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Author: Dr. Debra Muth

5 Ways to Manage Stress

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, Healthy Lifestyle, The Dark Side of Injury. No Comments on 5 Ways to Manage Stress

Stress is normal in today’s world. It seems to parade in front of most of us on a daily basis. When you or your loved ones are dealing with an injury or illness, your stress level gets a boost. My husband’s on-the-job injury resulted in fighting our way through worker’s compensation, medical complications and more. My stress level zoomed through the roof! Here are five ways I coped with stress along the way.

  1. Let go of what you can’t control. Stress is always worse when you when you try to control the uncontrollable. That’s easier said than done. You need to force yourself to focus on what you can control so you can move forward. When my husband was injured, stress became almost paralyzing. I had to force myself to take each step. Moving onward, even if it’s a small success, is empowering and reduces stress.
  2. Use exercise and hobbies as stress reducers. Don’t give up exercise, hobbies or nutrition. You must take care of YOU before you can take care of others. Make time to exercise. Do something fun. It’s easier to manage a stressful situation…and even ongoing stress…. when there’s something you enjoy doing on the horizon.
  3. Reduce extracurricular activities that you don’t enjoy. Trim activities that you don’t have to do and don’t enjoy from your “to do” list. Replace activities that are just taking up your time with things that you must do or enjoy doing. Freeing up time for other things reduces stress.
  4. Manage your time to reduce stress. If you’re letting you to-do list grow, it will soon overwhelm you. I did this when my husband was injured. Looking back, all I can say is: Wow, why did I allow myself to do that! I’m a good manager of time, so I can do a lot. But, there’s a limit on what any person can do. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Pick and choose so that you manage your time well.
  5. Attitude is gratitude. Look for the “pearls of wisdom” in situations. There’s always a benefit or something that you can learn, even if it’s not readily apparent. People who take the time to be grateful exude a more positive attitude. And, there’s your stress reducer.

Stress was such a big part of my life in the years following my husband’s injury that I decided to share my story to help others. You can read my story and learn more about how I coped during this time in my life in “The Dark Side of Injury”.

Taste of the Mediterranean Recipe

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Recipes. No Comments on Taste of the Mediterranean Recipe

Pam’s Mediterranean Salad

Mediterranean-Salad

  • 4 green onions or a small bunch of chives
  • 2 cups grape tomatoes cut in 1/2 or quarters
  • 2 cucumbers diced
  • 2 avocados diced
  • 1 can of chickpeas
  • 1/3 cup parsley
  • 1/3 cup mint
  • Juice of 2 or 3 if small lemons
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • Salt Pepper

Place the green onions, tomatoes, cucumber, chickpeas, parsley, and mint, in a large flat dish to marinate. In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion. Pour the dressing over the salad, tossing gently to coat Add avocado last or before serving. You may make it a day before serving it’s actually it’s better! Then add avocado before serving. You may add goat or feta cheese if you wish. Or use it as a filling in a pita with with humus.

Recipe developed by Coach Pam

Causes and Treatments of High Blood Pressure

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, Heart Health. No Comments on Causes and Treatments of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a dangerous health condition that leads to cardiovascular disease and many other illnesses. While the exact cause isn’t always known, there are many underlying factors that contribute to the development of high blood pressure. These lifestyle choices can make a positive difference.

Weight Gain Can Cause High Blood Pressure: Being overweight or obese can drive your blood pressure upward. Even losing a few pounds can have tremendous health benefits.

Lifestyle is Important in Controlling High Blood Pressure

Foods Play a Role in High Blood Pressure: Many people are aware that too much salt in a diet is detrimental for blood pressure. But most people don’t know that sugary foods and coffee can increase it too. Too much alcohol is another culprit. Plus, lots of packaged and canned foods have hidden salt and sugar. Know what you’re eating and strive for fresh foods when possible to help control blood pressure.

Lack of Activity Can Lead to Blood Pressure Problems: Today’s technology often enables an inactive lifestyle at both work and play. Physical activity can help control your blood pressure, reduce stress and manage your weight. Opting for daily exercise could be one of the best health decisions you make!

