By Caitlin Hagan
CNN Medical Associate Producer

Matthew Brown, 24, was shot in the leg in Falluja, Iraq.

Since the day a sniper shot Matthew Brown, 24, in the leg in Falluja, Iraq, life has never been the same (watch video). It was Veterans Day 2004, and Brown was trying to locate the shooter who was targeting one of his fellow Marines. But the sniper found Brown first.

"Nothing can describe it. You're taking a small projectile moving roughly 2,800 feet per second and stopping it on a dime, so there's searing heat, shooting pain, just pain everywhere," Brown says.

A priest gave him his last rites before he was airlifted out of Falluja. "They weren't really sure where I was shot because there was blood everywhere," he says.

Many blood transfusions and surgeries later, Brown awoke from a medically induced coma. This time, he was in Maryland.

"It was very disorienting, very confusing," Brown remembers. "I couldn't understand why I couldn't move my leg. I kept reaching for my sidearm."

He still had both legs and feet but had suffered extensive nerve damage. At 20 years old, Brown had to learn how to walk again. But there was more to his injury than his new physical limitations. One of every five veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan has post-traumatic stress disorder. Matthew Brown is one of them.

"Cars backfiring make me very jumpy,” he says. “People behind me, loud noises, constantly on alert looking around – is that McDonald's bag on the side of the road a bomb or just a bag? Is someone trying to get me?”

What started out as a prescription to take one to two painkillers every six hours eventually spiraled in to something more serious. Brown began abusing his medications. "Oxycontin, methadone, Percocet, Vicodin, once in a while Valium, " he says. "There would be some times where I would crush up a methadone....snort that, then chew a Percocet, then swallow a Vicodin, just so they would all hit at different times and the high continued."

And on top of the drugs, he was drinking heavily. "I was just, indirectly, I guess just trying to end it. End the pain, for a brief moment or forever."

Brown says he doesn't remember much from that time but he knows the exact moment when he hit rock bottom. Shortly after that night, he says he was able to speak up and for the first time, ask for help to deal with his PTSD.

"It took a while...to man up and get the help, " he says. "It was terrifying, knowing that I was going to go meet a complete stranger and spill my heart. I don't think I've ever told anyone everything before."

"Right now, the VA [Veterans Administration] is reporting over 50,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have some sort of substance abuse or alcohol issue," says Tom Tarantino, with the advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America or IAVA. "Keep in mind, only 44 percent of current or former veterans even use the VA, so the actual number is far, far bigger."

Brown says communicating with fellow veterans is what best helped him manage his PTSD. "Really the only people who understand PTSD are the ones who have it," says Brown. Tarantino agrees. "No one can talk to a vet like another vet. No one can understand what someone's going through, what a combat vet is going through, other than someone who has also seen combat."

That's why the IAVA has created a social networking site specifically for combat veterans to share their experiences in dealing with PTSD. Community of Vets is a site where veterans can ask one another questions about dealing with family life, job stress, alcohol or drug abuse, and treatment options.

Tarantino believes that kind of open communication is crucial for someone with PTSD. "These are wounds. You're actually a stronger service member, you're a stronger soldier if you say, ‘Hey I'm having a problem. I need help. Let's get me fixed so I can get back into the fight," he says. "We do an excellent job of training people how to be warriors. We don't do a very good job in the military and as a society of bringing them back from warriors to citizens."

Brown believes he has benefited from talking with other veterans through the IAVA site. His darkest days seem to be behind him and the future looks bright. He's married and has two children, a boy and a girl.

"Life is still a battle with PTSD," he says. "I now realize that I don't want to be a number on a piece of paper, I want to live to be 70 or 80 – I want to grow up to see my son graduate from boot camp or high school or college....Same with my daughter."

"Now I'm trying to live up to what the people that died could have been. Where they would want to be."

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Caitlin Hagan
CNN Medical Associate Producer

On a hot sunny day, eight men play street soccer on the hard top of a local basketball court. They high-five and laugh while running drills and scrimmaging. Their dynamic is unique because despite their competition, they are also extremely supportive of one another. Friendly trash talk is intermixed with calls of praise that continue when it's time for a break and the men move off the court, into the shade. To an outsider, this group of friends is happy and healthy, enjoying an afternoon in the sunshine.

Street Soccer USA tries to give hope and restore self-worth to homeless men around the country.

