Their scale can be found at.  Which of the following are you dealing with or have dealt  with recently: Death of a spouse; loss of a job; end of a marriage or long-term relationship; moving; business adjustments; death of a family member or close friend; chronic illness; marital problems; retirement; financial issues; children leaving the house; etc.  Recent research has added many more stressors to this kind of list. 

Medical researchers believe that more than 80% of all visits to doctors’ offices are related to stress.  That is not limited to the more obvious conditions you might suppose are related to stress:  anxiety; depression; insomnia; high blood pressure.  No, the following serious medical conditions all have been identified by clinical research as having a component of stress:  obesity (and all related illnesses like diabetes, heart disease ,inflammatory conditions); respiratory infections; malaise and fatigue; Irritable Bowel  Syndrome; headaches of all kinds; chronic pain; fibromyalgia; various cancers; cognitive decline; memory loss; erectile dysfunction; low libido; hormonal fluctuations; hypothyroidism; rage; anger; infertility; signs of aging; muscle loss; and more. 

You can opt to take medications that reduce anxiety or blunt edginess.  That is your choice, and it is a viable option.  But, by doing so, have you become empowered to manage your own stress and improve your health.  Many of the most successful stress management strategies simultaneously help you increase health, diminish factors of aging, develop a more positive attitude, become more resiliant, improve immune function, and create lifetime health habits. 

Life may be a long, strange, and unpredictable road, but do you want to travel it taking serious risks and chances with your life or would you rather handle the curves and bumps successfully because you have been taught how to do so. 

Updates:

I am available for phone and skype consultations.  I invite and encourage you to visit my redesigned website for contact information, fees, required office forms, new services, and previous blogs archived there.

The patient was a 61 year old female with chief complaint of menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, decreased libido, weight gain for a period of five years. Patient had previously consulted with only one medical physician before scheduling an appointment to see me. No medical testing were performed Treatment consisted of the prescription Estrace. Results were fair, however, patient was concerned about the potential side effects.

Functional Medical Approach:

Patient
was evaluated in my office and it was decided based on an extensive history
and review of her medical records to order a Women’s Hormonal Panel. The
results were quite revealing. Her estrogen/progesterone balance was significantly
compromised resulting in too much estrogen and not enough progesterone. This
imbalance was the main cause of the patient’s “roll-coaster” emotional challenges.

This information was presented to her physician and she was prescribed the proper balance of estrogen and progesterone. The patient eventually went to a compounding pharmacy and had a special formula of estrogen/progesterone made. She has been symptom-free and has been experiencing an increase in energy.

In addition, she has lost 54 pounds in 8 months.

The Missed Diagnosis

Traditionally trained health professionals typically interpret symptoms as indicators of a specific illness and use diagnostic assessments to identify or confirm that condition.

While perhaps validating a suspected disease process, this approach often fails to identify the real cause of the condition, especially in cases of chronic illness.

Most treatments based upon this approach tend to be heavily dependent upon pharmaceutical drugs.

Again, this approach does not address the underlying cause of the condition. Further, many drugs have toxic side effects and cover up symptoms, making additional attempts at diagnosis even less reliable.

The Evolution of Diagnostic Assessments

Modern medicine has given humanity hope in the fight for the extension of life and the prevention of disease. However, until recently there have been few available tools with which to evaluate basic human physiology.

Traditional diagnoses have focused on pathology rather than an examination of the underlying reasons for the development of a particular health problem.

Today, specialized laboratories using advanced testing procedures offer functional diagnostic assessments that can evaluate an individual’s physiology. By comparing the individual’s assessments with normal physiological ranges, doctors practicing functional diagnostic medicine can pinpoint abnormalities and contributing factors to health problems, often exposing the real causes of chronic illness and degenerative disease.

Common Health Complaints

Functional Medicine practitioners are particularly good at addressing the needs of those suffering from incorrectly or partially diagnosed chronic health problems which, in many cases, have yet to manifest as a specific disease.

Promoting Wellness and Longevity

Many serious health conditions develop over years of undiagnosed and seemingly unrelated symptoms.

Therefore, the detection and treatment of health issues at their point of earliest inception has consequences reaching far beyond the alleviation of symptoms.

Functional assessments can identify risk factors for a wide variety of health problems long before they become symptomatic, enabling individuals to take preventive measures to reduce their risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease and other degenerative conditions.

