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Author: Dr. Debra Muth

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Adrenal Fatigue

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Adrenal Fatigue, Blog, Thyroid, Women's Health. No Comments on Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal fatigue is a condition which occurs because of our busy American lifestyle. With all of the demands placed on us today it is a commonly seen condition.   

More than 70% of people surveyed feel that their lives have been affected by the recession and feel more stress.   

Many of you are all ready seeing changes in your patients and practices. Times are very different.

Adrenal fatigue is defined as a deficiency in the functioning of the adrenal glands. People who suffer from adrenal fatigue do not suffer from full-blown disease. The extreme variations of adrenal disease are Addison’s and Cushing’s disease.  Addison’s disease is the rarest from of Hypoadrenia. 

It occurs in 4 out of every 100,000 people. It is also responsible for 70% caused by autoimmune disease.

Adrenal Fatigue is a collection of broad signs and symptoms, known as a “syndrome” that results when the Adrenal glands function below the necessary level.

Over the past century this disorder has been known as:

  • Non-Addison
  • Hypoadrenia
  • Sub-clinical Hypoadrenia
  • Neurasthenia
  • Adrenal neurasthenia
  • Adrenal apathy

Who Suffers From Adrenal Fatigue?

Anyone!

An illness, a life crisis, or a continuing difficult situation can drain the Adrenal resources.

Lifestyles can make one more prone to Adrenal issues such as:

  • Poor diet, substance abuse, too little sleep and rest, or too many pressures all result in the symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue.

Life Events

  • Death, Marriage, Birth of a child

Lifestyle leading to Adrenal

  • Executive working 60-70 hours a week, juggling family life, kids, a home, and financial stress
  • This situation goes on for several years.
  • Finally symptoms start to present but the person keeps going.

What are the symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue?

  • Fatigue
  • Weight Gain
  • Low Blood Pressure
  • Low Pulse
  • Depression
  • Light Headed/Dizziness
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hair Loss
  • Decreased Sex Drive
  • Decreased Immune Function
  • Allergies
  • Arthralgia/Myalgia

Do these symptoms sound familiar?  It is estimated that 50% of the people diagnosed with hypothyroidism also suffer from adrenal fatigue.

Common Diseases

Many associated diseases can occur with chronic stress or adrenal fatigue.  These diseases can occur in a variety of mild to severe symptoms.

  • Hypoglycemia
  • Allergies
  • Arthritic Pain
  • Decreased Immune Function
  • Psychiatric Disorders
  • Syndrome X

The Stress Response

The stress response cycle is very complex. There are four different zones of the cortex each secreting different hormones such as; cortisol, DHEA, testosterone, aldosterone, and progesterone. The cortex produces over 50 hormones all working as bridges to form other adrenal hormones.   

These changes affect: Carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, insulin and blood sugar control, fluid and electrolyte balance, cardiovascular system and Sex drive.  

Testing for Adrenal Fatigue

A simple saliva test can be conducted at home to diagnose adrenal fatigue.  Blood or saliva testing can used to evaluate hormones to determine if adrenal fatigue is a concern. The most common hormones tested are testosterone, DHEA in saliva or DHEA-S in blood. Cortisol should always be tested using saliva. Typically a diurnal cortisol is evaluated but you can order one or two if you prefer. 

If you chose to order one or two you will usually order a morning or evening cortisol or both.

The regulation of cortisol is done by the HPA Axis.  The hypothalamus mediates between external and internal states to keep the body balanced. Cortisol is a chief agents used by the hypothalamus to balance body chemistry.  Any factors listed above can act as stressors and interrupt normal requirements for cortisol.

Cortisol is a chief agent used by the hypothalamus to balance body chemistry.  Any factors listed above can act as stressors and interrupt normal requirements for cortisol.

Cortisol protects the body by normalizing blood sugar levels. A drop in blood sugar triggers adrenals to make more cortisol. Cortisol increases blood sugar by converting fats and proteins to energy. Cortisol also has Anti-Inflammatory properties when secreted in normal levels.

Cortisol levels affect White Blood Cells, it specifically produces lymphocytes. Cortisol regulates blood pressure and central nervous system function by affecting; behavior, mood, excitability and all other neurons in the brain.

Stress hormones and neurotransmitters provide a quick burst of energy. 

They speed up the necessary body systems by increasing heart rate and breathing.  It can also shut down the unnecessary body systems such as the reproductive system and immune system.

Cortisol receptors exist on almost every cell in the body and have an important role in brain function. If serotonin is depleted it can result in fatigue and depression. Moderate and transient amounts of cortisol increase the release of dopamine. While high and chronic levels of cortisol decrease the production and release of dopamine.

  • The immune system can be directly affected by the adrenal function. 
  • Allergies involve the release of histamine a pro-inflammatory.
  • Cortisol is a strong anti-inflammatory. 
  • It is the histamine & Cortisol reaction that produces the symptoms experienced with allergies. 
  • Food allergies are common during adrenal fatigue. 
  • The most common foods are corn, wheat, eggs, and dairy. 
  • The symptoms can vary and be temporary if the adrenal glands can be restored.

