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Military & Veterans

Specialized Care for Military Personnel and Veterans

At Summit Hyperbarics + Wellness, we honor the courage and sacrifices of military personnel and veterans. Our specialized therapies, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and behavioral health services, are designed to address the unique challenges faced by those who serve. Whether it's recovery from physical injuries, managing PTSD, or improving overall well-being, we're here to support you on your path to healing.

Mental Health Support

PTSD and Trauma Care

Military life often exposes individuals to significant stress and trauma, leading to mental health challenges. Studies show:

  • 23% of veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) experience PTSD annually. [1]
  • PTSD accounts for 52% of mental health diagnoses among OEF/OIF veterans. [5]
  • Veterans with PTSD frequently face increased substance use [3], [6], sleep disorders [7], [8], mood changes, and isolation. [10]

These challenges may lead to increased substance use, sleep disorders, mood changes, isolation, and risky behaviors. Tailored care is essential to address these issues effectively.[9]

Understanding TBI

The Invisible Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the most common injuries among post-9/11 service members, with over 400,000 diagnoses since 2000. [23] TBIs often result from:

  • Ballistic Trauma: Injuries from projectiles. [24]
  • Blunt Trauma: Head impacts from stationary or moving objects. [24]
  • Blast-Related Trauma: Overpressure from explosions, such as IEDs. [24]

Repeated low-level blast exposures during combat or training increase the risk of TBIs, highlighting the need for specialized care and long-term support. [18], [26]

Long-Term TBI Effects

Overcoming Lasting Challenges

While many mild TBIs resolve quickly, some veterans experience persistent symptoms, including:

  • Headaches and fatigue [27]
  • Mood and cognitive difficulties [14]
  • Sleep disturbances [22]

Known as post-concussion syndrome, these symptoms can significantly affect employment, relationships, and quality of life. [25]

Barriers to Care

Bridging the Gap in TBI Treatment

Many service members with mild TBI do not seek treatment due to stigma, fear of career impact, or lack of awareness about symptoms. At Summit, we are dedicated to breaking these barriers by offering accessible, confidential, and specialized care. [20], [19]

Community & Confidential Care

A Safe Space for Healing

At Summit, we understand the importance of privacy and trust. Our partnerships with veteran organizations and support groups ensure you receive personalized care in a respectful and supportive environment. Together, we can help you achieve recovery and resilience. [28]

You Deserve The Best Care

Honoring those who serve

Whether you're a veteran, active-duty military member, or first responder, your well-being is our priority. Our team at Summit Hyperbarics and Wellness is here to support you with personalized care, innovative therapies, and a commitment to your healing journey.