The tests also provide important data for the development of scientifically based nutritional plans, immune-enhancing strategies and life-extension programs.

Dynamic Monitoring of Therapies

Functional diagnostic assessments provide the opportunity to monitor a wide array of therapies, including customized nutritional programs.

Testing is used initially to establish an individual’s baseline physiological processes and subsequently to closely monitor the results of therapies in order to make necessary adjustments in therapeutic protocols.

“By identifying the underlying causes of chronic health conditions, Functional Medicine has been considered the Future of Medicine.”

Twenty-First Century Health Care

By identifying the underlying causes of chronic health conditions, reducing the risk of degenerative disease, and addressing an individual’s unique bio-chemical composition, Functional Medicine has been considered the future of medicine.

Why is Functional Medicine called the Future of Medicine’

Functional Medicine approach is designed to significantly improve health. While the specific disease a person may have is not ignored, the focus of therapy is to improve health through optimizing biological, biochemistry and psychological function.

This is a highly individualized process. Two people with the same diagnosis may require different diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions to promote health and well-being.

When successful, many of the symptoms that are the primary concern of the individual will diminish in severity and the individual will begin to experience a renewed sense of well being and a significant increase in health and vitality

The patient was a 27 year old female with an 11 year history of irritable bowel syndrome and fatigue. Patient had previously consulted with four medical physicians before scheduling an appointment to see me.

Medical testing included an upper and lower GI study and colonoscopy. All found to be negative for any pathologies. Treatment consisted of the prescription Hyoscyamine. Results were poor.

Functional Medical Approach:

Patient was evaluated in my office and it was decided based on an extensive history and review of her medical records to order a Digestive Stool Test and Allergy Blood test. Two bacterial pathogens were found, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Citrobacter freundii and were responsible for infecting her intestines. The medical literature clearly linked these two pathogens to diarrhea disease. Her allergy test revealed a significant sensitivity to gluten and rice. The patient was prescribed a natural pharmaceutical that helped eradicate the two bacterial pathogens and was placed on an elimination diet addressing the rice and gluten. After one month she was symptom-free.

Continue to Functional Medicine Cast Study 3

Patient: year old male with a chief complaint of sinus infections and allergies for a period of six years. Patient had previously consulted with three medical physicians before scheduling an appointment to see me. Medical testing included a CT scan of the sinuses and found to be negative for any pathologies. Treatment consisted of the following prescriptions: Sudafed, Claritin-D and Allegra. Results were poor.

“Doctors practicing functional diagnostic medicine are able to identify the real causes of many health conditions. “

Functional Medical Approach:

Patient was evaluated in my office and it was decided based on an extensive history and review of his medical records to order an Airborne Allergy test and food sensitivity test. The results revealed that the patient was highly allergic to Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria alternata molds. The patient was instructed on how to identify molds in his residence and work and what steps to take to eliminate them. Patient was prescribed a natural pharmaceutical that increases his immune system response to molds and fungi. After 3 weeks, the patient was completely free of symptoms and has remained that way for the last 2 years.

Continue to Functional Medicine Case Study 2

All of this research, as you shall see, is well-respected and represents the conclusions of some of our best scientists and physicians after years and years of research.

The Enteric (Digestive System) Brain: http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/24/healthscience/snbrain.php

The Heart Brain: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11023208

http://www.heartmath.org/research/our-heart-brain.html

Our body is our mind: http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19930701-000031.html

When the intestinal lining becomes further damaged, even larger substances, such as disease-causing bacteria, undigested food particles, and toxins, pass directly through the damaged cells. Again, the immune system is alarmed and antibodies and substances called cytokines are released. Cytokines alert white blood cells to fight the particles. This fight produces oxidants, which cause irritation and inflammation throughout the body.

Symptoms of Leaky gut syndrome / Intestinal permeability
Symptoms include: abdominal pain, asthma, chronic joint pain, chronic muscle pain, confusion, fuzzy or foggy thinking, gas, indigestion, mood swings, nervousness, depression, poor immunity, recurrent vaginal infections, skin rashes, diarrhea, bed-wetting, recurrent bladder infections, poor memory, shortness of breath, constipation, bloating, aggressive behavior, anxiety, fatigue, feeling toxic, and more.

