Archive for the ‘Adrenal Health’ Category
Sunday, December 25th, 2011
As we celebrate the holidays and wind down 2011, it is common practice to start thinking of things large and small that we would like to change in the new year.
Many of these changes are health changes. Perhaps the most common wish or resolution for the new year is to lose weight or “get healthier”. In my opinion, this is very worthwhile. I have been a doctor long enough to know that it is unlikely to happen without a plan. I’m talking about a plan that breaks a good plan down into small, strategic, doable action items.
I am a master at helping people lose weight. One reason is that I recognize that being overweight is way more than eating too much and exercising too little. Those are often important factors, but usually there is more to it than that.
Did you know that food sensitivities can cause you to hold on to fat? One of my favorite patients lost 60 pounds within 4 months after stopping eating gluten once I diagnosed her with a sensitivity to gluten!
Thyroid issues are a frequent contributor to weight issues. Before I did my extra training in functional medicine and looking for and treating the root causes of my patients’ health problems, I was taught to just look at TSH. Now I spend much of my day reviewing with patients their complete thyroid lab results. Did you know that Free T3 accounts for about 85% of thyroid activity? How about that Reverse T3 has no activity and increases if a patient is stressed or is taking a synthetic T4 like synthroid or levothyroid?
Just not getting enough sleep can even make you fat. If you get less than 7 hours of good quality sleep, then you actually mess up your hormones than tell you when you are hungry and when you are full, and affect fat storage.
Being stressed causes you to pump out constant cortisol, which is a fat storage hormone. It is one of the common causes of belly fat.
Eating a high glycemic diet, and having unstable erratic blood sugars cause you to spike your blood sugar over and over during the day, which causes you to spike your insulin over and over again. Insulin is another fat storage hormone.
Having a toxin load of heavy metals or other toxins can cause you to hold onto many extra pounds of fat and water, too.
There are other causes, too!
So, what to do about it? I recommend a personalized approach, with labs and a detailed history to identify any easily fixable causes or contributors to the excess fat. I have many approaches to actually helping my patients to lose their excess quickly and painlessly. Most of all, it is always my plan to help a patient to get healthy and to have the weight loss be a side effect of that. There is no joy in helping patients to lose the same 30 pounds over and over.
I am thankful for the opportunity to practice my craft of optimal health functional medicine and to serve my patients. I am a lucky doctor!
I am accepting new patients, so if you or a loved one could use a new doctor, call or email to make your appointment now at 512-537-8859 or drliesa@drliesa.com. Come see me in my new office at 1524 South IH-35, Suite 140, Austin, TX 78704 between Riverside and Woodland.
To your health!
Liesa Harte, M.D.
Tags: obesity, thyroid, toxins, weight loss
Posted in Adrenal Health, Allergies, Andropause, At-Home Sleep Study, Austim, Bioidentical Hormones, Blood Pressure, Cancer, Diabetes, Functional Medicine, Insomnia, Menopause, Mood Disorders, Nutrition, Optimal Aging, Stress, Toxins/Detox, Uncategorized, Weight Loss | No Comments »
Thursday, August 25th, 2011
Snoring so loud you wake the neighbors?
Only 10-20% of sufferers are diagnosed despite the fact that untreated sleep apnea has such devastating health consequences. Sleep apnea has been linked to increased risk of stroke, diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, obesity, sexual dysfunctional, depression, loss of motivation, and chronic fatigue.
One reason is that until recently, the only way for a proper diagnosis was for patients to go to go spend the night at a sleep lab! This was weird! It was expensive and many people just did not want to spend the night in a sleep lab at any price.
Now, the technology is so amazing that you can get the same quality of results by using at-home sleep study equipment. This is basically a headband with a very sensitive sensor that touches your forehead and an oxygen sensor that is completely disposable and used only by you.
This costs your insurance company (or you if you pay cash or have a really high deductible) only about 10% of what they would have to pay for an in-lab sleep study! The results are available in less that 24 hours, and are from a sleep specialist because all of the data from the tiny little device is transmitted via the internet to a sleep specialist for their interpretation just the same as if you spent the night in a sleep lab.
Do you or someone you know experience any of these symptoms?
