Veteran health at a turning point
Long-term illness is now the biggest health problem America's veterans face. Prevention programs can help.
More than 6 out of 10 veterans have two or more long-term health problems. Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, pain, and mental health issues hit veterans harder than most adults.
The VA has done a lot of good work on whole-person and lifestyle care. But most health choices happen at home, not in a clinic. That is where community partners can help.
Our programs are made to work with what the VA already offers, not compete with it. Diabetes Prevention, Hypertension, Smoking Cessation, and the Mediterranean Diet track all match the health problems veterans face most. They fit well in VSO chapters, employer plans, and community groups.
The turning point is not one new program. It is a shift in how we work: making prevention easy to find, easy to afford, and easy to trust for the veterans who have already given so much.
