Gulf War Syndrome Symptoms
Many veterans in the United States and throughout other countries, like the UK, started reporting more symptoms after conflicts abroad. Shortly after returning home from active duty, veterans had symptoms that included but are not limited to the following:
• Persistent headaches
• Fatigue
• Mood and sleep disturbances, such as depression, insomnia, and anxiety
• Muscle aches and pains
• Cognitive dysfunctions, like inability to retain information, short-term memory loss, and lack of concentration
• Neurological symptoms, like numbness and/or tingling in the extremities
• Skin conditions – unusual hair loss, rashes, and so on
• Persistent coughing, allergies, asthma, and bronchitis
• Sensitivity to certain chemicals and chemical scents
• Gastrointestinal problems, like bloating, nausea, constipation and diarrhea
• Menstrual issues
• Cardiovascular problems
• And other symptoms that vary widely between individuals.
The important thing to keep in mind about Gulf War Syndrome and related symptoms is that they oftentimes are attributed to other conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome or certain environmental illnesses. Since the similarities between these symptoms has not gone unnoticed, many medical professionals have come to the conclusion that, while the cause of GWS has yet to be explained, the illnesses share like etiologies.
