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7 Possible Causes of Crashing Fatigue (and How to Fix It)

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in ADHD/ADD, Articles, General Health, Hormones, Pediatric Disorders, Women's Health. No Comments on 7 Possible Causes of Crashing Fatigue (and How to Fix It)

It doesn’t matter how much sleep you get. You are physically exhausted. You may also be mentally and emotionally exhausted. You suffer from chronic fatigue. But what causes your crashing fatigue? What can you do to fix it? At Serenity Health Care Center in Waukesha, WI, we firmly believe in collaborating with our clients to help their bodies heal themselves. Today, we look at seven possible causes of chronic fatigue and what we can do together to fix it.

7 Potential Causes of Crashing Fatigue

1. Dehydration

Dehydration may be the leading cause of crashing fatigue. Many people suffer from dehydration because they only drink when they are thirsty. Unfortunately, when you wait until you are thirsty to drink, it is already too late. By the time you notice your thirst, you have already lost between 2 and 3% of your body fluid. This makes you physically lethargic. It also starves your brain of adequate nutrients and oxygen, making the task of focusing next to impossible.

Unfortunately, fixing dehydration it isn’t as straightforward as you think. With IV nutritional therapy, you get all the fatigue-busting benefits of hydration, plus the added bonus of essential nutrients your body needs to keep itself hydrated and heal itself. For example, without sodium, the water will run right through you and not hydrate you. At the same time, your body would flush out potassium, calcium, magnesium, and other nutrients required to keep your bones and muscles healthy and strong. Here are a few benefits, besides energy revitalization, provided by IV nutritional therapy:

  • Gut support
  • Migraine relief
  • Asthma recovery
  • Cancer support
  • Infection recovery
  • Infection defense booster

2. Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances, such as perimenopause, menopause, and low testosterone, are also a common cause of extreme fatigue.

Perimenopause and menopause can contribute to fatigue directly. Or, these conditions may cause symptoms, like night sweats and insomnia, which cause fatigue. Estrogen, progesterone, adrenal hormones, and thyroid hormones can all result in you feeling mentally and physically exhausted. Men go through something similar to menopause, known as andropause when testosterone levels decrease, and estrogen levels increase.

Hormone therapy may be just what the doctor ordered if you suffer from crashing fatigue, and your hormone levels are imbalanced. After the first week of bioidentical hormone therapy, people can generally expect relief from anxiety and insomnia (another cause of extreme fatigue). After the third week, both men and women often enjoy a drastic improvement in cognitive function, as well as increased energy. Here are some other potential benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy to treat extreme fatigue:

  • Loss of muscle mass
  • Weight gain
  • Insomnia
  • Excessive nighttime urination
  • Hair loss
  • Memory loss
  • Impaired cognitive function

3. Thyroid Dysfunction

Remember, imbalanced thyroid hormones can result in “menopausal fatigue.” Even if you’re not going through perimenopause, menopause, or andropause, it is possible to have imbalanced thyroid hormones. There are two types of thyroid dysfunction, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a medical condition characterized by an underactive thyroid. In other words, your thyroid does not produce enough of the hormones your body needs for optimal operation.

The thyroid hormone plays an important role in several critical functions, including carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, basal metabolism and temperature regulation, proper GI functioning (sluggish or hyperactive GI can cause fatigue), and nervous system activity. When you’re nervous system is not functioning efficiently, you will feel fatigued. A great nutritional boost during your hypothyroidism recovery can be achieved by supplementing zinc, selenium, natural B vitamins, vitamins E, D, and A (not Beta Carotene), iodine, and non-carbonate calcium. Here are some other benefits of treatment:

  • Improved skin pigmentation
  • Weight loss
  • Thicker hair
  • Warm skin
  • No more excessive sweating
  • Improved speech
  • Headache relief
  • Smoother hair
  • Edema relief

4. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, is a condition that goes far beyond being constantly tired. The level of fatigue interferes with your daily life to the point you can no longer care for your loved ones or hold down a job. Some people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome even become disabled to the point of being bedridden, suffering from chronic pain, and other flu-like symptoms.

Currently, there is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome. However, scientists are working hard on developing a cure. In the meantime, based on our understanding of the condition, there is treatment available. Affecting primarily women in their 40s and 50s with a family history of the condition, chronic fatigue syndrome can be treated by evaluating infectious processes and identifying via biofeedback any other conditions.

