Sept. 1, 2026

Are We Treating Veterans’ Symptoms Instead of the Real Problem? | Dr. Erin Eickhoff & Nikki Selby | Ep. 169

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Show Notes

What happens when the people who serve our country come home carrying injuries you can’t always see?

In this episode of A Healthy Point of View, Sam Tejada sits down with Dr. Erin Eickhoff and Nikki Selby, two Navy veterans and medical professionals, for a powerful conversation about veterans, first responders, chronic illness, mental health, toxic exposures, metabolic health, and where the traditional medical system may be falling short.

Drawing from decades of military and clinical experience, Erin and Nikki share deeply personal stories from emergency medicine, combat casualty care, traumatic injuries, PTSD, and the challenges veterans can face long after their service ends. They explain why symptoms labeled as depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions may sometimes deserve a deeper look at hormones, metabolic health, medications, environmental exposures, and overall physical wellness.

The conversation also explores the health risks veterans and first responders may face from burn pits, heavy metals, fuel exposure, contaminated environments, firefighting gear, and other occupational toxins. Erin and Nikki discuss why more comprehensive testing, earlier screening, and a personalized approach could help identify problems before they become more serious.

Sam also dives into their work with veterans undergoing cancer treatment and their integrative approach to wellness, including high-dose vitamin C, nutrition, lifestyle changes, and supportive care alongside conventional medicine.

The episode expands into obesity, GLP-1 medications, hormone optimization, gut health, endocrine disruptors, processed foods, the MAHA movement, and why sustainable health starts with the choices people make every day.

Above all, this conversation is about creating a healthcare system that listens more closely, investigates deeper, and gives veterans, first responders, and everyday patients more tools to take control of their health.

**Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.**