This is a partial list of some of the conditions associated with intestinal permeability:

• Autoimmune disease
• Autistic Spectrum Disorders
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Celiac disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Environmental illness
• Hives
• Acne
• Allergies
• Inflammatory joint disease / arthritis
• Intestinal infections
• Pancreatic insufficiency
• Ulcerative colitis
• Giardia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Food allergies and sensitivities
• Liver dysfunction
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Irritable bowel syndrome

Some of the Many Causes of Leaky Gut Syndrome / Intestinal Permeability

• Chronic stress
• Food allergies
• Intestinal infections
• Small intestine bacterial overgrowth
• Environmental contaminants
• Excess alcohol
• Poor diet
• NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inlfammatory drugs), steroids and other medications

Testing
The standard test for leaky gut syndrome is the mannitol and lactulose test. Both are water soluble molecules that the body can’t use. Mannitol is easily absorbed by people with healthy intestinal linings. Lactulose is a larger molecule and is only slightly absorbed. A person drinks a solution contain both mannitol and lactulose. Urine is collected for six hours and the amount present in urine reflects how much was absorbed by the body. A healthy test shows high levels of mannitol and low levels of lactulose. If high levels of both molecules are found, it indicates a leaky gut condition. If low levels of both molecules are found, it indicatioes general malabsorption of all nutrients.

Test Kits are available through my office.

To go further, please go to the following web addresses.

www.ei-resource.org/illness-information/environmental-illnesses/leaky-gut-syndrome-(lgs)

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Scot_Lewey (select the Leaky Gut article)

The mind-body connection centers in the hypothalamus, the section of your brain that regulates the autonomic nervous system, which controls automatic processes such as blood pressure. The hypothalamus regulates two branches of the autonomic nervous system–the sympathetic, which responds to stress and gets the heart pumping, and the parasympathetic, which calms the body’s responses.

“These parts of the brain are set up so that they’ll respond to our thinking and feelings,” notes Judith Green, Ph.D., professor of psychology and biofeedback in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado, and author of The Dynamics of Health and Wellness.. So, if your brain regulates your body and your thoughts regulate your brain, it only makes sense that you can affect many of your physical responses, including illness.
(Note: Recent research has concluded that every thought we have engenders chemical messengers. These messengers communicate with receptors found throughout the entire body. Healthy thoughts engender chemicals that contribute to health. Negative thoughts do the opposite. That is why stress, which is a mental event, results in so many unhealthy conditions).

Many of the psychologists, psychiatrists and medical doctors who use visualization, for example, do so either in tandem with alternative treatments or with conventional therapy, notes Patricia Norris, Ph.D., clinical director at the Life Sciences Institute of Mind-Body Health in Topeka, Kansas. “I don’t think of it as a stand-alone treatment,” she says.

Western medicine hasn’t always considered the value of mind power in treatment of ailments, says Dr. Green. But that’s slowly changing. Over a two-year period, for example, researchers have done at least 30 studies involving the use of imagery and visualization. These techniques are most commonly used for headaches, cancer, pain, colds, asthma, allergies, arthritis, gynecological problems (like heavy or painful menstrual periods), menopausal symptoms (such as hot flashes), infertility, ovarian cysts, lupus (an autoimmune illness in which the body attacks healthy tissue), fibromyalgia (painful “trigger points” in the muscles) and chronic fatigue. However, that is only the beginning. Science is discovering more and more about the power of the mind to facilitate healing for more and more complaints.

Note: Eventually, when you are adept at visualization, I can help teach you to reduce the technique to a 2-3 minute “dose” of healing that you might repeat several times throughout the day. Generally, it takes between 3-5 sessions to learn this technique. It all depends upon how much you practice it. However, please note that in a small percentage of cases, it may take several more sessions before you and I feel that you have mastered visualization. Once you learn, you take your “doses” as I recommend each and every day. Then we agree upon a time to reassess your progress and make a follow-up appointment.

However, various combined treatments have been used more and more in hospitals, pain clinics, and clinical offices around the world. Clearly some forms of medications or nutritional/botanical/homeopathic interventions are offered and may be effective. Yet, now hypnotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, therapeutic visualization, biofeedback, neurofeedback, relaxation exercises, and energy psychologies have shown to be of tremendous help. So often these therapies are combined. Several of the PDFs in this Section Two offer further explanation.