5. Hashimoto’s Disease

Hashimoto’s disease is a medical condition typically considered to be a thyroid disease. While this disease affects the thyroid, it is primarily an immune reaction. This disease can lead to either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. If your immune system is attacking your thyroid gland as if it is a foreign body, you suffer from Hashimoto’s disease.

In 90% of cases, the symptoms of autoimmune thyroid disease can be improved with vitamin D supplementation. Other methods for improving symptoms include lemon balm, green tea and grape seed extracts, licorice, and other natural supplementation. Moreover, depending on which part of your immune system is hyperactive, you will benefit significantly from balancing your levels of TH-1 and TH-2 cytokines. Unfortunately, once the gene for this autoimmune disease is activated, it cannot be deactivated. Here are some added benefits of treating Hashimoto’s disease:

  • Memory loss
  • Depression
  • High cholesterol
  • Constipation
  • Weight gain
  • Hair loss

6. Adrenal Fatigue

Conventional medicine does not recognize or treat the symptoms caused by adrenal fatigue. This syndrome is characterized by chronic fatigue, low libido, infertility, low blood pressure, and several other symptoms. However, this syndrome is diagnosable via blood and saliva testing. The blood test identifies the body’s production of progesterone, aldosterone, testosterone, and DHEA. The saliva test identifies the abundance of cortisol in the body.

If you suffer from adrenal fatigue, there are several treatment options available to you. Depending on your hormone levels, you may need to receive a bio-identical cortisol supplement. Alternatively, you may need to supplement your body’s production of pregnenolone or DHEA. Moreover, you may find that you benefit from lifestyle changes and dietary supplements to help you restore your overall health and wellness. Examples include:

  • Whole grains
  • Bio-available protein
  • Vegetables
  • Nuts
  • Dairy
  • Sea salt
  • Healthy fats (coconut oil, grapeseed oil)
  • Legumes
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Lean meats

7. Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is an under-researched, debilitating disease spread by the bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi. In adults, symptoms include fatigue, rashes, achy joints, flu-like symptoms, sleep disorders, cognitive impairment, impaired vision, heart conditions, and more.

To treat extreme fatigue caused by Lyme disease, detoxify the endotoxins caused by the bacteria, restore your body’s natural biochemistry, receive IV nutritional therapy as you are recovering, and take herbal supplements to support your recovery process.

Learn More About Causes and Treatments for Fatigue Today

Is crashing fatigue preventing you from living life to the fullest? Depending on the cause of your fatigue, you may also suffer from several other quality of life-impairing symptoms. There is hope.

Call us today at Serenity Health Care Center in Waukesha, WI at (262) 522-8640 or book an appointment online. Dr. Debra Muth, ND, Dr. Greg Brown, MD, and the rest of the staff at Serenity Health Care Center believe strongly that by forming a partnership with you, we can help your body heal itself.

What Is A Brain Neurotransmitter Lab?

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Articles, Blog, General Health. No Comments on What Is A Brain Neurotransmitter Lab?

What Is A Brain Neurotransmitter Lab?

Serenity Health Care Center offers Brain Neurotransmitter testing at it’s functional medical clinic in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

  • Are you a busy woman who is loosing herself?
  • Struggling with insomnia?
  • Are you getting anxiety?
  • Are you forgetting things or do you feel like you have ADHD?
  • Are you depressed or just feel like you have lost your happiness in life?
  • Are you craving sweets, salts, and caffeine?
  • Do you have times that you feel like you could eat everything in sight but then could care a less about eating at all?
  • Are you wondering what has happened to your creativity, drive and desire to conquer your dreams?
  • Do you toss and turn all night?
  • Are you gaining weight despite following a clean diet?
  • Are you experiencing OCD symptoms and it is getting in the way of your daily routine?
  • Do you suffer from autism or neurogenic condition like Parkinson’s?
  • Do you have ADHD or a learning disability?

What Can A Brain Neurotransmitter Lab Do?

  • Neurotransmitter testing can identify the reason your symptoms are present.
  • By knowing what neurotransmitters are high or low natural or specific approaches can be implemented.
  • You can support the neuroendocrine system, which can prevent disease.

What Is A Microbiome Stool Panel?

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What Is A Microbiome Stool Panel?

Stool testing is the window into your entire body and immune system. The microbiome is everything to a healthy body. Stool testing can tell us how many good and bad bacteria is present. With GI testing we can see the immune markers, inflammation and if the tight junctions are a problem.