Medications Can Raise Blood Pressure: If you take medications, it’s important to learn about interactions and side effects. Supplements and over-the-counter drugs count too. On the other hand, olive leaf extract has been tested to reduce blood pressure. Learn more about it in High Blood Pressure and Olive Leaf Extract. You are in charge, so understand the health issues and benefits of drugs and supplements.

Stopping Smoking Can Lower Blood Pressure: Research has shown the multiple health benefits of stopping smoking. Lowering blood pressure is on the benefit list. Putting down your cigarettes is worth the effort. You don’t have to go it alone. Ask about our smoking cessation program at Serenity Health Care.

Genetics and Aging Play a Role in Blood Pressure: While you may be genetically inclined to have blood pressure issues, making the right lifestyle choices helps. Staying in good physical condition and following a healthy diet keeps many physical ailments at bay as you get older.

Call Serenity Health Care for an appointment to identify existing or potential blood pressure problems. It’s especially important to start early if your lifestyle or family history puts you at greater risk. Take action immediately if your blood pressure starts inching upward. It could save your life!

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!

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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.

Improvements Needed in Medical Errors

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, The Dark Side of Injury. No Comments on Improvements Needed in Medical Errors

In 2013, research by The Leapfrog Group showed that medical errors were considered the third leading cause of death in the United States. The 2015 report on Hospital Safety Scores shows that while hospitals have made significant safety improvements, there’s not much improvement in preventing errors, infections and accidents. Frightening statistics for our country! It’s little wonder that malpractice cases are skyrocketing.

Medical Errors Can Have Devastating Health Results

Medical Errors Have Devastating Effects
Medical Errors Have Devastating Effects

When a mistake is made assembling a car, it’s usually easy to correct at the dealership. Many medical errors aren’t that easy to correct. Mistakes in health care can often create long-term health problems, disability or even patient death. Let’s look at some of the more common medical errors that result in malpractice suits.

Missed Diagnosis: If a doctor initially diagnoses an illness or injury incorrectly, appropriate treatment is delayed. Although the correct diagnosis may come later, a delay in treatment can result in major problems. Think about cancer. Many cancers are aggressive, so any delay in treatment could be fatal. If you were misdiagnosed to have cancer, you could undergo painful treatments that you didn’t need. Whether the diagnosis is wrong or delayed, the patient suffers. It’s no wonder that missed or delayed diagnosis is one of the leading malpractice claims.

Surgical Errors: There are many malpractice claims for medical errors made by surgeons. Wrong implant, wrong material, wrong procedure performed, wrong patient, wrong body part, and the list can go on. My husband was the victim of a surgical error that caused a great deal of pain and suffering. You can read about our journey through malpractice and find information to help you file a malpractice claim in my book, “The Dark Side of Injury”.

Drug Mistakes: Prescribing medications requires expertise and accuracy. Patients react differently to medicines, so monitoring for allergic reactions and correct dosages is essential. It’s also important to document and communicate how to take medications. A side effect of many drugs, especially antidepressants, is suicide. Prescribe it and forget it can and does cause patient fatalities. Like many of the medical errors, some drug mistakes can’t be corrected.

Sometimes, medical errors are blamed on hurried doctors. It can also be lack of training, poor communication, different languages, and kickbacks from drug companies. Regardless of the underlying factors, improvement is still needed. Too many patients still pay the price of medical errors.

At Serenity Health Care, you’ll find that we take the time to discuss your case and answer your questions. Our team of integrative health practitioners works with you to optimize your health.

Schedule an appointment and start taking control of your health today.

Leading Men’s Health Problems

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, Men's Health. No Comments on Leading Men’s Health Problems

Men’s health is important! Yet, it’s often said that men tend to take better care of their car than they do their health. What I believe this means is that many men tend to ignore “little” health symptoms more often than women. If it’s not too much of a problem, men just keep going. Some women do too. Yet, little problems can turn into major health issues when left untreated. Here’s a look at some of the leading health problems men face.

