN ROT’? THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHAT TOO MUCH SCROLLING DOES TO OUR BRAINS

Co-author Dr. Karolina Bearss, a professor at Algoma University, Canada, said, “We essentially showed that [the] SCG blood oxygen level–dependent signal decreases while dancing over time.”

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, the team noted.

An elderly man's hand is trembling because of Parkinson's disease

“People with Parkinson’s disease tend to have multiple symptoms that are not just motor-related.” (iStock)

Before diagnosis, there is a “prodromal” phase that can last for two to 10 years. It’s characterized by low mood, even before other symptoms appear, such as tremors.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“People with Parkinson’s disease tend to have multiple symptoms that are not just motor-related,” said Bearss. “There are a lot of symptoms that include mental and social well-being impairments — one of those being depression.”

“What we’re trying to do is to have people live a better quality of life.”

The new research builds on the team’s previous three-year study that found that dance training helps Parkinson’s patients with motor control, mood and other functions of daily living.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

Dance is thought to have a double benefit, as music activates the brain’s reward centers and the movement acts on sensory and motor circuits.

Professor DeSouza, who has been dancing with participants in the program for 14 years, said that while dancing is not a treatment for Parkinson’s per se, the benefits are clear, according to the report.

He added, “We’re not trying to cure Parkinson’s with dance. What we’re trying to do is to have people live a better quality of life. This goes for both those with the disease, and their families that take care of them – they also get benefits of feeling better.”

Up to half of all Parkinson’s patients suffer from depression or anxiety at some point, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research notes.

A previous study done at Sydney University found that structured dance (of any genre) is generally as effective as — or even more effective than — other types of physical activity for improving psychological and cognitive outcomes among people with chronic illness as well as healthy people.

Maureen Mackey is managing editor of lifestyle at Fox News Digital.

Health

What is sunset anxiety? Here's how to know if you have late-day distress

Published

11 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

What is sunset anxiety? Here's how to know if you have late-day distress

Join Fox News for access to this content

You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading.

By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive.

Please enter a valid email address.

Nearly 20% of American adults reported having an anxiety disorder in the past year, data shows — and many are more likely to feel uneasy and anxious as the sun sets.

While “sunset anxiety” isn’t an official medical diagnosis and does not appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), some mental health experts agree that it’s a very real phenomenon.

The symptoms aren’t limited to just anxiety, according to Andrea D. Guastello, PhD, a licensed psychologist at the University of Florida Department of Psychiatry.

ADDING LAUGHTER TO YOUR LIFE CAN BOOST HEALTH AND HEALING, EXPERTS SAY

“It can be any psychiatric symptom that increases in frequency or intensity as the sun goes down or at night,” Guastello told Fox News Digital.

Symptoms may include feelings of depression, isolation and hopelessness that tend to increase at night, the expert said.

What is sunset anxiety, exactly?

Sunset anxiety occurs when a person starts to feel anxious as the sun goes down at the end of the day, Beena Persaud, PsyD, clinical psychologist with Cleveland Clinic Akron General in Akron, Ohio, told Fox News Digital.

“The lack of natural light can cause people to have less energy and motivation, restless discomfort, worry and nervousness about accomplishing tasks,” she said.

GRATEFUL CHILDREN MAKE PARENTS HAPPIER AND LESS STRESSED, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

People who have previously experienced episodes of anxiety and are generally more on the anxious side are more susceptible, Persaud said, as are people who have a heightened sensitivity to light changes and those who consider themselves to be “night owls.”

“Adults are more likely to feel it than teens or children, and this may be due to adults’ sense of responsibility for daily activities,” one expert said. (iStock)

There are no specific gender or racial tendencies for sunset anxiety, the expert noted.

“Adults are more likely to feel it than teens or children, and this may be due to adults’ sense of responsibility for daily activities,” she added.

Common triggers

The onset of sunset anxiety could be related to the circadian rhythm, which is the body’s internal clock that regulates many functions, according to experts. The circadian rhythm is influenced by the production of melatonin, Persaud said.

“We know there can be hormonal changes with winter and daylight saving time,” she told Fox News Digital.

“Since our production of melatonin is easily affected by light, early darkness can cause symptoms of both anxiety and depression. The body believes it should be getting ready for bed because of the darkness.”

“The lack of natural light can cause people to have less energy and motivation, restless discomfort, worry and nervousness about accomplishing tasks.”

Advertisement

Experts report an increase in seasonal anxiety from October to late March.

“The changing of the seasons and earlier darkness make it a prime time for people to experience both sunset anxiety and seasonal depression,” Persaud said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Anxiety can also occur if someone is carrying a heavy mental load of activities and responsibilities and struggling to complete them all by the evening.

“Darkness occurring earlier makes us physically and emotionally tired, and we feel as if the day is ending before we can achieve our daily goals,” said Persaud.

Tips to alleviate sunset anxiety

Guastello at the University of Florida offered the following tips to help curb anxiety around sunset.

If you experience worsening or persistent symptoms of sunset anxiety that don’t improve with the above lifestyle changes, experts recommend consulting with a mental health provider. (iStock)

Set reasonable goals for yourself.

Plan enjoyable activities around the time your anxiety usually kicks up.

Practice good sleep hygiene.

Get sun exposure outdoors and use a sun lamp in times of low light.

Pay attention to your nutrition and get a checkup with your primary care provider if needed.

Get regular exercise to help with low levels of anxiety, but avoid working out within two hours of bedtime.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

If you experience worsening or persistent symptoms of sunset anxiety that don’t improve with the above lifestyle changes, experts recommend consulting with a mental health provider.

Health

'Miracle therapy' could correct heart failure in kids

Published

19 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

'Miracle therapy' could correct heart failure in kids

Fox News’ Health newsletter brings you stories on the latest developments in health care, wellness, diseases, mental health and more.

TOP 3:

– Stem cell therapy could correct heart failure in children, say doctors and specialists at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia.

– Doctors saved a pregnant woman and her baby after discovering a grapefruit-sized tumor in her chest cavity.

– A second-grade boy saved his friend from choking by doing the Heimlich maneuver in the school cafeteria – and it was caught on camera.

Researchers at MCRI are studying and reprogramming the potential of the blood to treat disease, specifically heart failure in children. (iStock)

MORE IN HEALTH

REST AND RECHARGE – Quality sleep can be tough to come by during the holidays. A clinical psychologist offers expert advice for snoozing during the busy season. Continue reading…

‘MAJOR STEP FORWARD’ – The FDA has approved the first medication for obstructive sleep apnea, which also promotes weight loss. Continue reading…