Pain Amplification Syndrome is a new piece of the pain puzzle. You see, some forms of trauma turn on pain signals in the body which, initially, serve us well by alerting us to get help and mobilizing our own internal resources. In most cases, once the trauma is resolved, the alarms are turned off and life goes back to normal. In other cases, sadly, the alarm never goes off. A sort of endless loop is created between the nervous system and the brain. Nerves continue to fire and send electrochemical signals to the brain which interprets those signals as pain. The more this loop continues to exist, the stronger the pain signals are amplified. As a result, you must endure a pain that is desperately difficult to turn off. Fatigue, frustration, anger, despair, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, weariness, and more arise amplifying the pain even more. Additionally, your muscles become more tense and spasmodic, your nerves are “on end”, your internal resources become exhausted, and so do you.

Since Pain Amplification Syndrome cannot exist without your brain’s perception of pain. Altering that perception, reducing the body’s alarm, interrupting the pain signal loop, and increasing the production of pain blocking chemicals in the brain and in the spinal cord all contribute to reduced pain and increased healing.

Pain Amplification Syndrome should not be ignored by those suffering with chronic pain of any kind. Now, we understand more about what it is. Now, we understand more about how to help.

www.tms-mindbodymedicine.com/medscape1.htm

www.stjohn.org/MindBodyMedicine

www.fibromyalgiasupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/5270

White Blood Cell Count

Getting a white blood cell count on a patient is one of the best tools in accessing the presence and type of infection. It can also tell us a lot about the body’s ability to respond to infection and inflammation.

Background

White blood cells (WBCs), which are leukocytes of the peripheral blood, fight infection, defend the body via phagocytosis, and produce, transport, and distribute antibodies as part of the immune process. The body produces about 100 billion WBCs each day. WBCs are produced by the bone marrow and lymphoid tissue and travel in the blood to areas of the body where they are needed. They can be divided into two groups:

1. Granulocytes: This group is made up of neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils, which are formed in the blood marrow and get their name from the granules present in the cytoplasm. They also contain a multi-lobed nucleus and are often referred to as “polys” or polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN’s).

2. Agranulocytes: This group consists of monocytes and lymphocytes. They have no granules in their cytoplasm and non-lobed nuclei. Monocytes originate in the bone marrow, and lymphocytes are formed from the lymphoblasts in the reticuloendothelial tissues of the spleen, lymph glands, tonsils, thymus and appendix.

Ranges

The conventional lab range for white blood cell count (in standard US units) is 3.7-11.0 X 103 /mm3, which I find a bit too broad. I consider 5.0-7.5 to be optimal, with anything below 3 or above 13 alarming.

High White Blood Cell Count Results

In the case of a high white blood cell count, so any reading above 7.5, I would consider the following possibilities:

• Childhood diseases such as chicken pox, measles, mumps, rubella
• Acute viral infection
• Acute bacterial infection
• Stressful situations
• Diet and lifestyle influences: obesity, smoking, poor nutrition, highly refined diet

If none of the above fit, I would further consider: intestinal parasites, free radical pathology, adrenal exhaustion, asthma, emphysema, or influenza with secondary bacterial infection. Also be aware that late pregnancy can cause an increase in WBC count.

Low White Blood Cell Count Results

• Anything below 5.5 can mean the body is using up its white blood cells faster than it can replace them. A common cause of this would be a chronic viral infection. Look for a pattern of low WBC with an increased lymphocyte count (above 44) and decreased neutrophils (less than 40).
• A chronic bacterial infection could also result in a low white blood cell count, but with a different pattern: increased neutrophils (greater than 60) and decreased lymphocytes (less than 24).
• Other things I consider investigating when I see a low WBC count are:
• Pancreatic insufficiency, Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, hepatitis, adrenal dysfunction, parathyroid dysfunction, intestinal parasites, and rheumatoid arthritis, among others.
• You also might investigate for influencing lifestyle and nutritional factors such as a raw food diet, food allergies, and vitamin B-12, B-6 or folic acid anemia.

Specific readings of Neutrophils, Bands, Lymphocytes, and Monocytes

These can be used to look more specifically at the white blood cell activity.