• Snoring
• High Blood Pressure
• Obesity or Overweight
• Erectile Dysfunction (even mild)
• Gasping for Breath after a Pause in Breathing
• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness or Drowsy Driving
• Depression
• Morning Headaches
• Diabetes
• Waking with a Dry Mouth
• Gastric Reflux (GERD)
• Insomnia (either difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep)
• Periodic Leg Jerks/Movements or Restless Sleep
• Frequent Trips to the Bathroom at Night
• Excessive Night Sweating
• Acting Out Dreams, or Sleep Walking/Talking or Eating
Call, email or come by our office to schedule your at-home sleep study today. On the day of your test, you will pick up the small unit from our office (in a case just smaller than most school lunch boxes), use it that night while sleeping, and drop it off the next day. It is that simple! You get to sleep in your own bed, and your results are usually available within one day! This study is currently covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield, United, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and many others. It is not currently covered by Medicare. The cash price for the test is $300.
Liesa Harte, M.D., P.L.L.C., 1132 South Lamar, Austin, TX 78704
drliesa@drliesa.com www.DrLiesa.com 512-537-8859
Tags: at home sleep study Austin, high blood pressure, insomnia, OSA, sleep lab austin, snoring, watermark sleep study Austin
Posted in Adrenal Health, At-Home Sleep Study, Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Functional Medicine, Insomnia, Optimal Aging, Weight Loss | No Comments »
Saturday, August 13th, 2011
DHEA may have any of the following potential effects:
- Improved sense of well-being
- Improved energy levels
- Lowers LDL cholesterol levels modestly (one study, however, has shown DHEA replacement may reduce HDL cholesterol levels in females, and HDL is desirable)
- Lowers insulin modestly, helping to stabalize blood sugar levels
- Enhances immune system response by stimulating the thymus gland and by affecting the PPAR receptor lymphocytes, which decrease the production of free radicals by monocytes, resulting in a possible decreased risk of infections, malignant tumors or cancers
- Decreases levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)
- Decreases synthesis of thromboxane A-II in platelets (with doses of 100-300 mg DHEA daily)
- Playsa role in conversion of fat to lean muscle
- Reduces platelet aggregation
- Decreases plasma plasminogen activator antigen (with doses of 100-300 mg DHEA daily)
- Modest decrease in cardiac risk for men
- Better outcomes have been reported for DHEA replacement following insertion of cardiac stents
- It binds to GABA and NMDA receptors, possibly resulting in a positive impact upon depression, memory and cognition, by opening calcium channels.
- Assists in improving symptoms associated with some learning disabilities, obesity and auto-immune diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, lupus, Epstein-Barr, and adrenal insufficiency
- May play a role in treating or preventing osteoporosis
- An estrogen-like effect on the brain, by increasing beta-endorphin levels after initial therapy
- DHEA exerts its effects upon the central nervous system by binding to the GABA receptor
- In some animal studies, DHEA has slowed the aging process
- Reduces subjective vasomotor symptoms as well as psychological symptoms in menopausal females
- Increases IGF-1 levels (With doses of 100-300 mg of DHEA daily)
I encourage you to make an appointment at www.drliesa.com and make yourself an appointment to have your hormones tested and rebalanced. Insurance usually pays for blood tests for hormones. The results are back within about a week, and we can start treatment immedicately. The sooner you balance your hormones, then sooner you will feel like your old self again, and often better!
Come see me or my nurse practitioner Andrea Armstrong, FNP-C at my office at 1132 South Lamar, Austin, TX 78704 inside the Lamar Plaza Drug Store! 512-537-8859, drliesa@drliesa.com, or make an appointment by going to my website www.DrLiesa.com and clicking on the link to make an appointment.
Tags: adrenal fatigue, bhrt doctor Austin, bioidentical hormone clinic Austin, DHEA, functional medicine doctor austin, Stress, wellness institute or clinic Austin
Posted in Adrenal Health, Andropause, Bioidentical Hormones, Menopause, Optimal Aging, Sex Drive/Libido, Stress | No Comments »
Saturday, August 13th, 2011
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is a steroid hormone produced from pregnenolone in the adrenal cortex, gonads, nervous system and brain. About 90% is produced in the adrenal glands located just above the kidneys. Cholesterol is the precursor to DHEA. More than 150 hormones are made by the adrenal glands. However, the most abundant hormone made by the adrenal glands is DHEA and its metabolite DHEA-sulfate. The ratio of DHEA-S to DHEA is approximately 400:1, and the concentration of the DHEA-S in serum is approximately 20 times higher than any other steroid hormone.