How Common is Adrenal Fatigue

According to “The Adrenal Fatigue Organization” it is estimated that 80% of North Americans suffer from Adrenal Fatigue at some point in their lives!

Treating Adrenal Fatigue

Once Adrenal fatigue is diagnosed an Essence of Health and Vitality adrenal program can be initiated.  An adrenal program contains life style changes and nutritional support which will help balance the body.  It will restore the body’s ability to balance and correctly utilize sugar, support in digestion, and rebuild the adrenal glands to properly handle stress and return you back to normal.  In some cases it is necessary for hormones to be replaced for short period of times until the body can repair and produce them on their own.

Unfortunately, restoring the adrenals is not a quick fix.  You can expect a patient to be on this program for six to twelve months at minimum.  If patients have been ill for several years they can expect one to three years before they are healed.  Patients can expect to have periods of time that they feel good and then crash.  It is important to provide patients with education and support during this time.

If this type of approach interests you but you feel that you need more training on adrenal dysfunction  sign up for my free teleconference on Adrenal disease or attend my seminar “Unraveling the Mystery of   Adrenal Fatigue. ”

Testing for Adrenal Fatigue

A simple saliva test can be conducted at home to diagnose adrenal fatigue.  Blood or saliva testing can used to evaluate hormones to determine if adrenal fatigue is a concern.  The most common hormones tested are testosterone, DHEA in saliva or DHEA-S in blood.  Cortisol should always be tested using saliva.  Typically a diurnal cortisol is evaluated but you can order one or two if you prefer.  If you chose to order one or two you will usually order a morning or evening cortisol or both.

The regulation of cortisol is done by the HPA Axis.  The hypothalamus mediates between external and internal states to keep the body balanced.  Cortisol is a chief agents used by the hypothalamus to balance body chemistry.  Any factors listed above can act as stressors and interrupt normal requirements for cortisol.

Women’s Thermography Breast Screenings

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, Thermography, Women's Health. No Comments on Women’s Thermography Breast Screenings

Breast cancer is most curable when it’s detected in the early stages, so women are eager to find tools to help them in their battle against cancer. 

Women often schedule Thermography, in addition to annual mammograms, to improve their chances of detecting changes in breast tissue.

Serenity is dedicated to breast cancer awareness

We hold breast cancer awareness events regularly. The foundation of our breast cancer awareness protocol is Thermography.

We advocate this harmless technology not only for breast cancer but for the detection of numerous other diseases including heart disease, digestive disorders, arthritis, and diabetes complications.

Breast thermography, when used as part of a woman’s breast cancer awareness program, has many benefits

The benefits are:

  • It helps identify patients who may be at high risk for developing breast cancer – male or female.
  • Breast thermography can increase the effective use of mammography by providing a clinical marker for physicians and radiologists. Thermography identifies a particular breast area that needs closer examination.
  • It benefits younger women who may have dense breast tissue or who may not be receiving mammograms due to current guidelines.
  • No radiation is involved.
  • No contact with your breasts.
  • No risk of torque compression.
  • It’s a low-cost screening procedure.

How accurate is breast screening thermography?

Serenity recommends Thermography or DITI (Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging) in conjunction with mammography. Thermal imaging is non-invasive and is 90% accurate for cancer detection (vs. 75% for traditional mammography). Thermography detects cancer up to 10 years sooner than conventional mammography.

Thermography gives the practitioner a color map of the body’s temperature. Abnormal physiology presents in different colors within the scan. 

Is Thermography as good as mammography?

Breast thermography is an excellent screening tool that women can add to their annual mammograms. Thermography digital imaging technology, has two distinct advantages over other breast cancer screening tools:

1. It is non-invasive

2. It does not emit any harmful radiation

The procedure lasts about fifteen minutes, and no equipment touches the breast. 

Digital infrared thermal imaging effectively detects potential problem areas in breast tissue that may indicate malignancy in the early stages because inflammation is visible prior to disease as the body begins gearing up to fight unwanted cells.

Breast thermography is an FDA-approved procedure that can help visualize and quantify changes in skin temperature. 

If breast thermography detects any suspicious findings, women can alert their physician so that they can pursue further testing and treatment. 

Breast thermography does not take the place of mammography when that test is deemed medically appropriate.

Don’t delay. Book your breast screening now here

How does breast thermography work?

Breast thermography employs digital infrared thermal imaging technology. 

An infrared scanning device, which does not touch the body, measures the skin surface temperature of the breasts. 

The device converts infrared heat that the skin naturally emits into electrical impulses projected on a monitor. As a result, breast thermography maps the body temperature. 

The spectrum of colors on the monitor indicates the amount of infrared heat emitted from the breasts’ surface.

Chest and breast screening of 4 different women and men showing colorful diseases in a thermogram.

Are you under 50? Younger women rely on Breast Thermography screening

Younger women, ages 30 to 50, often have dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue can make it difficult for a screening mammogram to detect breast cancer. 

In addition, many physicians do not recommend mammograms for women under 50. So, breast thermography can serve as an early detection and monitoring tool for young women with a genetic predisposition to the disease.

What is the cost of thermography for breasts?