No one would ever suspect these men are homeless. In fact, being homeless is what brings them together.
Welcome to the Atlanta Street Soccer team. One of 16 in the country, the team is part of the national program, Street Soccer USA. The program, open to men who are homeless, addicts in a rehabilitation program, or refugees, seeks to use sports, specifically street soccer, to help the players turn their lives around.

When someone is homeless, “you stop thinking about your health and things that make you happy, things that make you want to live, that make you want to be a productive member of society, that make you want to get up and go to work.” Participating in soccer and sports “makes you want to take that next step. It motivates you to want to do better,” says Jeremy Wisham, an AmeriCorps volunteer who coaches the Atlanta team.

Calvin Riley had a job and an apartment before his company went bankrupt and he was laid off. Eventually he lost everything and became one of the more than 2 million Americans who are homeless. “I was depressed…I never thought I’d be homeless. I never thought I’d be down in the homeless shelter.”

A chance encounter with Wisham brought Riley out on the court. Since then, he says, everything has changed. “Playing soccer got me back focused. Being around positive people…helped me to go out and do something.” Riley is now enrolled in college classes with a job lined up for when he graduates in a few months. He has lost weight and he quit smoking. “You know, there’s a lot of running in soccer. When I first came…I was running constantly. I didn’t like the way it made me feel…so after three practices I said, I’m giving it up, man. I am giving it up.”

“Street Soccer is about redefining yourself and setting goals,” says Lawrence Cann, founder and CEO of Street Soccer USA. “The homeless are usually locked out of normal life so a chance to get in and play and be a part of the team…it’s something they can be proud of at the end of the day.”

The 16 teams will meet at the end of July in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Homeless Cup. From there, about a dozen players will travel to Milan to compete in this year’s World Homeless Cup. “Soccer is the world’s game. It’s the people’s game, and when you’re homeless, you’re so alone…but you become part of a community, the soccer community, probably the biggest community in the world,” says Cann.

Riley believes that support has been key to his success. “When you join this team, it’s like a family. If you need anything, we’ll be there for you.”

Do you think sports could be a solution to homelessness? Has sports ever helped you overcome an obstacle?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Caitlin Hagan
CNN Medical Associate Producer

OK America, I confess: Sometimes I can be a little bit of a potty mouth. (Mom, maybe this is not a great blog for you to read.) Yes, I know those dirty little words are unbecoming to some and I really should watch my language (and I really do try!) but sometimes, when I'm walking through my condo and I stub my baby pinky toe on a table leg and the pain takes my breath away and brings tears to my eyes and makes me freeze with my foot mid-air in ridiculous pain....well, I can't be held accountable for anything four-lettered I may say. (D**n it!)

Thankfully, Dr. Richard Stephens and his team at Keele University in the United Kingdom just published a study that says swearing actually has a pain-lessening effect. (See Mom? It’s healthy!) When we swear, we increase our threshold for pain, meaning we can bear it longer and don't feel it as much. Stephens is not sure why this happens, only that for some reason, "swearing appears to increase our pain tolerance."

Like those moments when I stub my toe, Stephens came up with the idea to study this after he accidentally whacked his finger with a hammer. "I swore a bit and then around the same time, our daughter was born. My wife swore throughout her labor...and the midwife said don't worry about it, we hear that language all the time." Not surprising, says clinical psychologist Paula Bloom. "From my own experience of giving birth without drugs to a 9 pound, 11 ounce child, I can imagine I had quite the little truck driver vocabulary going on."

For the study, Stephens asked the participants to submerge one hand in nearly freezing water for as long as they could while repeating a curse word. Later the participants submerged the same hand again, this time repeating a word they would use to describe a table. When people were cursing, they kept their hand in the water for 40 more seconds than they could otherwise. So what were the words that made that possible? Turns out they were different for everyone. "We decided at the outset that people would give us their own swear words," Stephens said. "Swearing is quite personal and what one person finds extremely offensive, someone else may not find offensive at all." That being said, the usual suspects topped the list: s**t, the F word and British slang – bollocks!

All joking aside, many people find swearing to be incredibly distasteful, regardless of when or why it happens. Bloom thinks this study may change that. "This removes the morality piece about language. We're so quick to judge and sometimes our judgment interferes with science. We're walking around thinking [swearing] is a bad thing...it's not really." Stephens agrees. "Swearing has gotten very bad publicity– it's a negatively construed thing. But the positive aspect of it is swearing self-regulates our emotions. It can have a beneficial effect."