DHEA is one of the most abundant hormones in the body and is precursor to the sex hormones androstenediol, androstenedione, testosterone, estrone, estradiol, and progesterone. In females, DHEA is the precursor for approximately 50% of the androgens, 75% of active estrogens in premonopause and 100% of estrogens in postmenopause. DHEA has weak androgenic activity. Other reported actions include anti-inflamatory, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetogenic and anti-aging.
For the first few years of life, the adrenals make very little DHEA. Around age six or seven, they begin production in increasing quanities until the mid-twenties. DHEA levels decrease progressively from a peak at age 25, and then begin to decrease after age 30, so the average 70 year-old has only 20% of the DHEA in circulation than he/she had 50 years earlier.
At all ages, men tend to have higher DHEA levels than women. Many people over the age of forty produce inadequate levels of DHEA. Levels are typically low in those with chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, immune deficiencies, cancer, high blod pressure, heart disease, adrenal insufficiency, AIDS, and in the critically ill.
Many factors can contribute to low DHEA levels. Elevated insulin levels decrease DHEA levels; one reason why hyperinsulinemia increases vascular disease. DHEA levels may also be depleted by a number of drugs, including corticosteroids, opiates, birth control pills, and danazol. Moreover, low DHEA may be resulting from menopause o andropause, decreased DHEA production, excess alcohol consumption, hypothyroidism, lack of exercise, aging and smoking.
I encourage you to make an appointment at www.drliesa.com and make yourself an appointment to have your hormones tested and rebalanced. Insurance usually pays for blood tests for hormones. The results are back within about a week, and we can start treatment immedicately. The sooner you balance your hormones, then sooner you will feel like your old self again, and often better!
Come see me or my nurse practitioner Andrea Armstrong, FNP-C at my office at 1132 South Lamar, Austin, TX 78704 inside the Lamar Plaza Drug Store! 512-537-8859 , drliesa@drliesa.com , or make appointment online by clicking on the link on my website at www.DrLiesa.com .
Tags: adrenal fatigue, BHRT austin, bioidentical hormone clinic Austin, bioidentical hormones austin, DHEA, functional medicine clinic austin
Posted in Adrenal Health, Andropause, Bioidentical Hormones, Functional Medicine, Menopause, Optimal Aging, Sex Drive/Libido, Stress | No Comments »
Saturday, August 13th, 2011
Millions of Americans Need an At-Home Sleep Study and Don't Even Know it!
Because I feel so strongly that people need to be tested, I am putting my money where my mouth is with this special offer. Each and every time (no limits) you refer someone to Liesa Harte, M.D. and they have an at-home sleep study, you will receive a $25 Visa Gift Card to use anywhere Visa is accepted!
There is NO LIMIT to the number of $25 Visa Gift Cards You Can Earn From Me!
The technology that allows very accurate sleep studies to be done easily at home in your own bed is so new that most doctors don’t even know about it yet! Help me spread the word and get more people tested so they can easily be helped, and go shopping on us as a token of our appreciation. I am proud to hear the many compliments from my patients of how much better they feel since they have been working with me as their doctor.
This life-threatening sleep disorder is keeping 18 million of us up at night, and half of us don’t even know it.
Few things are as important to our health as getting good sleep. And yet almost three-quarters of Americans aren’t even logging 7 hours per night – the minimum amount we all need to function well. Worse yet, many of us are suffering from a serious sleep disorder that not only compromises our sleep but also puts our lives at risk. If you (or someone you love) has trouble sleeping, read on. A good night’s sleep could save your life.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Normally when we sleep, the throat muscles keep our airway open so we can breathe in plenty of oxygen. When people suffer from sleep apnea, the airway narrows dangerously either because the throat muscles relax too much, the tongue and tonsils are too large in relation to the windpipe, or extra tissue from being overweight thickens the windpipe wall, narrowing the airway. Sleep apnea can also happen when the brain does not communicate well with the muscles that need to keep the airway open.
The result is a vibration caused by the unsuccessful effort to pull in air – the telltale snoring of sleep apnea sufferers. Eventually, when oxygen intake becomes too low, your brain will wake you up to prevent you from dying in your sleep. For people with severe sleep apnea, this can happen hundreds of times a night.
Why Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
Beyond making you and your partner miserable and exhausted, sleep apnea is a major cause of high blood pressure and can lead to inflammation and clogging in your arteries. Over the long term, it often results in irritability and depression, and in some instances, can kill someone in their sleep.