Most of our patients receive a full body Thermography scan because it helps to uncover hidden potential health issues so we can prescribe preventative health measures. 

The technology is ideal for preventative medicine and to identify the underlying cause of your regionalized inflammation, pain or swelling.Breast scans are often coupled with Lymph Enhancement Therapy as an integrative protocol. Depending on the requirements, scans range from around $350 and up, but prices depend on the body surface areas needed. The best way to get an estimate is to call our front desk or drop us an email.

Serenity’s Thermography expertise is available to you in Waukesha, WI

Serenity Health Care Center has the equipment and knowledge available to give our patients cutting-edge Thermography scans. 

Although patients can expect results from their test in 2-3 days, we can sometimes expedite within 24 hours if we see something that needs an urgent diagnosis.

Book a Thermography Scan here

Did you know that it takes 8-10 years of training to read results accurately?

from top left a thermogram of normal breasts, followed by an inflammatory breast cancer, followed by estrogen dominance thermogram, followed by an Inmune dysfunction thermogram, followed by a photo of male breast cancer and n the bottom left a thermogram of shoulder pain.

Serenity Health Care Center works with certified experts to perform this excellent diagnostic, and prognostic testing with trustworthy result interpretations.

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, breast thermography allows us to:

  • Detect and monitor abnormal physiology
  • Establish risk factors for developing breast disorders
  • Detect early indications that breast cancer may be present

If you want to know more about Thermography and its benefits visit our Medicine Thermography page

Call 262.522.8640 today to schedule your Thermogram scan with the professionals at Serenity Health Care Center in Waukesha

We can understand and see your pain with Inflammation Thermography

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, General Health, Thermography. No Comments on We can understand and see your pain with Inflammation Thermography

woman's knee photo showing a red halo as if it was painful due to inflammation

Inflammation is part of your natural healing process in response to infections and injuries. Your inflammatory response is a healthy way for your body to dispose of pathogens. Inflammation also isolates the injury by preventing adjacent tissues from damage. Inflammation flushes and cleans because the process helps your cells get rid of debris. 

In other words, your body repairs itself with inflammation – which is a good thing. 

Nevertheless, chronic low-grade inflammation is scientifically proven to cause cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other deadly diseases. Inflammation involves chemical reactions and cellular function, and prolonged artery, capillary, and vein dilatation can tax your system and cause long-term health concerns.

By allowing inflammation to go unchecked, your entire body kicks into high gear to help combat illness. Unfortunately, sometimes your body goes overboard in the process and weakens over time – which is when more complex health problems arise. 

So, inflammation is not only an indicator of a health abnormality but also the cause of disease. Serenity wants to help you identify and control inflammation.

What is Thermography for Inflammation?

Using our Thermography camera detector, this technique precisely records the energy emitted in the infrared spectrum. Thermography uses infrared radiation (photons) emitted by your body into electrical signals that form a digital image on a monitor.

Even at a distance and without any direct contact, Serenity can measure the temperature of your inflamed area using the infrared detector because areas with increased blood flow indicate inflammation. Inflammation appears in red, while areas with little blood flow activity show in cooler colors. 

So, if we can see your health problem, we can help get it under control – and sometimes even reverse illness!

What can Thermography detect based on your inflammation levels?

Thermography not only detects illness based on inflammation but also measures the severity of the disease process. 

Inflammation is visible on Thermography scans with a variety of health concerns, including:

If you are a woman, Serenity is particularly interested in helping you fight against the risk of Breast Cancer. 

Thermography is helpful in the detection of Breast Cancer. It offers many benefits, including detecting Breast Cancer 7-10 years earlier than a mammogram. This is because mammograms are not prescribed to younger women and also because inflammation begins in the early stages of Breast Cancer.

Continue reading our blog to learn more about Breast Thermography Screening

Can Thermography detect infection?

Thermography can detect viral and bacterial infections because these invaders activate your immune system. Your immune system uses inflammatory cells and cytokines (substances that stimulate more inflammatory cells).  The job of these cells is to trap bacterial or viral intruders and activate your natural healing powers. These cells can cause pain, swelling, bruising, or redness – all of which are visible on a Thermography scan.

Why is Thermography used in medical diagnosis?

The temperature of a body or object correlates to the amount of infrared radiation emitted. Infrared radiation is invisible to the human eye. 

Thermography is expanding in diverse sectors such as engineering, rescue, meteorology, astronomy, public safety, electronics, meteorology, industry, and ecological analysis. 

Medical applications for this technology are making great strides; nevertheless, Serenity has been using Thermography for over a decade for the diagnosis and prognosis of our patients.

In case of infection and inflammation, the increase in temperature is clearly visible. However, depending on the severity of the lesion and the length of time of the problem, there may be a decrease in local temperature. This is because the body has given up its attempt to heal, or the lesion is so ingrained that no blood reaches the area anymore.

Continue reading our blog to learn more about: What is Medicine Thermography?

How can Serenity tell what your Inflammation Thermography results mean?

Body heat constantly dissipates from the skin by radiation, convection, conduction, or evaporation. Pathologies produce variations in blood circulation, which affect skin temperature. Due to these heat losses, the skin temperature is 5 °C lower than the internal body temperature. Thermographic imaging quantifies the skin’s surface temperature but also senses that of the deep tissues.

