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Autism Awareness is in the Month of April!

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Autism Awareness is in the Month of April!

Autism Awareness is in the Month of April! I believe that one month set aside is not enough attention to a growing epidemic. Look at the statistics: 1 in 88 from 2008 data, compared to 1 in 150 in 2002. This is the number from 2008, which already showed an increase of 78% from 2002 to 20081, mind you these stats are already 5 years old, and it is now 2013. After working with patients and their families for 14 years I find myself very upset that the numbers are growing. Back in the early days of my career, I thought the statistic of 1 in 250 was shocking.  All parties involved in research now need to focus spending money on finding solutions: educational, behaviorally and medical treatment. The thought of another study on “is there more Autism?” needs to no longer be done. The numbers are increasing, and more autism awareness is needed.

Autism is a complicated disorder that medically has many overlapping features. In our patient’s we see a wide range of systems affected. The diagnosis that Autism brings however focuses on the developmental and behavioral aspects due to the nature of this being a behavioral focused diagnosis. I however believe that the underling pathophysiology easily affects the outcome one sees behavioral.

The main treatment outcomes need to encompass a wide range of providers. That’s another reason why autism awareness is needed. At Serenity Health Care, our team will be looking for the medical and comorbid condition’s that do affect the well-being of the person with Autism.  When a person is evaluated head to toe, many physical findings are clues into the well-being of that patient. For example, is there easy fatigability? A practitioner would start to evaluate that person’s sleep, muscle tone, and diet. Simple changes in any of these areas will allow for improved outcomes in well-being. Functional medicine takes each area of that person that is affected and further evaluates it. For example, sleep maybe disrupted due to a neurotransmitter imbalance. Muscle tone is a reflection of the mitochondrial function, and/or if there is chronic immune deregulation. Diet can be affected by the patient’s sensory choice of foods and/or allergens that may be affecting their behavior due to the allergen being irritating to their immune system.

My hope for this month and beyond: All practitioners involved in Autism will stop with the rhetoric. Instead, take a stand for treatment and look to solutions in the care of the person diagnosed with Autism. Help raise autism awareness.

1) Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 14 Sites, United States, 2008:
The overall estimated prevalence of ASDs among the 14 ADDM sites was 11.3 per 1,000 (one in 88) children aged 8 years who were living in these communities during 2008. Overall ASD prevalence estimates varied widely across all sites (range: 4.8–21.2 per 1,000 children aged 8 years). ASD prevalence estimates also varied widely by sex and by racial/ethnic group. Approximately one in 54 boys and one in 252 girls living in the ADDM Network communities were identified as having ASDs. Comparison of 2008 findings with those for earlier surveillance years indicated an increase in estimated ASD prevalence of 23% when the 2008 data were compared with the data for 2006 (from 9.0 per 1,000 children aged 8 years in 2006 to 11.0 in 2008 for the 11 sites that provided data for both surveillance years) and an estimated increase of 78% when the 2008 data were compared with the data for 2002 (from 6.4 per 1,000 children aged 8 years in 2002 to 11.4 in 2008 for the 13 sites that provided data for both surveillance years). Because the ADDM Network sites do not make up a nationally representative sample, these combined prevalence estimates should not be generalized to the United States as a whole.

Are you Wired and Tired?

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“Tired and Wired”

Can you relate to this story? Do you always feel tired? Are you busy from the time you wake in the morning to the moment you lay your head on the pillow at night. Do you wear many different hats such as mother, professional, wife, coach, cook, chauffer, caretaker, and more?

Do you have a great relationship with your partner, but rarely have time to spend together, and intimacy is definitely not a priority.

Have you wondered where the weight gain has come from and you have tried everything but can’t lose it?

Do you feel anxious, foggy-headed, and stressed? Yet despite the busy days and the feelings of exhaustion at the end of them, you cannot sleep!

These symptoms are commonly referred to as being “tired and wired,” and are due, in part, to hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances. It’s also called adrenal fatigue.

The adrenal glands work all day long. A healthy adrenal gland, responds to stimulation from cortisol in the morning. The highest level of cortisol is produced in the morning and declines over the course of the day, allowing relaxation to occur to prepare for a restful sleep at night.

However, when the body and mind are under persistent stress, demand for cortisol is constant that then results in dysregulation of cortisol production at various times during the day.

With constant stress (both real and perceived) the adrenal glands become unable to secrete adequate amounts of cortisol thus setting the stage for dysfunction or adrenal fatigue.

There are three known phases of Adrenal Fatigue also known as wired and tired. Phase 1 is the first phase where cortisol is mildly imbalanced and is usually the easiest to recover from with life style changes. Phase 2 usually involves morning cortisol to be depressed and nighttime cortisol is usually higher keeping you awake at night.

This phase can take between one and three years to heal. Phase 3 is the most advanced phase and takes the longest phase to heal from usually three to five years.

There are lifestyle changes that can be made to assist in the recovery of adrenal fatigue.

Choosing mediation, spiritual growth, mild exercise like Yoga or stretching, eating regularly meals, sleeping six to eight hours a night.