Start Your Recovery Journey

References

  1. Fulton, J. J., Calhoun, P. S., Wagner, H. R., Schry, A. R., Hair, L. P., Feeling, N., Elbogen, E., & Beckham, J. C. (2015). The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans: A meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 31, 98–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.02.003.
  2. Hyatt, K., Davis, L. L., & Barroso, J. (2014). Chasing the care: Soldiers' experience following combat-related mild traumatic brain injury. Military Medicine, 179(8), 849–855. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00526.
  3. Back, S. E., Killeen, T. K., Teer, A. P., Hartwell, E. E., Federline, A., Beylotte, F., & Cox, E. (2014). Substance use disorders and PTSD: An exploratory study of treatment preferences among military veterans. Addictive Behaviors, 39(2), 369–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.09.017.
  4. Smith, S. M., Goldstein, R. B., & Grant, B. F. (2016). The association between post-traumatic stress disorder and lifetime DSM-5 psychiatric disorders among veterans: Data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III). Journal of Psychiatric Research, 82, 16–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.06.022.
  5. Seal, K. H., Bertenthal, D., Miner, C. R., Sen, S., & Marmar, C. (2007). Bringing the war back home: Mental health disorders among 103,788 US veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan seen at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. Archives of Internal Medicine, 167(5), 476–482. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.167.5.476.
  6. Seal, K. H., Cohen, G., Waldrop, A., Cohen, B. E., Maguen, S., & Ren, L. (2011). Substance use disorders in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in VA healthcare, 2001–2010: Implications for screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 116(1–3), 93–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.11.027.
  7. Lewis, V., Creamer, M., & Failla, S. (2009). Is poor sleep in veterans a function of post-traumatic stress disorder? Military Medicine, 174(9), 948–951. https://doi.org/10.7205/milmed-d-04-0208.
  8. DeViva, J. C., McCarthy, E., Southwick, S. M., Tsai, J., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2021). The impact of sleep quality on the incidence of PTSD: Results from a 7-Year, Nationally Representative, Prospective Cohort of U.S. Military Veterans. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 81, 102413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102413.
  9. James, L. M., Strom, T. Q., & Leskela, J. (2014). Risk-taking behaviors and impulsivity among veterans with and without PTSD and mild TBI. Military Medicine, 179(4), 357–363. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00241.
  10. Wilson, G., Hill, M., & Kiernan, M. D. (2018). Loneliness and social isolation of military veterans: Systematic narrative review. Occupational Medicine, 68(9), 600–609. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqy160.
  11. Phipps, H., Mondello, S., Wilson, A., Dittmer, T., Rohde, N. N., Schroeder, P. J., Nichols, J., McGirt, C., Hoffman, J., Tanksley, K., Chohan, M., Heiderman, A., Abbass, H., Kobeissy, F., & Hinds, S. (2020). Characteristics and impact of U.S. military blast-related mild traumatic brain injury: A systematic review. Frontiers in Neurology, 11, 559318. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.559318.
  12. Ravula, A. R., Das, T., Gosain, A., Dolalas, T., Padhi, S., Chandra, N., & Pfister, B. J. (2022). An update on repeated blast traumatic brain injury. Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, 24, Article 100409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobme.2022.100409.
  13. Brenner, L. A., Forster, J. E., Gradus, J. L., Hostetter, T. A., Hoffmire, C. A., Walsh, C. G., ... & Adams, R. S. (2023). Associations of military-related traumatic brain injury with new-onset mental health conditions and suicide risk. JAMA Network Open, 6(7), e2326296. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.26296.
  14. Mayer, C. L., Huber, B. R., & Peskind, E. (2013). Traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation, and post-traumatic headaches. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 53(9), 1523–1530. https://doi.org/10.1111/head.12173.
  15. Ponsford, J., Nguyen, S., Downing, M., Bosch, M., McKenzie, J. E., Turner, S., Chau, M., Mortimer, D., Gruen, R. L., Knott, J., & Green, S. (2019). Factors associated with persistent post-concussion symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury in adults. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 51(1), 32–39. https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2492.
  16. Jannace, K. C., Pompeii, L., Gimeno Ruiz de Porras, D., Perkison, W. B., Yamal, J. M., Trone, D. W., & Rull, R. P. (2024). Lifetime traumatic brain injury and risk of post-concussive symptoms in the millennium cohort study. Journal of Neurotrauma, 41(5–6), 613–622. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2022.0213.
  17. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Health Care Services; Committee on the Review of the Department of Veterans Affairs Examinations for Traumatic Brain Injury. (2019). Evaluation of the disability determination process for traumatic brain injury in veterans. National Academies Press (US).
  18. Escolas, S. M., Luton, M., Ferdosi, H., Chavez, B. D., & Engel, S. D. (2020). Traumatic brain injuries: Unreported and untreated in an army population. Military Medicine, 185(Suppl 1), 154–160. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usz259.
  19. Belding, J. N., Englert, R. M., Fitzmaurice, S., Jackson, J. R., Koenig, H. G., Hunter, M. A., Thomsen, C. J., & da Silva, U. O. (2021). Potential health and performance effects of high-level and low-level blast: A scoping review of two decades of research. Frontiers in Neurology, 12, 628782. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.628782.
  20. Dieter, J. N., & Engel, S. D. (2019). Traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder: Comorbid consequences of war. Neuroscience Insights, 14, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1177/1179069519892933.
  21. Van Praag, D. L. G., Cnossen, M. C., Polinder, S., Wilson, L., & Maas, A. I. R. (2019). Post-traumatic stress disorder after civilian traumatic brain injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence rates. Journal of Neurotrauma, 36(23), 3220–3232. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2018.5759.
  22. Hoge, C. W., McGurk, D., Thomas, J. L., Cox, A. L., Engel, C. C., & Castro, C. A. (2008). Mild traumatic brain injury in US soldiers returning from Iraq. New England Journal of Medicine, 358(5), 453–463. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa072972.
  23. Permenter, C. M., Fernández-de Thomas, R. J., & Sherman, A. L. (2023). Postconcussive syndrome. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
  24. US Department of Veterans Affairs: Office of Research & Development. (2022). Traumatic brain injury (TBI). Retrieved June 28, 2024, from https://www.research.va.gov/topics/tbi.cfm.
  25. Bryden, D. W., Tilghman, J. I., & Hinds, S. R. (2019). Blast-related traumatic brain injury: Current concepts and research considerations. Journal of Experimental Neuroscience, 13, 1179069519872213. https://doi.org/10.1177/1179069519872213.
  26. Voormolen, D. C., Zeldovich, M., Haagsma, J. A., Polinder, S., Friedrich, S., Maas, A. I. R., Wilson, L., Steyerberg, E. W., Covic, A., Andelic, N., Plass, A. M., Wu, Y. J., Asendorf, T., von Steinbüechel, N., & Center-TBI Participants and Investigators. (2020). Outcomes after complicated and uncomplicated mild traumatic brain injury at three- and six-months post-injury: Results from the CENTER-TBI study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(5), 1525–1542. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9051525.
  27. Department of Defense. (2024). Low-level blast exposure. Retrieved on June 28, 2024, from https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Warfighter-Brain-Health/Brain-Health-Topics/Low-Level-Blast-Exposure.
  28. Carlson, K. F., Pogoda, T. K., Gilbert, T. A., Resnick, S. G., Twamley, E. W., O'Neil, M. E., & Sayer, N. A. (2018). Supported Employment for Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury: Patient Perspectives. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 99(2S), S4–S13.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2017.06.027.
  29. Pogoda, T. K., Stolzmann, K. L., Iverson, K. M., Baker, E., Krengel, M., Lew, H. L., Amara, J. H., & Meterko, M. (2016). Associations between traumatic brain injury, suspected psychiatric conditions, and unemployment in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 31(3), 191–203. https://doi.org/10.1097/HTR.0000000000000092.