One crucial factor Serenity detects is symmetry. Both sides of a healthy body tend to emit similar color mapping. A marked difference requires further investigation and testing. 

Our experienced staff knows what typical heat emissions for organs look like. Trained professionals easily detect abnormalities.

To read Thermography results, certified professionals need at least ten years of training!

Serenity can even detect hidden Inflammation to avoid future health problems

Thermography reveals the primary area of injury and helps recognize secondary points of pain too. 

Secondary inflammation may not always appear in a clinical examination – but it also needs to be addressed with Integrative Medicine protocols. 

A significant advantage of this technique is that it allows early diagnosis of pathologies such as tendinitis or degenerative joint disease. 

Thermographic alterations are frequently evident before physical ones. 

Thermography can detect lesions 1 or 2 weeks before limps or pain manifest, which athletes often leverage the technology.

Once treatment begins, thermography can monitor progress. Your provider’s prescribed holistic treatment should produce the desired circulatory change. 

For example, if visible red hot inflammation is present with your baseline Thermography, then in subsequent scans, a decrease in temperature to normal levels will prove your healing progress.

In Summary

Serenity patients like you benefit from our experience with Thermography. We’ve provided this state-of-the-art technology to our patients for over a decade.

Thermography imaging technology, provides our skilled practitioners with valuable information that helps them accurately diagnose your wellness concerns and symptoms.

Book your Thermography Scan today!

a collage made with thermograms and the serenity health care center Thermography Center in Wisconsin

Medical Thermography

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Thermography. No Comments on Medical Thermography

Medical Thermography is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that allows the examiner to visualize and quantify changes in skin surface temperature.

Heat patterns indicate inflammation. Inflammation is a precursor to disease in the body.

Early detection of inflammation is critical – you can prevent or intervene in the process before it becomes a disease. 

In addition, measuring inflammation consistently over time can also be very effective for detecting the status and severity of a medical condition.

How is Medical Thermography testing done?

An infrared scanning device converts infrared heat emitted from the skin surface into electrical impulses visualized in color (16 different pixels) on a monitor. 

This visual image graphically maps the body temperature and is referred to as a Thermogram.

This 15 to 30-minute valuable procedure helps alert your Integrative Medicine practitioner to the possibility of underlying breast disease and other chronic illnesses, including heart disease, and digestive disorders.

What does a Thermography scan show exactly?

Pain in the body shows up as Hyperthermia (hot spots: red and white) or Hypothermia (cold spots: blue, purple, and black), indicating to the client and practitioner a vascular or nerve problem within the body.

The spectrum of colors indicates an increase or decrease in the amount of infrared heat emitted from your body’s surface.

Since the average body has a high degree of thermal symmetry, subtle abnormal temperature asymmetries can be easily identified.

What diseases can Thermography detect?

1. Breast and chest Cancer’s early signs:

The Medical Thermography test improves your chances of detecting fast-growing, active tumors in the intervals between mammographic screenings (or when mammography is not indicated by screening guidelines for women less than 50 years old).

Your breast thermograms are kept on record and form a baseline for all future routine evaluations.

Breast thermography does not take the place of mammography when a mammogram is deemed medically appropriate.

2. The mouth is the source of many worrisome ailments:

TMJ, infected root canals, and gum disease can be revealed through Thermography scans. As well as pinpointing the source of pain, Thermography can also monitor the healing process.

3. Heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure:

Used as a preventative tool, Thermography can be an excellent resource for vascular problems and carotid arteries. 

Thermography uncovers reduced blood flow caused by hardened arteries – a symptom of atherosclerosis. 

This technology avoids radiation, risk, dye injections, and drugs so that our practitioners can prescribe reparation protocols before it is too late. If caught soon enough, harmful fibrous tissues and plaque can be restored. 

Diet, lifestyle adjustment, supplements, and chelation detoxification go a long way toward avoiding surgery or stroke.

4. Arthritis:

Duke University has determined that Thermography identifies minimal temperature changes in joints which is the first sign of the inflammation accompanying arthritis. 

The earliest inflammatory phase of arthritis shows clearly as heat; however, as the disease worsens, the joint temperature cools significantly because of joint disuse and lack of blood supply. 

Therefore, monitoring arthritis with Thermography can help determine if your treatment is working to halt further deterioration of joint movement.

5. Diabetes:

If you have diabetes, our goal is to avoid dangerous complications. 

Thermography is a  prognostic and diagnostic tool for type 2 diabetes. It helps in the early detection of neuropathy and vascular disorder, and diabetic foot. 

6. Pain syndrome from injuries:

Diagnosing pain syndromes is one of the lesser-known benefits of Thermography. 

If you develop this difficult-to-diagnose syndrome, you may suffer from pain for six months or longer after an injury. Thermography helps diagnose sports injuries, sprains, inflamed tendons, and pain syndromes so that you can receive treatment.

7. Cancer:

Cancer and malignant tumors show on Medicine Thermography scans. 

We can not guarantee that all cancer can be detected during your appointment. However, if there are cancer indications, we will conduct further tests to confirm the abnormality visible on the color digital image.

