Sneaky Thyroid Problems That Slip Under the Radar

I'd like to share story about a patient that I've worked with for the past few years. This person has struggled with anxiety and mild depression since about 1998, And has been on approximately 3 different antidepressants during that time period.

When this person discovered that we were treating hormone imbalances, they mentioned to me that they would like to get their hormones checked. When we got their results back we discovered that they had  subclinical hypothyroidism.

Let me explain what subclinical hypothyroidism is. Subclinical hypothyroidism is a condition in which a person has very minimal changes in their labs but have significant physical symptoms that relate to standard hypothyroidism.

This client of mine had symptoms such as thinning hair, sadness, low energy, low motivation, cold intolerance, muscle tension, weight gain, and mild anxiety. These are all the symptoms of standard hypothyroidism; however, when we checked their labs, they seemed "normal". As is the case 99% of the time, this type of hypothyroidism often gets overlooked. That's exactly what happened in this person's case.

Two weeks after starting thyroid medication, this person stopped their antidepressant on their own. When they came back for follow-up after one month, they discussed the fact that they had stopped their antidepressant. When asked how they were feeling, they said they were feeling better than they had felt in over 15 years. 

If this particular scenario sounds like you, or someone you know, give us a call at Matrix Wellness Solutions. There may be a good chance that there's a hormone imbalance that can be corrected.

Thanks,

Brian G. Brown

Fresh Manna Monday

2 Chronicles 13: 1-7 

In the passages above is written a remarkable recount of David’s leadership and heart as he pursued what really mattered in life. In summary, the Ark of God or the presence of God had taken a “backseat” under the leadership of King Saul, David’s predecessor. David knew that what the nation needed was God back in their midst. I really like the way he chose to involve everyone in the decision making. In verses 1 and 2 he met with his commanders and I believe laid out the plan and vision he had for reaching the God-inspired goal he had been given. I believe David had to encourage those of his leadership under him to take ownership in the “task at hand”. I envision David as he enthusiastically and with great energy laid out the plan for his nation as he shared with his immediate leadership. David knew that he needed everyone “on board” if his strategy was to be met with the least resistance from the people. 

After David was successful with encouraging the leaders of Israel, he then went to the people with his plan and once again laid out God’s strategy for the nation. The people emphatically rallied behind David and the leadership and moved forward with the plan to pursue God by reclaiming the Ark of God. The reason that I feel that this is such a great example of Leadership is that David understood the need to communicate clearly and effectively what he knew was God’s heart and direction. Effective communication is such an essential part of being the leaders that God intended for us to be. You may be thinking, “I am not a leader”, but the fact is we are all leaders. If we are parents, we are leaders. If we are aunts or uncles, or even brothers or sisters, we are leaders. In fact, a recognized position does not make us a leader, but if we are a person who gives advice or has influence on even one person then we are leaders. So, I am not sure about you, but this makes me realize that when it comes to my influence on others then I need to make sure I am communicating effectively to ensure that what is really important in life is heard by all who may be following.

Living at “GROUND ZERO” for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke

Well, the South is notorious for a lot of things, but most notably in the medical community, we are known as “Ground Zero” for “The Big Three” killers in America: Heart Disease, Diabetes, and Stroke. Due to the fact that this is American Heart Awareness Month, and we live at Ground Zero, I’d like to talk candidly about a few things. 

Risk Factors for Heart Attack and Stroke: 

Inactivity and obesity increase your chances of heart attack or stroke by 73.4% over the course of your life. Other risk factors include high blood pressure (31% risk), cigarette smoking (21% risk), high cholesterol (16% risk), and diabetes (10%). What most people don't’ realize is that 49% of all Americans carry at least one of these risk factor. 

There are other risk factors such as ethnicity and genetics that come into play. The fact of the matter is that factors like ethnicity and genetics only magnify the other risk factors listed above. This is why it’s important for us to test your genetics. Matrix Wellness Solutions is one of 5% of clinics nationwide that even offer this type of testing. The good news is this: if you have private insurance, in most cases, it won’t cost you anything other than your co-pay. 

Here’s A Quick Guide To Decreasing Your Risk 

You can lower your risk of heart disease and heart attack by taking simple steps every day. 

