Military life affects your whole body, mind, and spirit, and not just your muscles or bones. Years after duty ends, the impact of your service remains. The time you spent serving your country often leaves you with health issues that need addressing, whether in your lungs, limbs, or brain.
From chronic physical illness to sleep and mental health, it’s important to look at the bigger picture and take steps to maximize wellness after returning to civilian life. This article shares some simple health tips to help you feel your best and take control of your health post-service.
Take Care of Your Lungs
As military personnel, you were likely exposed to hazardous air. Old buildings, naval ships, and active combat zones all pose risks. For instance, asbestos was widely used in military construction and shipbuilding until the late 1970s. When disturbed, it releases tiny toxic fibres that can be inhaled and cause irreparable lung damage.
Over time, this can lead to serious conditions like asbestosis or mesothelioma, a rare cancer that affects the lining of the lungs or abdomen. Navy mesothelioma is a particular concern because of the amount of asbestos used in ship insulation, piping, and engine rooms.
It can take decades for symptoms to appear, so it’s worth bringing up your service history with a specialist doctor who can check your lung health. Early detection is key for more favorable health outcomes.
Eat to Reduce Inflammation
Food is fuel, and the way you nourish your body has a significant impact on your health, wellness, and longevity. Many veterans deal with long-term pain or stiffness. This often comes from inflammation in the body, and one of the easiest ways to fight inflammation is through what you eat. Focus on simple, whole, plant-based foods like leafy greens, berries, legumes, and nuts. These all help your body to heal.
Keep Your Joints Moving
Old injuries and joint pain are incredibly common after years of physical work. However, staying still too much can actually make things worse. Even light movement helps, so stretch every day, and if you can find a sport you enjoy, all the better. Whether it’s yoga, swimming, a team sport, or something else, regular exercise helps keep your joints loose. The benefits of movement extend far beyond what it does for your physical body. It helps with mental health, too.
Reach Out When You Need Support
Prioritizing rest and recovery isn’t always easy when you’re used to the structure and discipline of military service. It can be tough to talk about what you’ve been through and to find healthy ways to cope with stress, anxiety, PTSD, or adjusting to civilian life. Reach out to other veterans, join a local group, or talk to a therapist. Human connection should not be underestimated in any healing journey. Strong social ties are absolutely critical to well-being.
Endnote
Your service may be behind you, but looking after your health is a mission that never really ends. The things that you experienced, both physically and mentally, leave lasting effects. They almost always require concentrated care and attention during your transition back into life at home. You’ve served others; now it’s time to put your needs first with purposeful self-compassion and the same strength and determination you’ve always had.