Is thermography painful?

No. Thermography is painless. It is like taking a photograph.

In summary

Medical Thermography’s role is to help with the early detection and monitoring of abnormal physiology and establishing risk factors for the developing or existing disease. In addition, when used with other diagnostic procedures, it assists in providing the best possible holistic health evaluation.

Book your Medicine Thermography scan today

Medical Weight Loss Programs & Healthy Diet Plans in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in General Health, Weight Loss.

Serenity’s Medical Weight Loss Program

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Wisconsin’s Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Center

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Hormones, Men's Health.

Wisconsin’s Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Center

With men seeking to optimize their health, one of the most frequent complaints is a declining sex drive coupled with a measure of erectile dysfunction.

Quick Link Directory:
What is erectile dysfunction
Causes of erectile dysfunction
Common erectile problems
Erectile dysfunction treatments
Ultrasound therapy
Supplements & herbs
Vitamin D
Nutritional therapy
Your first visit

Please remember that resolving erectile dysfunction is a whole body and mind wellness issue, and a long list of health benefits come from frequent healthy sex. 

Sex decreases stress, depression, pain, and risk of cancer. Having sex twice weekly even reduces your risk of having a heart attack by 50%. Sex also increases your sense of well-being and improves your immune system, bladder health, sleep quality, self-esteem, and even longevity.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile Dysfunction prevalence increases with age. Approximately 40% of men are affected at age 40 and nearly 70% of men are affected at age 70. Vasculogenic E.D. is said to be responsible for 80% of all reported cases of E.D.

The term itself, ‘erectile dysfunction, describes a variety of conditions: inability to get an erection, dissatisfaction with the size or hardness of your erections, and erections that do not last.  

Erectile dysfunction is commonly a symptom of another underlying problem. Because there are many causes of erectile dysfunction, there are also many treatments. Depending on the reasons, an integrative medicine approach optimizes the return of your healthy sex life because the healing-oriented care is mindful of the whole person, including all aspects of your lifestyle.

Serenity values the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, we are driven and supported by evidence, and we utilize appropriate custom therapies.

What are the Causes of Erectile Dysfunction?

Erections occur due to a complex system of hormones, emotions, and vascular and neurological systems all working together. 

An erection starts with cerebral or sensory stimulation, and sometimes both. The brain produces impulses, and local nerves trigger the muscles of the penis to relax, allowing blood to flow through the arteries.

A malfunction in any of these processes can create difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection and erectile dysfunction.

Any process along the way can interfere with the nerve signals or the proper function of blood vessels and can result in erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction is often an early warning sign

You should not ignore erectile dysfunction because it might indicate a more serious underlying disease. Some of the common causes are: 

  • Diabetes
  • Heart and vascular disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Neurologic disorders
  • Medications (medications for depression and blood pressure are the most common)
  • Smoking and alcohol use
  • Low Testosterone
  • Certain treatments for prostate cancer and enlarged prostate
  • Peyronie’s disease (curvature of the penis)

Among most men, the leading physical cause of erectile dysfunction is a microvascular disease (inflammation of the small blood vessels in your body) caused by heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes. 

Secondary physical causes of erectile dysfunction can include various situations, typically related to insufficient blood flow to the penis – Hormonal imbalances: low testosterone, low DHEA and adrenal fatigue.

Common erectile problems are also caused by:

  • Low testosterone
  • Low vitamin D
  • Low B vitamins
  • High cholesterol and triglycerides
  • Pre-diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Hypertension
  • Stress (excessive working hours, relationship or financial difficulties).
  • Sedentary lifestyles
  • Toxicity (excessive prescriptions, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, poor food quality)

Identifying and treating these things provides your best chance for success – not only curing your erectile dysfunction but also revolutionizing your health and impacting all aspects of your life.  

Our patients experience improved relationships and a long-forgotten vitality. 

Once the causative factors are identified and treated, it is time to regenerate the damaged erectile tissue.

Our erectile dysfunction treatments

Count on Serenity to provide the necessary resources for maximum effectiveness:

  • Treatment by a highly trained physician in Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • A thorough review of personal and family medical history
  • A comprehensive review of symptoms
  • Hormone level testing and a cardiometabolic panel
  • Programs tailored to alleviate precise symptoms based on personal medical history and lab result analysis
  • Compounded hormones and supplements
  • Ultrasound Therapy
  • Amino acid Therapy
  • Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) & Exosomes
  • Nutritional and fitness recommendations and support

Erectile dysfunction ultrasound therapy

Ultrasound Therapy also knows as Shockwave

Serenity’s Ultrasound Therapy effectively treats erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease and optimizes sexual performance. Ultrasound Therapy is effective because it focuses on the root cause of erectile dysfunction for many men – poor blood flow. Treatment is non-invasive, all-natural and produces long-term patient results.

The natural aging process for a man’s penis results in decreased blood flow, reduced strength, less sensitivity, and the blood vessels turn thin.

Ultrasound Therapy uses new technology that uses low-frequency high- amplitude sound waves to remove “Micro-plaque” clogging the arteries that deliver blood to the genitals.  