What do you think? Is swearing helpful or distasteful?

By Caitlin Hagan
CNN Medical Associate Producer

Few things can make me as happy as a hot summer day at the beach. I'm a total sucker for sunshine but unfortunately, until recently, I had not been able to spend much time romping around in the sand. So when I packed my beach bag I made sure to bring not one, not two, but three bottles of sunscreen: plenty of protection to make sure my skin was sunkissed, not sunburned. Sounds like a great plan, right? Except all three had different SPFs, some but not all were broad spectrum, and one was just for my face. For a woman who wants to avoid a sunburn but maximize her vacation, things got a little confusing.

Apparently my dilemma is not that uncommon. Dr. Ariel Ostad is a dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at New York University who deals with this issue often. According to him, which SPF, or sun protection factor, you choose is not as important as what kind of radiation you're being protected from. SPF protects you from ultravoilet B, or UVB, radiation, the kind that causes sunburns. But when you are outside in the sun, your skin is also exposed to another type of damaging radiation. "Make sure your sunscreen contains an ingredient to block UVA radiation. 'Broad spectrum' is really the term that people should be looking for," advises Ostad. Since UVA rays are responsible for premature wrinkles and sun spots, it is best to keep your skin out of their reach.

But why isn't SPF the top priority? According to Ostad, the higher and higher SPFs for sale now are more about marketing than actual increased protection. It turns out that a sunscreen with a high SPF such as SPF 80 does not offer exponentially more protection, as most people think it does. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are diminishing returns the higher the SPF reaches. Sunscreen with SPF 30 lets in about 3 percent of the sun's harmful rays and a sunscreen with SPF 85 does not do much better, letting in more than one percent. "Anything above an SPF 30 makes absolutely no difference," says Ostad.

Keep in mind though, not all sunscreens are equal, even if they are broad spectrum. People worried about breaking out after slathering on sunscreen should opt for non-comedogenic products, which means that they won’t block pores. Sunscreens with an active ingredient of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are good bets for people with sensitive skin who worry about too many chemicals in their products.

Now I know that the next time I head out for a day in the sun, there's no need for confusion (or three bottles).

How do you keep your skin protected?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Caitlin Hagan
CNN Medical Associate Producer

One of my good friends recently went through an unexpected breakup. I'll spare you the details but suffice it to say it was not a pretty situation. But my friend is a strong person. A little time being sad and a few girls' nights were all she thought she needed to bounce back and feel happy again. But months went by and things didn't get any easier. I remember talking to her one night over dinner, when her sadness and anger gave way to frustration. She couldn't wait to stop being sad, she said. When would she be happy again?

What is the difference between sadness and depression? I posed that question to Dr. Paula Bloom, a licensed clinical psychologist. Bloom says it's all about your ability to function. Are your emotions interfering with your daily life? "It's OK to be sad or angry and have some of those feelings, but when you're affected physically, when you have changes in your appetite or your weight, or difficulty sleeping or focusing...or you experience memory problems, that's when it becomes something more serious."

A person with depression may isolate from the world around him or her. Dr. Charles Raison, a psychiatrist and clinical director of the Mind-Body Program at Emory University, described how unproductive emotions, meaning negative emotions, can make a person a magnet for more negativity. As a person with depression withdraws, he or she begins to make bad choices, stop exercising, or indulge in unhealthy vices such as drinking, smoking, or eating poorly. She may avoid social situations, argue with family or co-workers, and fail to stand up for herself when she normally would.

In this tough economic climate, difficult events such as losing a loved one or ending a relationship may be compounded by stress, anxiety or anger triggered by financial difficulties. Job loss can also mean health insurance loss, and a person confronted with unemployment and depression may feel that therapy or antidepressants are not affordable options. But there are steps you can take to help your mood that don’t cost a thing. A change in lifestyle is one of the most effective ways a person can battle depression By eating healthy, exercising, socializing, and trying to get regular sleep, a person can become less isolated and better equipped to manage his or her emotions. Most cities have community mental health centers that offer services at a discounted rate. And for anyone really needing to speak with a therapist, Bloom encourages people to contact a doctor and try to negotiate lower fees. Many mental health professionals are willing to work with patients at a reduced rate.