Not all stool testing is the same; in order to really determine what is going on in the intestinal tract you need a test that is sensitive and specific. 

What the gut lining reveals is what the brain barrier reveals.

  • Do you have gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea?
  • Better known as Irritable bowel disease?
  • Do you have mid-abdominal weight gain?
  • Do you have fatigue?
  • Have you traveled outside of the country?
  • Do you have chronic infections?
  • Do you have rectal itching, especially at night?
  • Do you have chronic skin itching or rashes?
  • Do you have an autoimmune disease?
  • Do you have chronic pain?
  • Do you have thyroid disease?
  • Do you have ADHD?
  • Have you been exposed to mold?
  • Do you have anxiety?

What Can A Microbiome Stool Panel Do?

  • Once we know what type of bacteria’s, viruses, or parasites are present in the GI tract we can create a specific plan for you.
  • Have you been struggling with chronic illness but haven’t been able to find the reason why? GI bacteria can be the reason for chronic illness.
  • GI Bacteria can be a reason for fatigue and allergies.

What Is A Food Sensitivities Lab?

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Articles, Blog, General Health, In The News, Nutrition. No Comments on What Is A Food Sensitivities Lab?

What Is A Food Sensitivities Lab?

Food sensitivities occur in so many fashions. They can be delayed or immediate. Our immediate foods we recognize but is the delayed foods that are harder to identify.

Food sensitivities are often caused by something called “leaky gut”. Leaky gut is a term used when the tight junctions of the GI tract become compromised. This can happen for a variety of reasons including infection be it bacterial, parasitic, or viral. It is when these junctions become loose that food particles can move through and come in contact with the immune system. This can cause delayed food allergies to occur.  

  • Do you have bloating, constipation, and diarrhea?
  • Do you have irritable bowel disease?
  • Do you have fatigue, especially after you eat?
  • Do you crave certain foods?
  • What are your 5 most hated foods?
  • Do you have skin rashes or itching?
  • Do you have mood changes after you eat?
  • Do you have depression?
  • Do you have anxiety?
  • Do you have swelling?
  • Do you have frequent urination?
  • Do you have unexplained weight gain?
  • Do you have migraines or headaches?
  • Do you have autoimmune disease?

What Can A Food Sensitivities Lab Do?

  • Getting food sensitivity testing can finally give you the answers about what foods cause problems for you
  • Once you have food sensitivity testing done you will know which foods benefit or harm you
  • This gives us an idea of what is going on with your immune system

What Is A Hormone Panel?

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Articles, Blog, General Health, Hormones. No Comments on What Is A Hormone Panel?

What Is A Hormone Panel?

Serenity Health Care Center offers hormone panels for anyone looking to learn more about their hormones and hormonal function.

Hormone testing is a great test for anyone to get a baseline before there are symptoms. This allows us to identify which hormone type you are.

  • Are you high estrogen? Body type as a pear shape.
  • Are you high testosterone? Body type as a box.

Being a driven, high-powered person who is burning the candle at both ends can initially bring energy and drive, but once you have been doing this for a while the opposite happens. You become burnt out, irritable, stressed out and lose vitality for life. Ultimately, bringing you unhappiness and a feeling of being lost.

  • Are you tired of being tired?
  • Are you tired of being irritable?
  • Are you tired of the weight gain around the mid-section?
  • Are you tired of not having the sex drive you want?
  • Are you tired of brain fog?
  • Are you tired of feeling like you are aging rapidly?
  • Are you achy?
  • Are you having trouble sleeping?
  • Do you have PMS?
  • Do you have joint pain?
  • Do you have irregular menstrual cycles?
  • Do you have migraines?
  • Do you have anxiety?

What Can A Hormone Panel Do?

  • Identifies your hormonal pattern and determines if you are living with too much or too little cortisol
  • Keeps you from guessing what your hormones are doing
  • Shows you how and what needs to be replaced
  • Allows you to monitor the aging process

Ashwagandha

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Ashwagandha

Its History And Some Of Its Many Health Benefits


Introduction to Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has been used as an herbal remedy for hundreds of years. It has many applications, and has been used by Native Americans and Africans to treat inflammation, fevers, and to protect against infection or illness. It has also been used to boost the immune system, improve memory, and to promote overall wellness.

Ashwagandha is a shrub that flourishes in India and North America. The roots of the ashwagandha plant have been employed for millennia by Ayurvedic healers. Ashwagandha has many beneficial elements, including flavonoids and members of the withanolide class. Numerous modern studies have found that ashwagandha shows great promise for being effective in reducing inflammation, decreasing stress, increasing mental activity, invigorating the body, and as an antioxidant.