Do you or someone you know experience any of these symptoms?
- Snoring
- High Blood Pressure
- Obesity or Overweight
- Erectile Dysfunction (even mild)
- Gasping for Breath after a Pause in Breathing
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness or Drowsy Driving
- Depression
- Morning Headaches
- Diabetes
- Waking with a Dry Mouth
- Gastric Reflux (GERD)
- Insomnia (either difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep)
- Periodic Leg Jerks/Movements or Restless Sleep
- Frequent Trips to the Bathroom at Night
- Excessive Night Sweating
- Acting Out Dreams, or Sleep Walking/Talking or Eating
Call, email or come by our office to schedule your at-home sleep study today. On the day of your test, you will pick up the small unit from our office (in a case just smaller than most school lunch boxes), use it that night while sleeping, and drop it off the next day. It is that simple! You get to sleep in your own bed, and your results are usually available within one day! This study is currently covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield, United, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and some others. It is not currently covered by Medicare. The cash price for the test is $300.
Liesa Harte, M.D., P.L.L.C., 1132 South Lamar, Austin, TX 78704
drliesa@drliesa.com www.DrLiesa.com 512-537-8859
Tags: at home sleep study clinic austin, bipap austin, cpap austin, dental appliance for snoring in Austin, functional medicine doctor austin, high blood pressure, insomnia, institute and clinic for wellness in Austin, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, sleep apnea, sleep lab austin, snoring, watermark sleep study
Posted in Adrenal Health, At-Home Sleep Study, Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Functional Medicine, Insomnia, Mood Disorders, Optimal Aging, Weight Loss | No Comments »
Saturday, August 13th, 2011
Your Brain Stressed
Optimal hormone levels occur when a person is in his/her twenties and thirties, and may continue for another 15-20 years with a subtle decline. Generally, during this same span of time fewer diseases arise than during almost any other time of life. Cancers are less likely, occurring more frequently in younger and older ages, as a rule. Diabetes is more common among younger and older individuals. Heart disease, bone fractures, infections and so on, seems to predominate before and after these years. This lends to the feelings of invincibility experienced during our twenties and thirties. Beginning in our late thirties, however, hormone levels begin a steady decline. We do not usually notice the effects until about our early forties or occasionally, late forties and early fifties. As the hormonal communication system declines, the body begins to age more rapidly. Biological health is intimately tied to the health of the endocrine system. Any decline in the hormone system has a negative consequences on longevity by increasing the likelihood of death.
Unlike the predictable decline experienced with most hormones, a few hormones tend to increase with age, insulin and cortisol for example. Corticosteroids are hormones manufactured in the adrenal glands and are critical to the body’s response and management of stress. Large amounts of cortisol are released in response to stress. While this is an essential function for survival, when stress is prolonged it can damage the feedback loop that regulates cortisol levels. Prolonged and uncontrolled cortisol secretion exhausts the body. It can inhibit the immune system, slow protein synthesis, and lead to neuronal loss, brain damage, bone loss, muscle wasting, increased abdominal fat, psychosis, premature aging, and death. One definition of aging says aging is the deterioration of the body’s ability to respond to stress.
I think that stress underlies about 90% of all diseases and dysfunction. For that reason, I actually have a clinic within a clinic – Central Texas Stress Clinic. I see several patients each week who are suffering from adrenal fatigue, the long term result of chronic stress. Make an appointment to come see me today to see how stress has affected your body and mind and what you can do to recover. Make an appointment by going to my website www.DrLiesa.com and clicking on the link on the right hand side of the home page, or email us at drliesa@drliesa.com or call us at 512-537-8859.
Tags: adrenal excess, adrenal fatigue, austin stress clinic, cortisol, cortisol curve, memory loss, Stress
Posted in Adrenal Health, Blood Pressure, Functional Medicine, Insomnia, Mood Disorders, Optimal Aging, Stress | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
The term “male menopause” is often used jokingly, along with “mid-life crisis” to describe the behaviour of men of a certain age, but male menopause is no joke. While most physicians are aware that men experience hormonal changes as they age, just as women do, primarily, decreasing testosterone levels, surprisingly few men are aware of male menopause or andropause. Androgens are hormones, such as testosterone, that control the development of masculine characteristics, hence the term andropause. Often, even if they are experiencing symptoms of these hormonal changes, they are uncomfortable talking about it with their healthcare provider. The condition has been noted in medical literature since the 1940’s, but since doctors lacked reliable methods to properly diagnose the condition and because symptoms come on gradually and differ from man to man, healthcare providers have done little to educate their patients. As a result, andropause is under diagnosed and undertreated.