• Eat a healthy diet. 
• Maintain a healthy weight. 
• Be active. Exercise regularly. 
• Be smoke-free. 
• Limit alcohol use. 
• Manage any medical condition you might have. Learn the ABCS of health. Keep them in mind every day and especially when you talk to your health provider: 

Appropriate aspirin therapy for those who need it 

Blood pressure control 

Cholesterol management 

Smoking cessation 

• Add vital nutritional supplements to your diet such as Fish Oil, Ubiquinol, Nitric Oxide, Lecithin, Niacin, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, & Alpha Lipoic Acid. 

As we wind down American Heart Health Month, let’s not make it a once per year reminder. Do something daily to remind yourself of the importance of taking care of your heart. Pick one thing from the list above to do everyday and soon, you’ll be developing healthy habits that stay with your for a lifetime.

If you liked this article, remember to share with your friends on Facebook!
Just click the icon below. Thank you for visiting!

The Heart Truth

Just this past weekend, I spent some time with one of the leading researchers in the field of heart disease prevention. Dr. Nathan Byran and I were both participants at the Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Symposium in Dallas, TX. We spent about 3 hours over dinner Friday evening discussing advances in heart disease reversal. I’ll tell you more about our conversation in a second, but first, let’s review some important reminders about heart disease.

February is American Heart Health Month, a time for directing awareness to the fact that heart disease is our Nation’s leading chronic disease and number one killer. A person’s diet, lifestyle and environment, matched to his or her genetic makeup, are major determinants for heart disease.

A woman suffers a heart attack every 90 seconds in the United States.

If you seek help quickly, treatment can save your life and prevent permanent damage to your heart muscle. Treatment works best if given within 1 hour of when symptoms begin.

Common symptoms of heart attack are:

• Unusually heavy pressure on the chest, like there's a ton of weight on you 
• Sharp upper body pain in the neck, back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, or jaw 
• Severe shortness of breath 
• Cold sweats (not hot flashes from menopause) 
• Unusual or unexplained fatigue (tiredness) 
• Unfamiliar dizziness or light-headedness 
• Unexplained nausea (feeling sick to the stomach) or vomiting 

Sadly, one third of all women who suffer heart attacks will never have any of these symptoms. I know that sounds scary, but there are ways to detect damage to the inside of your blood vessels with simple blood tests. 

What I learned from one of the world’s leading heart disease researchers…

Fortunately, many new scientific studies are showing that factors such as diet, lifestyle, environment, & genetics, along with the aging process, have a direct effect on one major underlying piece of the puzzle for the cause of heart disease. The discovery of a molecule called Nitric Oxide (N-O) or the “Master Regulator” has caused the field of Medicine to begin rethinking the way it approaches heart disease. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t that laughing gas? The answer is “no”. Laughing gas is Nitrous Oxide (N2O); it’s vastly different from Nitric Oxide (N-O).

Nitric oxide (N-O) is a very important ‘signaling’ molecule in the body that transmits messages to cells for proper function. Research has proven that loss of N-O is the earliest event in the onset and progression of a number of diseases, especially cardiovascular disease.

When N-O is created and released in the body, it sends off crucial signals inside every cell, tissue, organ and system where it commands: 

• Blood vessels to relax so they can expand which reduces blood pressure and increases circulating oxygen and nutrients 
• Blood platelets to become less sticky thus preventing abnormal blood clots and plaque build-up 
• The immune system to destroy invading disease-producing agents and cancer cells 
• Brain cells to communicate with each other for proper brain function such as mood and memory 

N-O also supports health in other areas such as kidneys, bones, sleep, body weight, joints, skin, eyes, dental and even sexual health and altitude tolerance.

Clinical studies reveal that we lose 10% to 12% of our N-O production per decade beginning about age 25. The choices we make during this period can affect the rate of N-O loss, either speeding it up or slowing it down.

So you may be asking…

Q: “How can I know if I’m one of those people who is on the verge of a heart attack but doesn’t know it because I don’t have symptoms?”

A: There’s a comprehensive blood panel that we can obtain to see if the early stages of heart disease present in your blood vessels. This may sound foreign to a lot of people, but medical advances in the past few years have allowed us to see inside the body, on a chemical basis, without having to do expensive, invasive tests.