Health Benefits of Ashwagandha

Scholars at Banaras Hindu University, located in Varanasi, India, have conducted research that has shown that many of the elements of ashwagandha are antioxidants. The researchers looked at the effects these elements have on the brains of test animals and found that ashwagandha led to larger amounts of three different natural antioxidants: superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. The scholars conclude, “These findings are consistent with the therapeutic use of W. somnifera as an Ayurvedic rasayana (health promoter). The antioxidant effect of active principles of W. somnifera may explain, at least in part, the reported anti-stress, cognition-facilitating, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects produced by them in experimental animals, and in clinical situations.”

For years, Indians have prescribed ashwagandha as a treatment for cerebral disorders in the elderly, including memory loss. Scholars from the University of Leipzig looked at the effects of ashwagandha on the brain. They dosed rats with ashwagandha and then looked at their brains to see if ashwagandha affected neurotransmitters. The research showed that ashwagandha led to more acetylcholine receptor activity. The scholars concluded that the increase of activity in that particular neurotransmitter could account for the increase in cognitive ability and memory that is attributed to ashwagandha.

Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center also looked at the effects of ashwagandha. They found that extracts of the shrub had activity that was similar to GABA, which could explain why the plant is effective in reducing anxiety.

Another study, conducted in 2002, found that ashwagandha leads to increased growth of axons and dendrites. Another study in 2001 found that the plant can enhance memory. A 2000 project indicated that ashwagandha reduced anxiety and depression in animals.
Vineyard

Wine & Glyphosphate

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Articles, Blog, General Health, Nutrition. No Comments on Wine & Glyphosphate

Wine & Glyphosphate

Vineyard

The advocacy group Moms Across America sent 10 samples of wine in to be tested by Microbe Infotech Lab in St. Louis.

The samples came from vineyards of all sizes—from very small to very large operations… The vineyards included those that use modern agricultural practices—as well as those that are “organic.”

They ALL tested positive for glyphosates.

Even the ones that had never been sprayed with Roundup (the trade name of Monsanto/Bayer’s toxic glyphosate herbicide).

Levels were much higher in crops that were sprayed directly with pesticides and herbicides—but even those that did fall victim to the reckless use of these toxins on our food supply.

Here’s another interesting tidbit:

Glyphosate is patented as an antibiotic. So, now it is not only going to be in our food source, it could be used as an antibiotic. We know that the glyphosate damages tissues, we can also be sure that it’s also disrupting our microbiomes.

Studies have shown that it favors harmful bacteria growth while inhibiting the good stuff.

Obviously, it’s becoming harder and harder to avoid glyphosates without sourcing food from remote farms—far away from “modern” agricultural practices.

With the good weather coming, I would encourage you to go to farmer’s markets and talk to farmers about how they grow their foods and what they use – so you know exactly what happens to your food.

Avoid processed foods wherever you can.

High Blood Pressure and Olive Leaf Extract

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Articles. No Comments on High Blood Pressure and Olive Leaf Extract

High blood pressure is a very accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease, the number one killer in America. Recently the medical community has reduced its recommendation for where blood pressure ratings should be maintained at but the average acceptable range is 140/90 mmHG.

Yet, antiaging groups realize that for every 20/10 mmHG increase above 115/75 mmHG, the cardiovascular disease doubles. Studies show that of 26 million people revealed a 200-400% higher mortality rate in hypertensive individuals between the ages of 20-49, compared to the general population without hypertension.

If the definition of “high blood pressure” were revised downward to reflect the threat of even moderate hypertension, millions of these lives could have been saved. If one suffers from high blood pressure, maturing individuals need to take all necessary steps to bring blood pressure under control, regardless of their doctor’s evaluations.

Olive leaf extract has been tested in a double blind placebo controlled trial, reduced systolic blood pressure 11.5 points (mmHG), diastolic blood pressure by 4.8 points and other vascular benefits were seen as well.

The olive fruit (olea europaea) is a core constituent of the Mediterranean diet. This has been documented in the clinical literature. Olive fruits are beneficial compounds that include hydroxytyrosol, oleacein, ursolic and oleanic acids. It is actually the oleuropein; found in high concentrations in the leaf of the olive tree, this is what is considered the beneficial effect on high blood pressure.

