Donald Trump Doesn’t Think Brain Injuries Suffered by Troops Are Serious

[Boats]

Donald Trump Doesn’t Think Brain Injuries Suffered by Troops Are Serious
By: Maggie Serota - Spin News - 01-22-20
Re: https://www.spin.com/2020/01/donald-...rain-injuries/

President Donald Trump isn’t particularly worried about troops who might be suffering symptoms of potential brain injuries they might have incurred during active combat. At least, that’s what he told reporters during a presser at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday, January 22.

The president offered his expert medical opinion amid questions about his claim that no troops had been injured during Iran’s missile strike on bases housing U.S. soldiers in Iraq earlier this month.

“No, I heard that they had headaches, and a couple of other things, but I would say, and I can report, it’s not very serious,” Trump said.

When asked if he considered “potential traumatic brain injury serious,” the commander-in-chief heroically passed the buck to another government agency.

“They told me about it numerous days later. You’d have to ask Department of Defense,” Trump said. The president could have stopped there, but he did not.

“No, I don’t consider them very serious injuries relative to other injuries that I’ve seen,” Trump told reporters. “I’ve seen what Iran has done with their roadside bombs to our troops. I’ve seen people with no legs and with no arms. I’ve seen people that were horribly, horribly injured in that area, that war.”

He added: “No, I do not consider that to be bad injuries, no.”

There are several former NFL players who might disagree with that analysis.

The Associated Press reports that 11 service members were flown out of Iraq shortly after the January 8 missile strike to receive treatment for concussion-like symptoms, possible traumatic brain injury, and potential psychological trauma.

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Personal note: Trump don't know jack about brain injuries. Because his ain't working at all. These initial medical investigations need more than one opinion. Concussions to the brain are not quick fixes. Overtime things could get very much worse. The brain is the control panel for our entire body. If it gets whacked - you never know just how bad. Only time will tell.

These guys will have to be monitored over many years as they could result in personal emotional changes - internal bleeding - and erratic mood changes. These are only preliminary results. It's not like getting surgery - concussions can cause misfires at any time so its not a quick fix rather needs constant check ups. It's not so easy to say everybody will be just fine from shell shock - it can last a life time. Full medical coverage for life should be given to all from brain injuries in war and civilian life.

This is not something to waiver and not a quick fix. You will be sorry you ever said that in public. All wars result in some form of injury - shell shock and many other injuries will screw up the brain function from traumatic injuries.

Get a life Trump go back to your hotel's and have your brain checked out!

Boats

[Boats]

TRUMP: TROOPS INJURED IN IRAN ATTACK JUST HAD “HEADACHES”
Re: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020...-had-headaches

Though Donald Trump assured Americans that “all is well” following Iran’s retaliatory missile attack on a United States base in Iraq, U.S. Central Command last week announced that the strikes actually left 11 service members injured. Asked to explain the contradiction between his characterization and the actual events on the ground during a Tuesday press conference, the president had a totally empathetic, not at all out-of-touch answer: the troops weren’t really wounded—they “had headaches.”

“I don’t consider them very serious injuries relative to other injuries that I’ve seen,” Trump said, explaining that he’s “seen people with no legs and no arms.” “No, I don’t consider [head trauma] to be bad injuries, no.”

The president here is referring to traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, which are a pervasive problem for the military. Though concussions are perhaps the most common injury among service members, they’re often under-diagnosed and poorly understood, which can have lasting negative impacts on troops’ health. In October, Trump’s own government put $50 million toward concussion research. Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense “share an urgent, ongoing commitment to better understand the long-term impact of TBI,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement at the time.

Trump’s response almost certainly has less to do with his thoughts about cognitive health than with looking like a bozo for having been unaware of the injuries—or worse, lying about them—when he offered up a weirdly upbeat assessment of the attack Iran launched to avenge the killing of military leader Qassem Soleimani. “The American people should be extremely grateful and happy,” he said in a televised address the morning after Tehran’s counterpunch. “No Americans were harmed in last night’s attack.” His refusal to back down in the face of evidence to the contrary is, at this point, predictable.

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Personal note: Trump how wrong you are!!! See next thread for specifics.

Boats

[Boats]

Veterans may be more likely to experience migraine attacks and headaches than civilians
By: American & Migraine Foundation - 11-19-18
Re: https://americanmigrainefoundation.o...atic-headache/

This thread has two section's read all these issues below! Important for you!!

#1: The persistent impact of traumatic brain injuries

Despite how common and severe concussion is, this form of traumatic brain injury is widely misunderstood. These misconceptions prevent people from seeking appropriate care immediately after a head injury and from learning about post-traumatic headache, one of the most common and persistent effects of concussion. Here’s what you need to know about concussion and migraine.

Concussion’s Relation to Migraine and Post-Traumatic Headache

According to Dr. Bert Vargas, Director of the Sports Neurology and Concussion Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center, 95% of people with concussion will experience headache associated with that concussion. “Among those with headache, about two-thirds are going to have migraine features,” he said. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean that everyone will experience post-traumatic headache, a headache that develops within seven days of an injury or after regaining consciousness.

One of the biggest misconceptions about concussion is that you have to lose consciousness. That is simply not the case, says Dr. Amaal Starling, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. In fact, she says, “less than 10% of individuals who have had a concussion actually lose consciousness.” Another common misconception is that you have to experience a direct blow to the head. “Any type of injury that causes the head to move forwards of backwards quickly can result in a whiplash injury to the head,” she says. Understanding these two common misconceptions of concussion is the first step to prevent post-traumatic headache. If you are injured, it is important to consult a health care provider immediately who can treat you and help prevent the onset of post-traumatic headache.