  1. Heart disease ranks as the top cause of death for men and women, but men are usually affected at a younger age. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to heart disease. Identifying and controlling symptoms such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diet and other lifestyle choices can help prevent or control heart problems. When you evaluate men’s health, check heart symptoms.
  2. Prostate cancer is a leading health problem for men. Many are slow growing and treatable. Tests aren’t always definitive, so the best action is to discuss your test results and overall risks regularly with your doctor. Read my article on Dealing with High PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Levels for more information on testing and supplement suggestions.
  3. Type 2 diabetes is a silent health issue that can affect organs, cause strokes, kidney failure and more. This can be a major issue in men’s health. Identifying and controlling this disease is important to helping prevent long-term health complications. Exercise and diet help maintain your target weight, which can help control and/or reduce your chance of developing Type 2 diabetes. Discuss your risk with your health care professional.
  4. Liver disease is another condition that affects men’s health. Many liver diseases can be prevented with lifestyle changes such as eliminating alcohol and tobacco. Talk to your doctor about diet, supplements and lifestyle changes that can help protect your liver.
  5. Skin cancer is a top concern for men. According to the Cancer Foundation statistics, the risk for men over age 50 is more than twice that of a woman. The higher risk is a direct result of wearing less sunscreen, more sun exposure and fewer screenings. Prevention and early detection are the best protection against skin cancer.

Discover what “little” symptoms can mean to men’s health overall, longevity and lifestyle. Schedule a consultation with Serenity Health Care to learn more about optimizing your health so you can continue living your life to the fullest.

Dealing with High PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Levels

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Articles. No Comments on Dealing with High PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Levels

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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Dr. Muth interviewed for US News & World Report

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Dr. Muth interviewed for US News & World Report, “5 Ways to Mitigate the Financial Downside of a Disability”
by Kimberly Palmer, May 13, 2015.

Whether you were injured on the job or fell ill, you can reduce the money stress your family will face. Read Dr. Muth’s recommendations to protect your family from experiencing the financial stress that the Muths did in the wake of a disability.

Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, Chiropractic Care. No Comments on Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a health issue for 100 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Two-thirds of these people suffer from moderate to severe pain that interferes with their daily lives. In addition leaving you feeling foggy and disconnected, pain medications often interfere or create additional health issues. This is why more and more people turn to chiropractic care for chronic pain.

Chiropractic care for chronic pain is effective

What is Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain?

Acute pain is normal for injuries and soft tissue damage. This type of pain lessens and disappears as the underlying cause heals. Chronic pain is very different from acute pain. Chronic pain often last for months or throughout your lifetime. Moderate to debilitating chronic pain characterizes diseases such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, spinal stenosis, migraines and many other health conditions. Old injuries and aging can also result in chronic pain. Other times, the origin of the pain isn’t known. However, chronic pain prevents sufferers from participating in many day-to-day activities that most of us take for granted.

Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain

Many studies, including one funded by NIH, have shown that chiropractic treatment is effective for pain management. Due to extensive musculoskeletal training, a chiropractor can identify abnormal movement patterns and irregular functions. A treatment plan for chronic pain goes beyond manual adjustments to correct misalignment. Chiropractic care for chronic pain is a customized program that may include regular treatments, exercises, supplements and nutrition. Because the treatment plan is tailored for your condition, it also addresses nerve, muscle and organ dysfunction to reduce and manage chronic pain. For more information on how chiropractic care for chronic pain, read our article, “Fibromyalgia and Chiropractic Care”.

Living with Chronic Pain

Foods play a major role in chronic pain. Some foods exacerbate pain, and others have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce pain. Staying hydrated and following a diet free of processed and “trigger” foods can help manage chronic pain. At Serenity Health, we’ve found that leafy greens, asparagus, low-sugar fruits and soy products often help reduce inflammation that leads to pain. Foods that can instigate inflammation include dairy, chocolate, wheat, tomatoes, red wine, coffee and soda.

If you face daily pain, it’s time to improve your quality of life. Contact Serenity Health for a customized plan for chronic pain. You can manage your pain and return to the life you once knew.