The treatment involves using a small handheld wand-like device placed on the penis (in a similar way an ultrasound is performed) to deliver mild shockwaves to the penis.

Studies have determined Ultrasound Therapy is associated with new blood vessel growth and (in animal studies) recruitment of stem cells to the penis. These blood vessels, now rejuvenated, produce greater blood flow, enabling more prolonged and more potent erections.

Ultrasound Therapy is similar to lithotripsy technology, the standard treatment protocol for breaking up kidney stones. However, in this case, the energy output has been reduced, making it safe for sensitive erectile tissue – yet strong enough to break up micro plaque in the arteries and stimulate regeneration of worn-out tissue. 

In just six to twelve 20-minute sessions, Serenity’s Erectile Dysfunction Ultrasound Therapy can get you on the road to enhanced sexual performance.

Contact us to start your treatment

Supplements & herbs to resolve ED

Studies support the judicious use of high-quality dietary supplements to treat erectile dysfunction. The world of supplements and herbal treatments for erectile dysfunction is vast. Your existing nutrient deficiencies and other factors will guide us to find the right combination.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the following supplements may help treat erectile dysfunction:  

  • Some evidence shows that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) increases libido in women and helps erectile dysfunction in men.   
  • L-arginine is an amino acid that may help expand blood vessels and increase blood flow. Ginseng showed to improve sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction. 
  • Beyond this, a popular supplement is zinc with copper, considered an essential component of many erectile dysfunction treatment plans for men. 

A 1996 study examined zinc supplementation in older men. The study documented that with increased zinc consumption, testosterone levels in the elderly population of the study nearly doubled. This evidence supports zinc impacting testosterone production, essential in treating erectile dysfunction. In 2009, animal research tested the correlation between zinc and sexual function. The investigation determined that zinc positively affects arousal and maintaining an erection.

Shop for supplements

Erectile dysfunction and vitamin D

Vitamin D is an essential ingredient supporting your health and known for strengthening your bones. You get a significant amount of your vitamin D from the sun: The sunlight stimulates your body’s natural production of vitamin D, which in turn supports your metabolism and strengthens your bones. 

But winter days are shorter in northern latitudes, and the sun’s angle in the sky stays low. Unfortunately, that means many people miss out on the benefits of sunlight. In fact, due to inadequate dietary intake and lack of sun, low vitamin D status is endemic in Serenity’s home state of Wisconsin.   

Though vitamin D is primarily known to help bone health, a recent study found it also improves erectile dysfunction. The International Journal of Endocrinology published that men who received vitamin D supplements showed increased testosterone levels and improved erectile function (after vitamin D replacement therapy).

The study proposed several possible mechanisms for vitamin D’s effect on combating erectile dysfunction. For example, vitamin D could improve endothelial integrity, and vitamin D may directly protect endothelial cells against oxidative stress. Alternatively, the activation of vitamin D by the antioxidant pathway may produce nitric oxide, which promotes penile vascular dilation. 

The important takeaway here for men is understanding how our environment contributes to erectile dysfunction and that our lives can encompass numerous causative factors, all contributing to varying degrees of erectile dysfunction. 

The good news is our integrative medicine approach is designed to surface all that may be hindering your sexual vitality, end erectile dysfunction, and optimizes your return to a healthy sex life. 

Serenity’s virtual dispensary – Shop for Vitamin D

Nutritional Therapy for erectile dysfunction

The human body is complex, with the function of one system directly or indirectly affecting other systems. 

Erectile dysfunction can involve numerous parts and processes of the body, including the brain, nervous systems, muscles, blood vessels, and hormones. 

In the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, a diet focused on natural foods like fruit, whole grains, vegetables, and fish — while minimizing red and processed meat and refined grains — decreased the likelihood of erectile dysfunction.  

So while there’s no miracle food to prevent erectile dysfunction, there is some evidence that certain foods may help in that what you eat may affect your performance. 

Because treatments have possible side effects (in addition to their benefits), we usually first look at lifestyle changes, such as modifying your diet for a positive impact because of the minimal potential side effects.   

The first step is to order blood tests to screen for nutritional deficiencies. Even with a healthy diet, deficiencies arise because of genetics, absorption issues, or environmental factors. 

One example is vitamin D. For those in northern latitudes, the only way to get enough vitamin D is to supplement. We will work with you to craft an optimized diet to build a robust vascular system and counter erectile dysfunction. Remember, a healthy vascular system means that the heart works well and pumps blood throughout the body- including the penis. 

Yes, some foods facilitate and foster healthy blood flow.  

For example, foods such as spinach and other leafy greens are high in nitrates. Nitrates are vasodilators that help open constricted blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow. 

Pistachios have Arginine, a protein helpful in relaxing blood vessels and improving circulation.  

Watermelon contains an antioxidant called phytonutrients, which are also helpful in relaxing blood vessels and may positively relieve erectile dysfunction symptoms.  

Dark red fruits like tomatoes and grapefruits contain lycopene, which promotes healthy circulation.  

This is just a sampling of foods that may have an ingredient directly affecting circulation and indirectly erectile dysfunction. Together we can establish a diet optimized to return you to full vitality. 