Have you ever been depressed? What did you do about it?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Caitlin Hagan
CNN Medical Associate Producer

Darius Weems wants you to know about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). It's the number one genetic killer of children worldwide and it's a disease that, as of now, has no known cure. It's also a disease most people have never heard of, something that Darius, who has DMD, and his crew of best friends, are working to change.

According to the National Institutes of Health, roughly one of every 3,600 male infants is born with a defective gene for dystrophin, a protein normally found in the body's muscles. It's that lack of dystrophin that causes DMD, a progressive muscle disorder that eventually results in a loss of muscle function. Boys are primarily affected by the disease.

Four years ago, Darius and his crew set out on a cross-country journey to raise awareness of DMD. They filmed their trip and turned the footage into the award-winning independent film "Darius Goes West." Since the movie's release, the guys have traveled across the country on countless road trips, hosting screenings, and educating the public. Their mission is to find a cure for DMD. Remarkably, they have already raised more than $2 million for Duchenne research.

Recently I had the honor of watching "Darius Goes West" with Darius, who is now 19 years old, film director Logan Smalley, and producer Daniel Epting. Their passion is as tireless today as it was when they first started out four years ago. Not only do they educate their audiences about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy but the crew also tackles the greater issue of equal rights for people who have physical disabilities. As Darius said to me while we were having lunch, he can do anything in his wheelchair that anyone else can do without one. DMD is not his obstacle: the only thing that ever stands in his way is a building or an area that is not accessible.

It is unlikely that Darius will see a cure for DMD in his lifetime. For him, the goal is to find a cure for DMD so someone else's life can be prolonged. That's why he travels, that's why he went West, and that's why he wants you to know about it.

Have you ever been inspired by someone? Had you ever heard of DMD before this?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Caitlin Hagan
CNN Medical Associate Producer

Everyone is afraid of something. Some people are scared of heights. Some people hate small spaces. Some people can't stand snakes. Me? I'm afraid of having my blood drawn. Luckily (or unluckily depending on your perspective), I was able to dodge it for years. But that all changed at my annual physical last January. At the time my only concern was the needle going into my arm but days later when the doctor called with my results, I learned I had a much bigger problem: high cholesterol. Despite being a healthy non-smoking 24-year-old, my cholesterol levels were much too high. I had to lower my numbers or I faced a lifetime of medicine.

For a few months I made an effort to reduce my saturated fat intake. Most mornings I took a quick walk around my neighborhood for 30 minutes. I thought high cholesterol was an easy problem to solve if I just stopped eating cheese and exercised more. But another blood test four months later proved me wrong; not only had my numbers not changed at all, but my doctor wanted to write a prescription immediately. I needed to make some drastic changes but I had no idea where to start.

My parents don’t have high cholesterol and I was at a loss to understand how I did. What foods did I need to avoid? What foods did I need to start eating? What lifestyle changes did I need to make? What, exactly, is cholesterol anyway? Armed with all these questions I started researching and what I learned was pretty sobering. Research has shown that people with high cholesterol in their 20s and 30s are more likely to suffer from heart disease later in life. Women especially need to beware because heart disease kills more women annually than any other affliction. My goal became very clear: Get my heart in shape now and save myself from possible trauma later.

Fixing my cholesterol meant making some major lifestyle changes. I joined a gym and with my new membership came a new mentality. To keep perspective, I remind myself that I'm working out to elevate my heart rate, not to drop ten pounds. I love the instant gratification of leaving an hourlong cardio class knowing that I might not have lost any weight but I literally worked my heart out. On off days I walk a two mile loop around my neighborhood to soak up some sunshine while I exercise. My goal is to move my body and elevate my heart rate once every day, either through a cardio class, a weightlifting class, a yoga class, or hiking or walking outside.

Of course, you cannot keep your cholesterol levels in check without healthy eating. Over the last several months I have restricted my diet to portions of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and omegas 3s. I rarely drink soda or eat fried food (although I randomly indulge in French fries; I can't help it!) and I have learned to cook healthy meals at home. I am not a vegetarian but I have reduced the amount of meat I eat, especially processed deli meats. So far my efforts have made a difference; I dropped my cholesterol level 11 points over the past five months. There is still room for improvement but for now I am confident in the life changes I've made.

Do you know your cholesterol levels? What have you done to lower your cholesterol score?

Editor’s Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.