While people often think primarily of women when it comes to hormone replacement, doctors included, BHRT (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy) is not just for women. Men do seek treatment on their own, but often women who have been helped by BHRT say something like “I feel great, now what can you do for my husband?” The answer is, plenty. Today, with state-of-the-art blood testing, we can easily and accurately monitor testosterone and other hormonal levels.
Andropause is the result of gradually declining testosterone levels. By age 70 most men have testosterone levels 10% of what they were at age 25. Most men begin experiencing symptoms of declining testosterone between ages 40-55, but symptoms can occur earlier. Testosterone assists the male body in building protein for the maintenance of muscle mass, and is essential for sustaining sexual drive and stamina and achieving and maintaining erections. Symptoms of andropause can include the following:
• Irritability
• Weight gain
• Sleep apnea
• Memory loss
• Diminished libido
• Hair Loss
• Erectile dysfunction
• Hot Flashes
• Muscle loss
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Night Sweats
• Gynecomastia
The risks and benefits of testosterone replacement need to be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider, ideally one that practices functional medicine. Every man’s anatomy and physiology are different, so androgen replacement therapy is not a one size fits all diagnosis. Testosterone replacement therapy is a treatment for men with low testosterone who want to optimize their health and overall well-being. The good news for men is that hormone losses and imbalances are easily correctible. In collaboration with your healthcare provider you can achieve a healthier, younger and more vital you.
Andrea Armstrong RN, FNP-C
Go to our website now and make an appointment for an evaluation of your hormonal status at http://www.DrLiesa.com . See the button to request an appointment on the right hand side of the first page. We look forward to helping you!
Posted in Adrenal Health, Bioidentical Hormones, Functional Medicine, Insomnia, Mood Disorders, Optimal Aging, Relationships, Sex, Sex Drive/Libido | No Comments »
Monday, June 27th, 2011
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses that have received advanced education, including a Masters of Science degree in their specialty, as well as hundreds of hours of training with physicians in their area of specialty. Depending on where you live, and where you get healthcare, nurse practitioners may either be part of your routine care or unfamiliar to you. In the past you were more likely to receive care from a nurse practitioner if you lived in a rural or remote area. These days though, you are likely to see nurse practitioners working with primary care physicians and specialists, in urgent care, and even in hospital ER’s.
Despite being called nurse practitioners (and proudly so) these healthcare providers are much more than just nurses. Their advanced education allows them to diagnose and treat illness as well as prescribe medication. While the collaboration between physicians and nurse practitioners is essential, and certainly not to detract from the value of doctors, but in some cases it is actually better to see a nurse practitioner than a physician. Here a just a few of the benefits of seeing a nurse practitioner:
• According to a study released in 2002, patients are more satisfied with the care and attention they receive from their nurse practitioner than from their physician. (Horrocks, S et al. 2002) The study suggested that nurse practitioners spend more time with patients, communicate more effectively, and keep more thorough records of consultations as compared to doctors.
• Nurse practitioners are very effective in health promotion and management as well. Research shows nurse practitioners are able to help patients with a range of chronic problems, including hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, obesity, depression, diabetes, and asthma. In fact, Canadian and international research has shown that patients with hypertension respond better to nurse-practitioner care than to physician care. Multiple studies have shown that patients with hypertension respond better to nurse practitioner care than to physician care. (Kinnersly, P et al. 2000)
• It’s easier to get an appointment with a nurse practitioner because most people prefer to see the doctor even though they have to wait days for the appointment. This is not because nurse practitioners are less efficient or capable; it’s a consequence of the misconception that only doctors can treat you effectively. Research has consistently demonstrated nurse practitioners can provide care that is safe, effective and comparable, in a wide range of situations.
• Your overall healthcare costs are reduced because people who consult nurse practitioners are known to have fewer emergency room visits, shorter hospital stays and lower treatment costs. (Mundinger, MO et al. 2000)
Overall, nurse practitioners are skilled, considerate, and caring, so you are sure to be satisfied with their care. So next time you call for an appointment and are told the doctor is booked, would you like to see the nurse practitioner, go ahead and say “That sounds great” , and look forward to receiving excellent care.
