Health

Retired Air Force Tech Sgt. Eric Heideman stays active with adaptive sports, including shooting with a precision air rifle, swimming, archery, and riding a recumbent bike for exercise and fun, which help his anxiety and PTSD (Courtesy of Crystal and Eric Heideman).
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Caregiver wife’s support instrumental to wounded warrior’s recovery

Rural Wisconsin natives Eric and Crystal Heideman love the outdoors, particularly water activities.
Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jason David spoke about his own journey of recovery through the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program during a video conversation with Defense Health Agency Command Sgt. Major Michael Gragg at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, Nov. 19.
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Mental stress is like a ‘check engine light’ flashing–Don’t ignore it

For one Air Force senior enlisted leader, the problem of “combat stress” and the toll it takes on warfighters – and often on their families, too – continues to be an issue that the military community struggles to fully understand.
Alex and Allison Pate are pictured shortly after Alex’s cancer diagnosis in 2017 (Photo courtesy of Alex and Allison Pate).
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For many wounded warriors, not all damage is visible or combat-related

Alex and Allison Pate have known each other since they were teenagers. Alex joined the Air Force after high school and the couple married shortly thereafter.
Following a 2021 DHA procedural instruction to standardize clinical care processes and resources to prevent and treat post-partum hemorrhage incidents across the Military Health System, the Women’s Health Clinical Management Team drove a campaign to educate and train care staff and implement a post-partum hemorrhage bundle at 12 military hospitals in two initial waves. (Photo: Jacob Sippel, Naval Hospital Jacksonville/Released)
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How health care for new mothers is improving across the MHS

For years the Military Health System has provided new mothers with high-quality care that consistently tops the civilian health care sector.
Former Navy Musician 3rd Class Abbie Johnson pets her service dog Kona during swim practice at the 2018 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Milham)
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For wounded warriors, adaptive sports bring camaraderie and confidence

Abbie Johnson, a 32-year-old former Navy Musician 3rd Class from California, was suffering from at-times debilitating post-traumatic stress when she started distance running in 2014 and got involved in the Navy's Wounded Warrior program.
In this photo from September 2017, Navy Seaman Chris Krobath, a prosthetics patient at Naval Medical Center San Diego, reached for new heights on the hospital’s climbing wall as part of rehabilitation therapy.
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How maintaining prosthetic services can help prepare for the next fight

Despite the winding down of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, Military Health System services for our wounded warriors, particularly those who have lost limbs in these conflicts, remain steady and may well increase in scope during the coming years.
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Mental Notes with Hilary Valdez: Stress during the pandemic

If you are alive, there is stress in your life, and in your family life. Some people wake up screaming. Some people can’t sleep. Some people stay in bed most of the day.
Senior Airman Nadirah McKnight highlights the mission of the 21st Medical Support Squadron pharmacy section at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, in September, explaining the new MHS GENESIS Patient Portal. In its third phase of development, the future Virtual Education Center will be integrated into the Patient Portal (Video clip from Staff Sgt. Alexandra Longfellow, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado).
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Future patient health education portal will be 'source of truth'

The Defense Health Agency is prototyping a new Virtual Education Center to provide Military Health System patients with a slate of personalized, vetted, and timely medical information to address questions that inevitably arise between appointments.
A participant and his family watch as wounded, ill and injured service members participate in the air rifle and air pistol competitions during the 2017 Army Warrior Games Trials at Fort Bliss, Texas (Department of Defense photo by Roger Wollenberg).
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Tips for caregivers – How to take care of yourself and avoid burnout

Caring for a recovering service member can be hard. It can take on an added level of difficulty and stress when, as is often the case, that person is a friend, family member or loved one.
The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program promotes readiness, health and wellness through the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. To learn more about resources, education and treatment options the Kadena ADAPT office provides, contact the clinic directly at 634-3272. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Curt Beach, U.S. Air Force illustration by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)
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Don’t wait, ask for help: A journey of recovery

When a person joins the military, they are provided with a plethora of tools, resources and helping agencies to utilize when life begins to feel overwhelming. Unfortunately, even when equipped with all of these sources of support, asking for help can sometimes be one of the hardest things a person can do.
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Mental Notes with Hilary Valdez: Life is the continual search

Individuals develop at different rates. Infants for example, eventually become aware of themselves as a person. In turn, each child develops a complex range of emotions including intellectual, psychological, and reasoning capabilities.
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Peter Warren (right) administers an influenza vaccination to Air Force Airman First Class Zachery Mamon as part of a seasonal shot exercise onboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, October 29, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Triniti Lersch)
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Are you prepared for flu season? Let TRICARE help

Flu season is here once again. Are you prepared? With the COVID-19 Delta variant continuing to spread and our health care system overburdened, it's important for all of us to help combat the spread of flu.
Eating right, physical activity, adequate rest and taking care of our mental health not only improves overall health and wellness, but also makes us more resilient during COVID-19.
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COVID-19: Lifestyle tips to stay healthy

As we move toward a third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus has changed many of our daily routines in ways no one anticipated and that have become the new normal.
Photo by: Ashley Patoka, Regional Health Command Europe
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How DHA plans to boost battlefield care for military working dogs

Aex, a military working dog, was working alongside his handler with an Army military police unit in Afghanistan in 2018 when a nearby insurgent detonated a suicide vest.
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Running - an inexpensive hobby for a healthy lifestyle

Exercise has many health benefits. In particular, running for me has been a great stress relief and a way to cope with life’s challenges.
Today’s female service member population is now at 17%. The Wise Health for Women Warriors podcast supports primary care managers who need additional information when caring for women warriors.
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Wise health for women warriors podcast supports women's health

Nearly 17% of today's active duty service members are women.
As these women are continuing to serve, the Women and Infant Clinical Community has developed the Wise Health for Women Warriors podcast to support primary care managers who need additional information when caring for women warriors.