Q: “How do I know that I have a deficiency in N-O?”

A: There’s a free screening test that we can do at our office. It only takes 30 seconds to complete, so we can tell you immediately if you are deficient in N-O.

Q: “If I’m deficient in N-O, what can I do about it?”

A: If you are deficient in N-O, you need to change your diet immediately. You’ve heard that we all need to eat more green-leafy veggies. Well, it’s true. This is where we can get high amounts of N-O. Also, beats are an even better source… that is if you like beats. I’m not a beat fan, so I opt to take a supplement called NEO-40.

If you would like to receive testing for N-O deficiency and get your advanced cardiac labs done, we can certainly arrange that for you at our office. If you’re like me and not a fan of beats but would like to replenish your N-O in order to protect your heart, we can arrange for you to get the NEO-40 at a deeply discounted price in honor of Heart Health Month.

Brian Brown, APRN-BC

If you liked this article, remember to share with your friends on Facebook!
Just click the icon below. Thank you for visiting!

Stress Free Living? Is it possible?

Philippians 4:6-8 

One of my favorite scriptures is found in Philippians 4 verses 11-13. It is definitely not my favorite because I am so compliant to the truth found in it, but more so, because it is such a challenge to my personality and lifestyle. Let’s face the facts: We are a busy culture! In our busyness though, are we productive when you compare the effort and amount of stress invested in our daily tasks versus our productivity? The writer encourages us to “Do not be anxious about anything, BUT in prayer and petition, present your requests to God and the peace that passes all understanding will transcend your mind.” 

You may have read some of the same articles that I have read about the effects of stress on the body. But to clarify, not all stressors are bad. God created our bodies to be resilient and to adapt to all types of changing situations; thus another confirmation that we are created in His image. The problem begins when we have “stress overload”. “Stress Overload” can cause the body to exhibit all types of symptoms, including, but not limited to: arthritic type symptoms, joint swelling and pain (fibromyalgia), high blood pressure, obesity, increased anxiety levels, increased pulse rate, fluctuations in blood sugar, hormone level imbalance, and imbalances of other key body regulators, to name a few changes. 

I believe we will never see a “stress free” life this side of heaven. The challenge therefore is not to look for “stress free’’ opportunities, but to better yet, strive for the Peace that only come from the He who is PEACE. Although a challenge, it is possible to live and prosper during the stressful times of life. It is truly all about our perspective. In closing, think of the stressors that you face every day as opportunities and not obstacles. I like to use this adage at times: Remember nothing in this life ever comes to stay, but if you give it a while, it will always come to pass. 

At Matrix Wellness, we approach each of our patients by addressing the emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental person. In doing so, we can provide comprehensive wellness and disease prevention strategies that will work for all ages. 

David Hughes 

NP and Co-Owner of Matrix Wellness

Anniversary Special

PART 1 - Hormones: Are They The Fountain Of Youth?

When I received my medical training, very little time was spent on hormone management…. may I repeat, VERY LITTLE TIME WAS SPENT ON HORMONE MANAGEMENT. It was actually about 4 hours of lecture. In the grand scheme of things, that’s a drop in the bucket, considering most body systems were covered over days. 

I have to be honest though; it really didn’t matter to me at the time that our training was so sparse… This was probably because hormones didn’t affect me personally. However, as I’ve gotten past the magical “40” number, it’s become VERY important to me. In fact, you might say it’s become a passion of mine. 

When I read things like, “Alzheimer’s is a preventable disease” and it all boils down to proper hormone management, I get fired up. I’m fired up for two reasons: One, hormones play such a crucial role in disease prevention, vitality and youthfulness, yet my medical education DID NOT teach me this; Two, I’m excited to live in a time where information is king and I can get the education I need to make things right again. 

It goes without saying that the management of hormone imbalances is an art. It takes a specialized skill set and a willingness to think outside the box. Because we use Biologically Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHR), it takes a little time to get all of the stars to line up just right, but when they do, the results can be astonishing. 