Contact us for nutritional guidance

First visit. Your next steps for treating erectile dysfunction

Serenity’s team of experience ED physicians successfully personalize a combination of treatments and innovative technologies to address your case. Our holistic approach by caring experts will put you on the path to recovery to reach your health goals. 

The first step is to diagnose the cause of your ED using testing. 

We will test your heart, hormone levels, vitamin and mineral levels and anything else we deem necessary to get to the root cause of your ED. In fact, many causes are reversible.

Then, we will begin the prescribed treatments that are right for you. Your progress will be monitored and the treatments adjusted according to your results. 

If you sense you have symptoms of erectile dysfunction and want help finding the root cause or would like to develop your personalized treatment or prevention plan for erectile dysfunction, make an appointment at Serenity, we’re here to help.

Simply reach out, Click Here To Call Us or dial 1-262-522-8640

Improving Male Fertility

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Hormones, Men's Health.

Male Infertility

Approximately one-third of infertility cases are caused by male fertility issues, so it’s important to focus on improving male fertility when discussing natural fertility. There are several ways to improve a man’s fertility. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we address the issue by taking a holistic approach.

Improving male fertility begins with addressing medical concerns

If there are no structural problems, we can look toward improving male fertility by optimizing overall health. This begins by taking a blood sample to check hormone levels. Dr. Debra Muth is a nationally recognized hormone expert, and she will investigate male hormone levels to determine whether changes need to occur to achieve the optimal balance for fertility.

In addition, improving male fertility means addressing chronic medical conditions. We advise patients to control high blood pressure, ensure that diabetes is being properly and constantly regulated, and address any other chronic medical problems.

Men who are preparing for cancer treatments should consult with us about preserving fertility; we work with oncologists to coordinate care. If a man has already had cancer treatment, we will discuss treatment options during our consultation.

Don’t forget to inform our team if you are taking any medications; certain prescriptions and even testosterone treatments will interfere with male fertility.

Addressing lifestyle issues

One of the most proactive ways to improve male fertility is embracing a healthy lifestyle. There are several areas that we address.

  • Eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants to improve sperm count and motility, or movement. We offer supplements to boost male fertility.
  • Quit smoking and using recreational drugs.
  • Do not indulge in excessive alcohol consumption.
  • Reduce stress. There is a connection between emotional health and infertility.
  • Try to get to your ideal weight. Being overweight or underweight can affect fertility.

Additional tips for improving male fertility

We have several additional tips for improving male fertility.

  • Try to have sexual intercourse at least two to three times per week during your partner’s fertile window.
  • Do not use most sexual lubricants—limit your use to canola oil or Pre-Seed brand.
  • Exercise to increase the production of antioxidants and improve your overall health.
  • Avoid exposure to toxins such as pesticides and lead.
  • Be cool! Too much heat can increase your scrotal temperature and hinder sperm production. This means avoiding hot tubs, briefs, laptop computers on the lap and too much time sitting.
  • Consider alternative therapies as a way of enhancing health and improving male fertility.

Our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee takes a comprehensive approach to every issue, including improving male fertility. For more information, contact us.

Learn the benefits of thermography

Benefits of Thermography

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, General Health, Thermography. No Comments on Benefits of Thermography

Learn the benefits of thermography

Learn the benefits of thermography

We want you to know about the benefits of thermography, a technology we offer at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee.

Thermography imaging technology, DITI, employs digital infrared thermal imaging. This technology creates a visual image or map that shows us your body temperature. The various colors indicate the level of infrared radiation that your skin’s surface emits. We use your map, or thermogram, for various medical reasons.

  • To create a baseline image
  • To help diagnose a condition, disease, injury or infection
  • To identify areas of inflammation

Five benefits of thermography

  1. Thermography is a noninvasive procedure. A thermogram does not require any contact with your body so there is no discomfort.
  2. Unlike other imaging procedures, thermography doesn’t emit any radiation.
  3. Thermography serves as an additional diagnostic tool for many conditions. Digital infrared thermal imaging, or DITI, is sensitive to changes in your body, especially in the musculoskeletal and vascular systems.
  4. Breast cancer thermography is a helpful addition to breast cancer screening tests. One of the most exciting benefits of thermography is its applications in breast cancer screening. DITI is very sensitive to subtle changes in breast tissue. For example, the technology can detect the extra blood supply that may be feeding a small malignant tumor. Early detection saves lives.
  5. Sports medicine thermography not only helps diagnose injuries, but also helps assess a patient’s progress during treatment. Thermography is helpful if you have sports-related injuries, such as sprains, inflamed tendons and pain syndromes. Diagnosing pain syndromes is one of the lesser known benefits of thermography. If you develop this difficult to diagnose syndrome, you may suffer from pain for six months or longer after an injury. Thermography helps diagnose the problem so that you can receive treatment.

Discover how you can benefit from thermography

Whether you or your family members are working toward achieving optimal health or are suffering from a medical condition, the benefits of thermography can help you. For more information, contact us at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee.