High blood pressure can cause arterial stiffness or decrease elasticity and eventually spreads to larger arteries. Oleuropein has been shown to specifically target arterial resistance and stiffness, improving endothelial function and bringing blood pressure under control.

Traditional medicine protocols include multiple drugs simultaneously to control blood pressure. While these drug combinations reduce the blood pressure, there can be greater numbers of drug-to-drug interactions. Despite a good safety profile, there can be an issue with commercial extracts of oleuropein: they degrade unless processed using precise handling techniques.

Olive leaf extract can help support healthy blood pressure. If you are currently taking blood pressure medication to control your blood pressure, you should carefully monitor your blood pressure at home with an accurate monitor. You should have an advanced lipid panel drawn to measure your cholesterol along with an APOe gene type for individualized nutrition. Olive leaf extract can be taken with traditional medications as long as there you are monitoring your blood pressure daily. Discuss this with your qualified health care practitioner to get the testing done and if Olive leaf extract is right for you.

If Olive leaf does not work then using HTN 180 can help reduce your blood pressure typical dose is 2 capsules a day.

Call Serenity Health Care Center today if you have questions about using Olive leaf extract or HTN 180 262-522-8640.

 

 

Summer is a great time in the Midwest!

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Articles. No Comments on Summer is a great time in the Midwest!

In the Midwest summer is what we wait for all winter. We can’t wait to get outdoors and enjoy the sun, warm weather, swimming, biking, boating, hiking and of course outdoor grilling. The staff at Serenity Health Care Center wants to make sure you spend your summer months being safe but having as much fun as possible. Here are a few tips to keeping you and your family safe.

Master water safety

Water-related activities are popular in the Midwest it is a great way to getting our physical activity. Here are some tips to stay safe while having fun.

  • Learn how to prevent recreational water illnesses our lakes and rivers are great sources to swim and boat in, but sometimes they carry bacteria that can cause illness. Watch for alerts about the Ecoli counts and if it is safe to swim in the location of your choice.
  • If you feel ill with stomach pain, diarrhea, fever or chills, and sinus symptoms seek immediate medical attention because you could have been infected with bacteria.

Drownings are the leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 4, and three children die every day as a result of drowning. These are tips that should be followed to protect your loved ones and others.

  • Always supervise children when in or around water. A responsible adult should constantly have eyes on young children.
  • Teach kids to swim at a young age. Use a formal swimming program to protect young children from drowning.
  • Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Your CPR skills could save someone’s life.
  • Install a four-sided fence around home pools.

Recreational boating can be a wonderful way to spend time with family and friends. Make boating safety a priority.

  • Wear a properly fitted life jacket every time you and your loved ones are on the water.
  • Watch for other boats especially when skiing or swimming.
  • Check your boats operating equipment and make sure you have fire extinguishers on board and you know how to use them.

Dealing with High PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Levels

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The PSA blood test is commonly used to check for signs of prostate cancer or other prostate problems. When a PSA level comes back high, the next step is usually recommended is a biopsy. But recent information suggests another possible option could be to repeat the PSA test a month or so later to monitor.
This recommendation comes because PSA levels can fluctuate up and down — so a man with a high PSA level may not actually have any prostate problems at all. In fact, studies researching nearly 1,000 men, found that about half of those whose PSA levels were initially high had a normal result in a subsequent test according to James Eastham, MD, FACS, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. There are three possible reasons for a high PSA: cancer, inflammation or infection of the prostate or lab error.
According to Eastham, a man should not undergo a biopsy of the prostate based on one high PSA level. I would agree with this and recommend trying to evaluate other possibilities for a high level and monitor. I would go further to recommend various supplements to assist in lowering the PSA level. Here is a list of supplements and their doses that have been researched and can assist in lowering the PSA level. A word of caution that if you use these supplements and the PSA doesn’t go down you should seek medical care.

  • For PSA levels higher than 1.0 add boron at 6-15mg a day, consider adding prescription Avodart to reduce levels quickly.
  • ECGc (green tea) can be dosed at 1300 mg a day.
  • Lycopene 10 mg a day has been shown to reduce cancer by 30%.
  • Adding DIM or IC3 has been helpful to lower estrogen levels, but a newer Chinese herb called Myomin can be more beneficial because it lowers estrogen further up the pathway.
  • Curcumin can be helpful for inflammation using 300-600 mg a day has been studied.
  • Vitamin D levels should be measured and dosed appropriately.

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