Some individuals have a higher risk of developing post-traumatic headache—in particular, those with a family history of migraine. Additionally, “A preexisting history of headache disorder—specifically migraine—may predispose an individual to develop post-traumatic headache after having an injury to the head,” Dr. Starling says. Research also suggests that the “female gender might actually play a role in the development of post-traumatic headache, and it may actually be a risk factor,” she adds.

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Headache

While there are several subtle differences between migraine and post-traumatic headache, a large percentage of people with post-traumatic headache report experiencing symptoms similar to migraine—including headache, nausea, dizziness, insomnia, poor concentration, memory problems, and sensitivity to light and sound.

Dr. Lawrence Newman, Director of NYU Langone Health’s Headache Division, says that headache symptoms can last even years after the accident. “Thankfully, there are many opportunities for health care providers to prevent headache progression,” he said. “Identifying concussion early on and seeking professional help is essential.”

Preventing and Diagnosing Post-Traumatic Headache

Every concussion is different, so it’s vital to speak to a health care professional immediately after injury to determine an individualized treatment plan. Early treatment by a professional can reduce risk of further complications and help prevent persistent headache and other symptoms.

In the case of severe symptoms or complicated medical histories, it is recommended to consult a headache specialist. Dr. Vargas shared, “Headache specialists are expert at asking high-yield questions and identifying factors or underlying contributors to post-traumatic headache that maybe aren’t so obvious.” A headache specialist will also be able to suggest appropriate treatment options and unmask secondary causes for headache that might be separate from migraine.

Treatment for Post-Traumatic Headache

Health care providers currently treat post-traumatic headache like the headache it most resembles (commonly migraine or tension-type). This is because there are no treatments specifically designed and approved for post-traumatic headache. Dr. Vargas shared that case reports and his personal experience suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy and non-pharmacologic treatments work well for some patients as complements to other therapies, but hopes that research and concussion registries will expand understanding and treatment options for this unique population.

“Concussion awareness is key for health care providers and patients alike,” said Dr. Newman. “We can change the way concussion is treated and studied by exposing more neurology residents to concussion care, standardizing concussion response in hospitals and designating specialized concussion teams to evaluate and treat concussion.”

NEXT BELOW: Important!!! Must Read (2nd important issue see below)

#2: Veterans and Migraine (11-08-18)
By: American - Migraine Foundation
Re: https://americanmigrainefoundation.o...-and-migraine/

A. Veterans may be more likely to experience migraine attacks and headaches than civilians

Military veterans can face health challenges unique to their experiences, including migraine and headache disorders that stem from brain injury and other trauma experienced during combat. The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported that veterans are more likely to experience migraine and headaches than non-veterans. About 36% of U.S. veterans who served a one-year deployment to Iraq were diagnosed with migraine or showed signs of migraine, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

B. Veterans who have a traumatic brain injury may also experience a high rate of headaches.

A headache frequency of 63% was found among veterans who were exposed to multiple sources of trauma, according to a 2013 study published in the British Journal of Pain, and 33% of veterans at a polytrauma center who had suffered a traumatic brain injury needed to be referred to a neurologist for headache treatments and assessment. Headaches, particularly tension-type headaches, were found to be more common in those who had experienced a penetrating head injury.

C. A 2013 study published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain also found a significant number of veterans who experience headaches, with about 12% —or 56,300—of veterans being diagnosed with a headache-related disorder in 2011. The study found headache diagnoses were more common among women veterans than men and that women veterans were more than 2 and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with migraine.

D. Unique Challenges

1. Veterans experience migraine symptoms that are similar to those that non-veterans experience, including headache, sensitivity to light and sound, among others. Those with post-traumatic headache—which can occur after a mild traumatic brain injury, like concussion—may experience headaches that feel similar to cluster headaches, migraine attacks or tension headaches. These headaches may start soon after the traumatic brain injury, but the symptoms may not begin until weeks or months after an injury.

2. Despite the frequent diagnoses of migraine and headache disorders in veterans, there are unique challenges veterans face in preventing and treating migraine attacks. People with this invisible disease already endure a social stigma due to people misunderstanding how debilitating migraine attacks can be. This stigma can compound the social hurdles veterans face, making it even more challenging for them to rejoin civilian life.

3. Veterans should be referred to a neurologist or headache specialist to receive a diagnosis and treatment for their migraine, according to the Department of Veteran Affairs.

E. Treatment Options

Once a veteran has been diagnosed, doctors can help veterans identify their unique triggers for migraine attacks. Veterans can benefit from the same acute and preventive treatments that help others living with migraine. Lifestyle changes such as a regular, balanced diet, a consistent sleeping pattern and avoiding potential triggers can also prove effective.

But veterans—especially those suffering from post-traumatic stress—can also benefit from treatments that are geared toward their experiences. Guided imagery can help them relax mentally. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy can teach veterans the skills they need to process traumatic events, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing can help them diminish the intensity they feel about prior traumatic experiences.

Stress management can also help veterans understand how to cope with stress—a frequent trigger—and reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks and headaches in the long term.

For more information on managing migraine symptoms and headache disorders, consult our doctor-verified resource library. Our Find a Doctor tool can also help you locate a headache specialist who can develop an individualized treatment plan for you.

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Personal note: Don't sign any releases from the Military if you are still suffering from service related headaches or migraines. Shell Shock and Rocket Concussions can do undo damage if left untreated. At least have these issues on your medical records when discharged as you should qualify for Full Medical Coverage and monthly injured pay for these persistent issues. My Dad and Uncles in WWII and Korea had these issues so don't think you are the only ones. If the pain doesn't go way or comes back make sure you report this to your supervisor and get regular medical check ups.

Also at least make sure its in your medical records for these options if needed later. CYA
meaning Cover You Ass - because no one else will when it comes to your health!!

Boats