Neutrophils

Neutrophils are the white blood cells used to combat bacterial or pyrogenic infections. I like to see ranges between 40-60 %. When I see readings above 60%, I look for childhood diseases such as chicken pox, mumps, rubella, etc., as well as acute, localized and general bacterial infections. In a chronic viral infection, a frequent pattern is increased neutrophil count along with decreased total white blood cell count. Occasionally you may see multi-segmented neutrophils on a CBC report. Suspect B12 and/or folate deficiency if you see this.

Bands

Bands are non-segmented neutrophils or metamylocytes. They are immature neutrophils pushed out into general circulation and tend to be increased in acute infections even if there is no increase in the total WBC count. If you see an increase in bands suspect early acute infection. I consider the optimal range to be <5%.

Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes are the source of serum immunoglobulins. They play a very important role in cellular immune response, immunological reactions, and also migrate to areas of inflammation in the body. My optimal range for lymphocytes is 24-44%. If I see increased lymphocytes, I investigate for childhood diseases, acute viral or bacterial infection, and other causes of inflammation. Toxicity can cause high readings. When lymphocytes are decreased, I consider the possibility of a chronic infection. Occasionally you may see abnormal or atypical lymphocytes on a CBC report. Suspect infectious mononucleosis, viral hepatitis, or other viral infections if you see this.

Monocytes

Monocytes are the body’s second line of defense, active in removing the residues of viral, bacterial, and cellular infections. They tend to be increased after the first 3 days of an acute infection. In the absence of infection, the level of monocytes usually stays below 7%. Anything above that would indicate some sort of infection, though it can also be elevated in liver dysfunction and in the case of intestinal parasites. You can use the monocyte reading to track the course of an infection, expecting to see elevated levels in the recovery phase of an infection.

Taking it Further

There are other tests to consider based on the WBC count results, tests like C-Reactive protein, immunoglobulins, and more. WBC count is just a first step, and a very good one, but there are always more layers and patterns to look for in blood chemistry analysis. That’s what I love about blood work, so consider it as part of your diagnostic protocol, along with other important tools such as a physical exam and a good medical history.

Functional Diagnostic Medicine is a growing field of modern medicine. It offers a giant step forward in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of many of societys chronic diseases.

Doctors practicing functional diagnostic medicine are able to identify the real causes of many health conditions by combining the results of scientifically documented tests.

These are not your standard medical tests but go the next level investigating the biochemical and metabolic glitches likely to cause a specific disease process.

Based on the results of these tests, physicians are then able to develop personalized patient specific treatment protocols designed to reverse, stop or prevent the disease and its related symptoms.

Unlike the disease specific approach which is geared to suppress the expression of symptoms, physicians practicing functional diagnostic medicine are delighted to discover that many diseases have a real underlying cause which when found and corrected, can have a dramatic impact on the health of their patients.

When was the last time you really felt healthy?

The reason you may not feel your best is because youve developed an unhealthy lifestyle. As we get older we tend to develop bad habits and take our health for granted.

Poor eating, stress, environmental and chemical toxins, lack of exercise, all take a toll on your natural defenses. For a while your body was able to cope.

But now, you may have noticed some changes: You probably dont get enough sleep and when you do sleep you may catch yourself having to get up two, three or more times during the night. The food you eat simply does not satisfy you. Losing weight has never been more difficult.

You may exercise, but something still does not feel right inside. You cant seem to put your finger on it. You simply dont feel well, but you dont have any obvious symptoms that would make you want to see your doctor. On the bad side, these puzzling non-specific symptoms may be an early warning that one or more of your bodys systems are malfunctioning.

Symptoms are Signals

Just like the red warning light in your car that flashes when there is a problem with your engine, a physical symptom is a signal telling you that an underlying health problem needs to be corrected.

Treating a symptom without uncovering the real cause is like placing a piece of black tape over the blinking red warning light. The consequences of this action are obviousan expensive engine overhaul.

Unfortunately our bodies cant be overhauled and ignoring these chronic symptoms could eventually lead to a serious illness.

Through functional diagnostic medicine, physicians are able to help their patients restore normal body function, thereby relieving symptoms that may result in life-threatening diseases (such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, diabetes, auto-immune diseases, heart diseases, osteoporosis and many other chronic degenerative illnesses.

Unlike most well meaning physicians that tend to focus on what drug to use to treat a symptom, doctors who practice functional diagnostic medicine give serious thought to what is causing the symptom in the first place.

The following examples show the medical detective work involved in the diagnosis and treatment of three common conditions:

Continue to Functional Medicine Case Study 1