Andrea Armstrong RN, FNP-C
References
Horrocks, S et al. 2002. “Systematic review of whether nurse practitioners working in primary care can provide equivalent care to doctors.” British Medical Journal; 324(7341): 819-823.
Kinnersley, P et al. 2000. “Randomised controlled trial of nurse practitioner versus general practitioner care for patients requesting ‘same day’ consultations in primary care.” British Medical Journal; 320(7241): 1043-1048.
Mundinger, MO et al. 2000. “Primary care outcomes in patients treated by nurse practitioners or physicians: a randomized trial.” Journal of the American Medical
Posted in Adrenal Health, Allergies, Austim, Bioidentical Hormones, Blood Pressure, Cancer, Diabetes, Functional Medicine, Gut Health, Insomnia, Mood Disorders, Nutrition, Optimal Aging, Parenting, Relationships, Sex, Sex Drive/Libido, Stress, Toxins/Detox, Uncategorized, Weight Loss | No Comments »
Friday, June 24th, 2011
BHRT or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is a safer and more natural alternative to hormone replacement with synthetic hormones such as Prempro or Premarin. These hormones are derived from plant sources including yams and soy. After being extracted from their natural sources, the hormones are formulated to be molecularly identical to hormones produced in the human body. Unlike synthetic hormones, these hormones fit at their receptor sites like a key in a lock. Because they are identical to the hormones our bodies produce, our bodies have the right enzymes and cofactors to efficiently metabolize them and obtain maximum benefit. Since bioidenticals are typically prepared just for you, based on collaboration with your healthcare provider including lab values, consultation and individual preferences, it is the ideal way to achieve optimal hormone balance.
Why is bioidentical better?
• The chemical structure of the replacement hormone is identical in structure and function to that of the hormone produced naturally in the human body.
• Formulated from precursors found in natural sources such as soy and yams, these hormones are easily metabolized via normal metabolic pathways and are easily excreted.
• Provide a safer, more natural way to receive the touted health benefits of HRT, such as reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, improved cholesterol and lipid levels, and research suggests that BHRT does not carry the same risk for increased incidence of breast cancer and may actually offer some protective benefit against the development of breast cancer.
Benefits and achievable goals of BHRT
• Alleviate symptoms caused by the progressive decrease in production of hormones by the body and re-establish hormonal balance.
• Decrease or eliminate: hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia.
• Improve: mental clarity and focus.
• Accelerate: fat burning and increased capacity to lose weight and get in shape.
• Calm: anxiety and decrease depression.
• Alleviate: foggy thinking and memory lapses.
• Restore: sexual function and increase libido.
• Reduce: hormonally triggered headaches and other PMS symptoms such as irritability, bloating, and fatigue.
• Regulate: menstrual bleeding and decrease painful periods.
• Decreases risk of osteoporosis.
• Possibly avoid: surgical interventions for bleeding irregularities and pelvic pain caused by hormone imbalances.
BHRT preparations are available by prescription and are formulated by compounding pharmacies and specially trained pharmacists. These preparations can be administered topically, orally through capsules or sub-lingual lozenges, or with sub-dermal pellets placed under the skin by your healthcare provider.
BHRT requires collaboration with your healthcare provider and pharmacist with the overall goal of achieving optimal hormonal balance, along with your active involvement in identifying health issues including necessary dietary and lifestyle changes to supports your wellness goals. A successful therapeutic plan must be individualized to meet your unique needs. When you are taking hormones, we recommend that you have periodic lab evaluations and checkup to properly assess their benefit
Andrea Armstrong RN, FNP-C
Thanks, Andrea!
To your health!
Liesa Harte, M.D.
Posted in Adrenal Health, Bioidentical Hormones, Functional Medicine, Optimal Aging | No Comments »
Thursday, May 26th, 2011
I asked our nurse practitioner to write a guest blog on a topic she feels strongly about. She chose to write on Women and Anxiety. We do see many women patients with issues stemming from anxiety in our Austin clinic. Men have anxiety, too. We know. This one is for the women, though. Enjoy!
May 25, 2011
Many women go about their daily lives in a state of chronic, low level anxiety that over time may evolve into episodes of panic attacks, phobias, or anxiety disorders in the presence of increased stress or biological changes — Major life stressors, both physical and emotional, can contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. These include marriage, divorce, death, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. Over time, women who are chronically anxious may come to believe that constant anxiety is “normal.” Many patients with generalized anxiety are so accustomed to living with it, that they don’t mention it until asked, or until one of the previously mentioned major life stressors causes their longstanding anxiety symptoms to worsen.
