A Heartfelt Salute to Veterans
By Thomas G. Broussard, Jr., Ph.D.
Support Network Volunteer Moderator
The AHA goes to great lengths to educate the public – including military members and vets – about the need to take care of one’s health at every stage of life and through any medical condition. With our deepest gratitude and respect, we honor your service on this Veterans Day and every day.
On behalf of our American Heart Association / American Stroke Association family, we at the Support Network would like to take a moment to say a humble and heartful thank you to all veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice in protecting our freedoms.
The military is a family endeavor. Every person in uniform knows what it feels like to be part of that family, no matter where they might be: a sailor at sea, a soldier in the sand, or an airman aloft. We at the AHA recognize what you have endured and experienced as a member of the military family, especially as you transition to civilian life.
I am a Navy vet who sailed in surface ships and submarines. When I left the Navy, I thought I knew a lot about civilian life and what it might look like. I thought things would be so much easier after the military, but it was tough to make that transition; it required changing from one way of life to a completely different one. I still had all the concerns around employment, housing, finance and healthcare, but suddenly I was handling them all on my own.
Even after adjusting to civilian life, I never thought much about my health until I felt a tug in my chest. I figured it was just heartburn. It didn’t always appear, either, so I didn’t worry about it. But after a couple of weeks, I noticed that the tugging in my chest only happened after a meal while walking. Finally I told my wife about it, and she asked (more like demanded) that I go see the doctor immediately.
Thank goodness that she insisted! If I’d waited, ignoring the problem or hoping things would get better, it’s likely I wouldn’t be here now. My father died at 49 years old from a heart attack. I was 59 years old when the symptoms of heart disease started to show themselves. Unfortunately, many people remain unaware or uneducated about their own health until it’s too late.
The AHA goes to great lengths to educate the public – including military members and vets – about the need to take care of one’s health at every stage of life and through any medical condition. With our deepest gratitude and respect, we honor your service on this Veterans Day and every day.
More information for military veterans from heart.org:
Your feet, your heart: What’s the connection? | American Heart Association
Veterans Health Benefits Appeal | American Stroke Association
Diabetes still a dangerous condition in era of modern medicine | American Heart Association
Severe war injuries and PTSD can impact hypertension risk | American Heart Association
Keeping the Nation’s Heroes ‘Heart Strong’ | Go Red for Women