Supplements can be used to support the adrenal function like Vitamin C, Ashwaganda helps to counteract the effects of occasional stress, Cortisol Calm maintains cortisol levels, L- Theanine is used to reduce anxiety and promotes relaxation.

Feel free to contact our Serenity Health Care Center 262-522-8640 to discuss your situation and your potential for adrenal fatigue.

Are Your Health Insurance Premiums Going Up?

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At the beginning of every year our health insurance premiums tend to go up instead of down even if you don’t use your insurance. It is not uncommon for you to see a 24% increase in rates on an annual basis.

Some employers create wellness programs in response to health insurance premiums increasing. Has your employer created a program for you to reduce your rates by quitting smoking, losing weight to reach your BMI (body mass index), lower your cholesterol, or blood sugar numbers?

This can feel overwhelming when you’re told you have to lose 15 lbs, lower your cholesterol by 20 points or get your blood sugar numbers down to normal in 8-5 weeks when you will be reevaluated. You do not need to feel bad about the changes that are needed. Look at these changes as a new life and a chance to lower your health insurance premiums.

Serenity Health Care Center can help you obtain all of these goals. We have holistic programs that will help you successfully reach your goals. Our holistic weight management program can change your life and help you create a weight management program that can become a new lifestyle. We offer a holistic cholesterol management program that contains weight and blood sugar control, cleansing, and biomedical approaches to help you reach your goals. All our programs are individualized programs that are created specifically for you.

Serenity Health Care Center will help you obtain your goals to get the benefits of lower health insurance premiums – CALL 262-522-8640 today!

Do you know if your food is NON-GMO?

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How do you know if the food you feed your family is GMO (genetically modified organism)?

These are important questions to ask and answers to have if you want to prevent disease and illness in your family. Foods that are GMO (genetically modified organism) are not naturally grown. 

They are a result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. The foreign genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. Because this involves the transfer of genes, GMOs are also known as “transgenic” organisms. This process can be called either genetic engineering or genetically modified.

Where are they in your food?

GMO was first introduced into the food supply in the mid-1990s; GMOs are now present in the vast majority of processed foods in the US. Europe has banned GMO food ingredients but the FDA does not even require the labeling of GMOs in food ingredient lists in the US.

Common foods that are GMO; include oils from all four, soy protein, soy lecithin, cornstarch, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup among others.

Why should you care about genetically modified foods?

These foods have been linked to toxic and allergic reactions, sick, sterile, and even dead livestock. The effects on humans of consuming these new combinations of proteins produced in GMOs are unknown and have not been studied. You need to know if your food is non-GMO.

It is the belief of many integrative providers that US government regulators have largely ignored the impact of GMO food on health, but medical studies show serious problems.

After reviewing more than 600 scientific journals, world-renowned biologist Pushpa M. Bhargava concludes that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a major contributor to the sharply deteriorating health of America.

Make it your business to know if your food is non-GMO.

Thyroid Tests

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Have you been treated with Thyroid hormone for more than six months but still have symptoms of thyroid imbalance?

This is a common problem amongst people with hypothyroidism.  At Serenity Health Care Center we have found that many patients feel better when they use Armour Thyroid instead of the synthetic thyroid hormones such as Levothyroxine or Levothyroid.

It is true for a while Armour was not available in the United States but that has changed and it is available through the pharmacy.  Another option to Armour is Compounded Thyroid that can be formulated specifically for each patient. 

This option allows the practitioner to change the dosage of T4 and T3 based on exactly what the patient needs.

In order for the practitioner to know exactly what hormones to replace blood testing is necessary. The thyroid tests you want to request are TSH, FT4, FT3, and Thyroid Antibodies.  More recently it has become popular to order Reverse T3 as well.  These thyroid tests can be ordered from a local lab and taken to an Integrative Medical Practitioner for evaluation. 

An Integrative doctor will look at these tests differently than your general practitioner.  Conventionally, practitioners were trained to only look at FT4 and TSH this does not always show the entire picture.  It is also important that your doctor is up to date with the normal ranges for thyroid tests.  If your thyroid tests are being evaluated based on old data then you can wait many years for treatment to begin.

TSH or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is a test used by all conventionally trained practitioners to determine if the thyroid is functioning properly.  This test has been utilized since 1973.  This test actually measures a hormone from the pituitary gland, not the thyroid.  A feedback loop within the body is what determines how much hormone to produce in response to the level of hormone circulating in the bloodstream.

FT4 is a measurement to determine the level of thyroid in the blood stream.  FT3 is the hormone used to determine how much hormone is available on a cellular level. Often times the FT3 can be low and you can have all the symptoms of disease but the other hormones can be normal. 

Functional medicine doctors will treat patients who have a low FT3 even if all the other hormones are normal.

If you have any of the symptoms below and are receiving treatment for thyroid disease you may benefit from choosing a different type of treatment.  If you are not being treated and have these symptoms, we recommend that you have your blood evaluated for thyroid disease.

Symptoms of Hypothyroid (Low Thyroid) may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
  • Coarse, dry hair
  • Dry, rough pale skin
  • Hair loss
  • Cold intolerance
  • Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
  • Constipation
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Memory loss
  • Abnormal menstrual cycles
  • Decreased libido
If this sounds like you call today to make an appointment for thyroid tests with one of our thyroid specialists today 262-522-8640.

