A recent study published in the scientific journal Child Abuse and Neglect found that the experience of physical abuse in childhood is associated with heart disease later in life. This was no small finding, as it was found that adults who had been abused as children had a 45 percent higher chance of experiencing heart problems later in life compared to those who had not experienced abuse as a child. It is not clear why this may occur; however, it is possible that early abuse causes children to become hyper-responsive to any stress, greatly taxing their body and physical health. This finding is quite similar to other research showing that PTSD is associated with heart disease.

Of course, it is important to note that this study asked adults about their experiences in childhood, and therefore, the researchers cannot say that childhood abuse caused later heart problems. However, this study is an important first step and suggests the need to identify children at risk and make sure those children get help, such as teaching them healthy emotion regulation skills. You can read more about this study at CNN.com.

The VA recently announced that they are changing the standard for obtaining PTSD-related benefits among veterans. Specifically, the VA is reducing the evidence requirements for demonstrating the experience of a traumatic event during service. This change is expected to  streamline the process of PTSD claims, resulting in veterans receiving quicker decisions on their claims. Prior to this change, veterans had to provide specific and detailed information (for example, verifiable names, locations and times when a traumatic event occurred) about a traumatic event to support their claim. Given the nature of environment or situation veterans were in during the occurrence of the traumatic event, many veterans found this difficult (if not impossible) to do. You can read more about this very important change at PBS Newshour. You can find out more information on PTSD in veterans in this article.

No matter where you look, you cannot help but hear stories about the devastating effects of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Although the event may not necessarily be viewed as a traumatic event in the traditional sense of the term, there is no doubt that this is an event associated with extreme levels of stress. For years to come, the oil spill will impact many people who rely on the Gulf for their livelihood, and as a result, this event has the great potential to lead to the development of depression and anxiety.

It is not a surprise then that several states are demanding that BP fund mental care care for those who have been affected by the oil spill. Specifically, officials in the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and Alabama are asking BP to provide millions of dollars to fund mental health outreach programs. You can read more about this story in the Clarion Ledger. Given that the oil spill will likely have long-term effects on the Gulf coast region and its residents, early intervention is key.

If you are suffering from the effects of the oil spill or know someone who is, share your story in the About.com PTSD forum. You may also want to read through the following article, which presents information on ways of coping with unpredictable and uncontrollable events. You can also read more about the oil spill and its impact on people in the Gulf coast region at the Clarion Ledger. In addition to continuing coverage of the oil spill, the Clarion Ledger's website on the oil spill also provides information on how you can help those in need.

It is common for people with PTSD to develop substance use problems, including alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and smoking. This is not incredibly surprising given the high level of distress that coincides with the experience of PTSD symptoms . As a result, people with PTSD may seek out ways to "self-medicate" their symptoms. Substance use may work well in the short-term, but in the end, substance use leads to a whole host of problems and the addiction can be very difficult to overcome.

If you have suffered from and overcome a substance use problem, share your story with others on how you overcame your addiction. If you still suffer from substance use, you may find the help you need in this article by reading the stories of others who found their way out of their addiction.