In my personal quest to better understand the management of hormone imbalances, I have discovered that there is no shortage of solid proof, in the medical literature, that BHRT is safe, and it’s also very effective in the prevention of things like: 

Alzheimer’s Disease 

Heart Disease 

Stroke 

Osteoporosis 

Cancer 

Premature Skin Aging 

Age Related Weight Gain 

In most cases, BHRT can also reverse some of these illnesses and help restore us to a more youthful state. I know that it may seem like I’m making this out to be the next fountain of youth or the next anti-aging miracle, but that’s not my intention. The fact of the matter is, we can’t stop aging and there’s no such thing as the fountain of youth, BUT we can slow the effects of aging and wind back the hands of time just enough to make us feel vibrant again, like we did in our 20’s. 

You may be asking, “How do you do this? I have my hormones checked every year, and my doctor says that my hormones are just fine.” I’ll answer this question in the next segment later this week. 

Stay tuned next week for Part 2.

Fresh Manna Mondays

Introducing "Fresh Manna" a weekly devotion by David Hughes, APRN-BC. 

Daniel 1:8-16

When I pondered on the HCG diet and the commitment and resolve it takes to achieve diet and lifestyle change goals, I immediately thought of a great story in the Book of Daniel of the Old Testament. 

The Book of Daniel is a great story about a young man, Daniel, who chose not to eat certain foods because of his realization and conviction that the higher calorie, higher fat content of the “palace foods” were not the choices that were BEST for him at the time of his palace training. This decision, like our own decisions to improve our lifestyle through better eating and lifestyle change was met with some resistance. In fact, the king’s trainer feared for his own life that Daniel would become sick from eating a diet of vegetables and water, and that he, in turn, would be beheaded. 

So, as you can see,” Diet” was a hot topic, even 5,000 years ago. As with anything in life that is worth doing, it starts with an inner resolve and a desire to make the right choices. Our food choices today are actually dictating our tomorrow in so many ways beyond just our weight. As a Nation, we are the most obese in the world, and here in Tennessee, we live in the center of the “Heart Attack and Stroke Belt” of the U.S. It doesn’t have to remain that way. We can be driven by the culture, or we can be driven to change the culture. 

If you don’t happen to know the end of Daniel’s story, he made the right choices with the vegetables and water. He was healthier, more mentally sharp, stronger, and more fit than his peers who ate and trained on the palace foods. The King was so impressed that Daniel’s Diet became “THE DIET” for the training recruits. Daniel became an agent of change in his God-given circle of influence. I personally feel that Matrix Wellness Solutions is called to this endeavor. Please join us in changing our corner of the world.

David B. Hughes, Nurse Practitioner and Co-Owner

Side Effects of Surgical Menopause

When it comes to menopause, things can get complicated pretty quickly. For the sake of this article, we will talk about surgical menopause… that is, menopause caused by hysterectomy.

More women are having hysterectomies today than ever before in the history of medicine. Some women are able to keep their ovaries, hormone producing glands, while others are not. Generally, those who are fortunate enough to keep their ovaries don’t struggle with the immediate effects of sudden hormone loss that comes from a total hysterectomy.

When a woman experiences hormonal loss, whether through natural age-related decline or surgical intervention, the results are the same: loss of energy, decreased libido, weight gain, mood instability, skin and hair changes, mental fogginess, and decline in memory function. The only difference is that the women who have surgically-induced menopause experience their symptoms more severely and more abruptly. 

Biologically identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is becoming more widely accepted by women who struggle with these symptoms because there is growing evidence that it is safer than synthetic alternatives. Hormone management is essential for feeling rejuvenated & youthful, promoting weight loss, and preventing weight gain. If you have questions about how BHRT might help you, feel free to contact us for more details. 

Brian Brown, APRN-BCCEO / Co-Owner

Melatonin May Help With Weight Management

There is growing evidence of the important role that Melatonin plays in the management of obesity. Melatonin is a natural hormone that our body produces to promote sleep. A small pea-sized gland in the brain triggers its release when the suns starts going down. Age can play a crucial role in the level of Melatonin that we naturally produce. As we age, our Melatonin levels naturally drop. Other problems arise when we over-stimulate our brain with artificial light…. much like I’m doing now by writing this article close to my bedtime. 