A man lying on the floor with a few cardboard boxes on him

What Causes Low “T” Testosterone (Male Hypogonadism)

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in General Health, Men's Health. No Comments on What Causes Low “T” Testosterone (Male Hypogonadism)

a clinical form to diagnose Low Testosterone levels
Low Testosterone

Why causes low testosterone? Injury, radiation, chemotherapy, and prostate cancer can affect testosterone levels. 

Testosterone naturally starts to declines at age 30 and continues to decline by 1.6% per year. As men age, It becomes more prevalent. By the time men are in their fifties about 12% of men have low testosterone. About 19% of men in their 60’s have low testosterone and the older men get the lower testosterone levels.

The American Urologic Association states that a low testosterone level is 300 or less. We often see symptoms in men with levels between 300 – 450 or less. It is important to screen testosterone levels in the 20’s and 30’s so that we have baseline levels to compare to men get older. 

Low Testosterone Causes:

Fatigue

Low ambition

Loss of muscle mass

Decreased sexual desire

Loss of body hair

Weight gain

Depression

Erectile Dysfunction

Moodiness/Irritability

How Common Is Low “T”, Testosterone

Low testosterone level is common in 40% of men aged 45 years or older. Testosterone levels fluctuate during the day and can be affected by (BMI) Body Mass Index, certain medications, and infections.

Chronic illness and infections can cause an issue with testosterone production. Lyme disease, fungal infections, mold exposure, and autoimmune diseases lower testosterone levels. This often takes time even after treating the infections to get the testosterone levels back up and in some cases the levels never get back to normal. It is important to seek treatment for these chronic conditions early on and treat the underlying issues to limit the long-term effects.

What Causes Low “T”, Testosterone

Medications

Diabetes

Chemotherapy

Pituitary Gland Issues

Alcohol Abuse

Estrogen Dominance

Inflammatory Conditions

Obesity

Sleep Apnea

Anabolic Steroid Use

Trauma (head)

Sports Injury

How Is Low Testerone Level Diagnosed?

Low testosterone is diagnosed by collecting a morning blood test to measure the testosterone level. It may take several blood tests to determine low testosterone since these levels change throughout the day. The highest level of testosterone is in the morning. Often times it is requested to draw blood at 8 a.m.

How Is Low Testosterone Level Treated?

Low testosterone, is treated with testosterone replacement therapy, which can be given in several different ways.

Intramuscular injection or IM

Testosterone patches, creams, gels, or oils

(Oral testosterone supplementation is not recommended or FDA approved)

Turn up your testosterone

What Are The Benefits of Testosterone Replacement

Body fat loss

Increased bone density

Improved mood function

Improved sexual functional

Increased cognitive function

Increased muscle mass

a teenager sitting on the floor wrapped with police tape the girl is holding a covid 19 banner

Is COVID affecting you in the bedroom:

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in General Health, Men's Health. No Comments on Is COVID affecting you in the bedroom:

Enjoy Love Making Again

Erectile Dysfunction and COVID

Is COVID causing issues in the bedroom? Men have additional reasons for being concerned about their love life after being infected with Coronavirus. It isn’t just affecting the lungs. Men are experiencing ED after being infected with COVID.  

Studies reveal proof of blood vessel injury within the penis of the COVID-19 patients, compared to men who have not been affected with COVID-19. Studies reveal that there is blood vessel damage in the penis of the COVID-19 patients, compared to men who have not been affected with COVID-19. Researchers reported May 7, 2021, in the World Journal of Men’s Health.

Coronavirus can injure the blood vessels of the penis. The blood vessels cannot produce enough blood to enter the penis to create a good erection. According to Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy, director of the reproductive urology program at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. Found that the virus affects the blood vessels that supply the penis, causing erectile dysfunction. “The blood vessels themselves malfunction and are not able to provide enough blood to enter the penis for an erection.”

We have worked with men that did not have ED prior to contracting COVID-19. There are studies that have also reported ED post coronavirus infection. COVID-19 can cause hyperinflammation throughout the body after coronavirus infection or CV-19 vaccine making the passage of the blood flow to the penis narrowed or blocked.

Cardiovascular Risks

ED may be an early sign of cardiovascular dysfunction. We have seen cardiac inflammation called myocarditis post-Covid -19 vaccine which can create an increase in ED. 

COVID-19 has also been linked to endothelial dysfunction. This causes the blood vessels to stiffen commonly called hardening of the arteries. This can cause issues with blood flow to the penis making it difficult to get or keep an erection.

Stress and ED

The stress that COVID-19 can have on people is significant. There is shame, anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue. These psychological complications can cause neurotransmitters to become imbalanced which can lead to sexual dysfunction. 

Is Low T Causing Problems in the bedroom?

Testosterone levels can also be affected by COVID-19. The virus can infect the testes where testosterone and sperm are made in men. Lower testosterone levels not only affect erectile function but also can affect fertility. It is important to know if there is low T by testing hormones.

Shockwave Therapy Can Help

Shockwave therapy is a treatment option that is completely non-invasive and has the potential to improve blood vessel function leading to improvement or resolution of ED. Shockwave therapy uses low-frequency acoustic waves to open blood vessels in the penis and stimulate new blood vessel growth. It can also eliminate micro plaque buildup in the penis which can improve erectile function.