Psychologists once viewed anxiety as an exclusively emotional problem. But research over the last 30 years has demonstrated that anxiety, along with emotional causes, has real, physiological causes that must also be addressed to gain lasting relief. Physiological causes can include hormonal, adrenal, thyroid, and digestive imbalances.
This means you don’t just have to live with constant anxiety or medicate your symptoms when you feel overwhelmed by them, only to have them return. Once you understand both the physiological and the emotional causes of your anxiety, you can take an active role in getting your anxiety under control.
We recommend anyone who is experiencing debilitating anxiety see a physician who specializes in functional medicine. If you’d like to know more about functional medicine, visit www.functionalmedicine.org , or www.drliesa.com where you may also schedule an appointment for a consultation.
We hope to see you in our clinic at 1132 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704 soon. Our clinic is located in the back of the Lamar Plaza Drug Store, right next to the High Ball. Until then, check out some tips below to start getting you life back today. You can make your own appointment online if you like by going to www.drliesa.com and clicking on the button on the right side of the page. Do call us at 512-537-8859 or use the online contact form on our website if you need to talk to us.
Relief from chronic anxiety comes from restoring your body’s natural equilibrium: by learning to process your emotional history while making changes to lifestyle, nutrition, exercise habits, and hormonal balance. Here’s what we recommend:
- Fresh air, sunshine, and exercise. A healthy measure of each will not only to help you manage better when under pressure, but aid restorative sleep at the end of the day. (No need to overdo it — you want to soothe your nerves, not add stress!)
- Deliberate dietary choices. Sound nutrition so heavily influences our hormones and transmitters — it’s simply a must. Eat the majority of your protein early in the day; choose whole, nutrient-rich foods with a low glycemic index; and don’t let yourself get too full or too hungry — three simple precepts to normalize your two major hormones, insulin and cortisol, which in turn will help optimize your neurotransmitters and balance your sex hormones.
- Eliminate potential food allergens. Gluten, for example, is notoriously associated with anxiety. If you are experiencing anxiety-related gastrointestinal problems, an elimination diet may help you identify any sensitivities at play.
- Consider nutritional supplements. We encourage all women with anxiety symptoms to take a medical-grade multivitamin/mineral complex. Some nutritionists regard the B-complex as the most important nutritional factor for healthy nerve cells, but there is also evidence that omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce symptoms of anxiety. Likewise, vitamin D is a key nutrient for mood, and deficiency is widespread. We offer a nutritional support “Anxiety Kit” which allows you to purchase a group of the most often recommended nutritional supplements for the relief of anxiety at a 10% discount over their individual purchase.
- Balance your sex hormones. When anxiety is related to perimenopause or menopause, gentle endocrine support can often restore balance. We recommend phytotherapy or bioidentical HRT. Botanical therapies may also be helpful, herbs such as passionflower, valerian, and chamomile have been used for many generations to dissolve restlessness, nervousness, and anxiety.
- About your emotional work… Just as you developed coping skills as a child, so too can you unlearn old patterns that no longer serve you. Don’t be discouraged by the knowledge that our brains aren’t quite as plastic in adulthood as in childhood; it may take commitment and perseverance, but you can learn new skills to free yourself of the emotional and physical trappings of anxiety. These include methodologies that quiet the nervous system, raise awareness of your personal emotional triggers, and provide coping strategies you can draw on when nerve-wracking situations arise. Methods proven helpful include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), qi gong, and transcendental meditation (TM).
- Targeted neurotransmitter support. If you’ve tried the above measures and your anxiety problem continues to seem entrenched, you may want to talk to a functional healthcare practitioner about neurotransmitter testing and support. We use these test results to select neurotransmitter precursors, modulators, and enzymatic cofactors that support neurotransmitter and receptor balance, communication, and responsiveness. (This process should be supervised by a qualified medical provider.)
Andrea Armstrong RN, FNP-C
Thanks, Andrea!
To your health!
Liesa Harte, M.D.
Tags: anxiety, Austin Dr, hormones, insomnia, mood disorders, wellness clinic in Austin
Posted in Adrenal Health, Bioidentical Hormones, Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Functional Medicine, Insomnia, Mood Disorders, Nutrition, Optimal Aging, Relationships, Sex Drive/Libido, Stress, Weight Loss | No Comments »