All joking aside, the artificial light from our computers, T.V.’s, iPods, iPads, or any other “high tech digital poison” can interfere with the release of Melatonin. If Melatonin isn’t properly released at the right time or in the right amount, you probably won’t sleep well… and you may have more difficulty losing weight. 

Now, scientists have linked lack of sleep to obesity, and this form of obesity has partially been linked to low levels of Melatonin. Although all of the reasons aren’t entirely understood, there seems to be a growing body of evidence that supports adding a Melatonin supplement to aid in the treatment of obesity. 

In my mind, it’s certainly a “no-harm no-foul” treatment. It’s all-natural and seems to help in some cases. The additional benefits of achieving healthy Melatonin levels include improved immune function, potent anti-oxidant effects, & healthy balance of hormones such as Leptin, Human Growth Hormone, Insulin, Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone. 

The ideal form of Melatonin is pharmaceutical grade and is “micronized” as well as “sustained release”. Generally speaking, low doses are all that’s needed to achieve the benefits mentioned above. These doses can be as low as 1mg to 3mg in most cases. 

Good Luck and Happy Sleeping, 

Brian Brown, APRN-BCCEO / Co-Owner

Harmful Bacteria Linked To Obesity

Here’s an excerpt from a recent article that I read:

So how might bacteria in the gut affect your weight? Research suggests that organisms in our intestines have a significant impact on how fats in our food are metabolized, absorbed and stored. The first data to suggest a connection between the health of the gut and the risk of obesity was published in 2004, and since then more than 100 articles have been published trying to elucidate the mechanism behind this. 

An imbalance of harmful bacteria in the gut can secrete substances known as endotoxins that can incite inflammation and contribute to changes in hormones that subsequently lead to weight gain. In a recent study in China, scientists identified an obesity-linked bacteria known as Enterobacter from a morbidly obese adult male; when that bacterium was eliminated from his gut, he lost nearly 30 percent of his body weight. The researchers then fed this same Enterobacter to a group of mice; they developed obesity and insulin resistance from this exposure. (K. Judge & M. Barish-Wreden; The Sacramento Bee - Mclatchy-Tribune News Service; Sacramento, Calif.; 2012)

Symptoms of enterobacter infections are serious and most always lead to hospitalization and sometimes fatality. Although it’s unlikely that you will ever have these serious bacteria in your gut, it’s important to note how fragile our gut is. We have to take care of our gut in order to maintain healthy nutrition balance.

Knowing the things that can lead to a build-up of harmful bacteria can help us avoid pitfalls later on. Here are some of the things that can affect that build-up:

Foods we eat

Use of antibiotics

Chronic ingestion of acid-reducing medications 

Stress

It may be hard to believe, but the bacteria in your gut can change in as little as a day. So how do we keep our gut healthy?

Avoid processed grains 

Avoid sugars

Switch to whole, unprocessed grains 

Incorporate more fermented foods like yogurt

Choose Your Sugar Wisely

When it comes to healthy living, most people are aware that sugar and starches need to be limited. But, most people don’t know why. When you eat foods that are starchy or contain sugar, your body interprets them all as pure sugar. Your body doesn’t know the difference between a tablespoon of sugar, a piece of bread, or mashed potatoes.

While sugar is necessary for survival, the best source of sugar comes from fruits and vegetables. I tell patients all the time to think of themselves as scavengers. Ask yourself, what am I most likely to find if I’m stranded in a tropical wilderness? Odds dictate that you are more likely to find cruciferous vegetables, nuts, and berries while scavenging. For now, we will stick to fruit.

In nature, berries are most plentiful and tree fruit is seasonal; thus, tree fruit naturally has limited availability. Because of modern-day-mass-production of these delectable foods, we no longer have to scavenge. We simply go to the local market and purchase whatever our heart desires. This can be both good & bad - good in the sense that we have access to healthier options, but bad in the sense that unlimited access to seasonal fruits, such as those that come from trees, can lead us to unhealthy imbalances.

Remember this little clue. Any fruit that ends in “berry” is better for you: strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, & raspberry. These have the lowest sugar content of all fruits, are filling, high in fiber, low in sugar, and high in antioxidants. If you have a choice, choose berries over tree fruit. If you must eat tree fruit, stick to apples. Enjoy these healthier options and enjoy a healthier life.