Pittsburgh firefighter Brian Matts, a 20-year veteran with Engine Company 28 in Beechview, underwent a brain scan for PTSD and other mental trauma accumulated over the years.

The scan was run by Daniel Jarvis, founder of Healing the Hero, a nonprofit dedicated to identifying and correcting mental trauma in first responders.

"In the United States, we lose a first responder a day to suicide, whether it's police or fire," Jarvis said.

A first responder's nervous system is ramped up 24/7, releasing high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, Jarvis said.

"And that's one of the reasons why we're seeing heart attacks, strokes, autoimmune issues," Jarvis said. "The body is under a significant amount of stress for a very long time."

For Matts' brain scan, Jarvis used a device called EVOX.

"I

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