Integrative treatments for Helicobacter pylori

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What is HELICOBACTER PYLORI (h. pylori)?

Helicobacter Pylori are a bacterium that infects the human stomach and duodenum (upper part of the small intestine). It is one of the most common infections found in the human worldwide. 

It is the bacteria that are strongly linked to the development of stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers and stomach cancer.

Most people who have this infection acquire it during childhood. It is thought that is spread from person to person and can sometimes be found in several members of the same family. 

The majority of the people with the infection (80%) are without noticeable symptoms. However, those with symptoms usually develop inflammation of the stomach, which leads to ulcers. 

Once the infection is present, it persists for many years, if not for life.

What can cause H. pylori infection?

  • Family history of stomach cancer can increase your risk
  • Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria), which can be caused by aid-suppressing medication for GERD
  • Antacid use
  • Lifestyle factors (such as smoking, alcohol, coffee, diets high in sugar and trans fats and stress can increase your risk for the development of an ulcer from H. Pylori.
  • Low nutrient status (low levels of Vitamin C and E can promote growth of H. pylori
  • Lowered immune system activity

How is H. pylori usually treated?

In most cases, it is detected when an ulcer develops in the small intestine or stomach. Conventional medial therapy usually involves a one-week “triple therapy,” consisting of an acid-blocking medication along with two or three different antibiotics. 

Even though this therapy is effective, there is increasing concern due to the growing number of infected individuals found to have antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Frequent (or prolonged) antibiotic therapy also eliminates beneficial bacteria in the gut. 

Anytime the balance of intestinal organisms is disrupted, harmful organism have an advantage, which can lead to systemic consequences (such as dysregulation of the immune system). 

This can be avoided by using probiotics during and after the use of antibiotic therapy.

What are some complementary and integrative medicine treatments for H. pylori?

  • Lifestyle and diet changes
  • Bismuth: Prevents from attaching to the stomach wall and prevents the organisms from multiplying.
  • Beta Carotene, Vitamin C and E, minerals and NAC:  Encourages the protection of mucus that lines and protects the stomach
  • Mastic gum: Protects the lining of the stomach from ulceration and inhibits the GROWTH of
  • DGL: Strengthens the protective mucus layer of the stomach, stimulates the immune system and heals ulcers
  • Zinc Carnosine: This special form of zinc allows for a slow release of zinc within the stomach, allowing for higher local concentrations of zinc.

If you want to read more about Gastrointestinal Health read the GERD article.

Tension or the Essence of Health and Vitality

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There appears to be a new disease called Tension! 

Many Americans suffer from this condition, feeling tense, anxious, nervous, and frustrated.  Do you suffer from dry mouth, or feel like you are suffocating?  Does your stomach feel like it’s in knots or spasms? Are chronic muscle cramps part of your daily routine?

One possible culprit causing tension is a mineral deficiency;  the simple cure may be mineral nutrition.  Minerals function as a major controller for the nervous system.  

Potassium and magnesium are the main two alkaline minerals, which come primarily from greens. These minerals support the parasympathetic nervous system, helping you remain calm, and slowing down the body and mind. They can reduce tension.

Acid minerals come primarily from grains, part of the typical American diet. The predominant acid mineral is phosphorus. Acid minerals support the sympathetic nervous system, helping you to keep going. A balanced nervous system provides plenty of energy, yet allows one to be calm, rested, and peaceful.

Many people in our country experience tension and anxiety.  We eat too many grains and too few vegetables.

The typical American diet supplies excess acid minerals and inadequate amounts of alkaline minerals, leading to tense, spastic, dried out, and cramping.

Gluten-Free Resources

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Our staff at Serenity Health Care Center is often asked what are good resources for gluten free cookbooks? We have put together a list of books that are recommended by our staff and patients. Feel free to enjoy these gluten-free resources and find some good recipes. These books can be found at the library, Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Dr. Muth’s favorite is Gluten Free on a Shoestring.

What is a gluten-free diet? Grains should as wheat, rye and barley contain gluten. A gluten-free diet eliminates foods that contain gluten. While people with celiac disease must follow a gluten-free diet, many others choose to follow this diet. Its popularity continues to increase, so there are more and more gluten-free resources available.

At the beginning, it can be frustrating to replace the foods that you enjoy.

These gluten-free resources can help you find the right substitutes that you and your family can enjoy.

Visit Serenity Health Kitchen

Gift of Wellness This Holiday Season

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A gift of wellness makes a wonderful gift because it shows you care about the health and wellbeing of the person you’re giving it to.  Serenity Health Care Center has gift certificates for all your loved ones, friends, and co-workers.

Are you tired of giving the same type of gifts? Do you wish someone would give you a different gift?

Serenity has gift certificates for all our services. Some great ideas are: massage therapy, hypnosis, thermography, Ondamed (biofeedback), and a great gift is supplements.  With the economy people would love a supplement gift card.

Serenity’s gift certificates say, “I wish you good health”.

Call today for your gift certificates! 262-522-8640.