Back Clinic Functional Medicine Series. Welcome to Taking Control of Your Healthcare. I will introduce you to a series of functional medicine articles where we will discuss various health and wellness topics as well as describe the best ways you can work with your doctor to receive the health care you deserve. Functional medicine is an individualized, science-based strategy that intends to naturally deal with the underlying causes of disease.
However, most individuals do not have access to a functional medicine doctor and they are often given treatments for their symptoms instead of long-lasting solutions for their well-being. This functional medicine series aims to enable individuals to work together with their current healthcare professional or encourages them to seek a useful functional medicine doctor to appraise their particular genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle variables in order to be able to leverage that information to guide a personalized treatment program.
The material in these articles was made available for educational and informational purposes. Always seek medical attention from a healthcare professional when making lifestyle modifications.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that can ultimately increase the risk of developing a variety of health issues, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, among other problems. Central obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low HDL or good cholesterol levels are the 5 risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. Having at least three of the five risk factors may suggest the presence of metabolic syndrome. Dr. Alex Jimenez, Alexander Jimenez, Truide Torres, Kenna Vaughn, and Astrid Ornelas explain the 5 risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome, in further detail, as they recommend diet and lifestyle modification advice and guidelines, such as the ketogenic diet or the keto diet, as well as demonstrate the biochemical and chemical pathways that the body goes through during ketosis to help people with metabolic syndrome improve their overall health and wellness. From eating good fats and staying hydrated to exercise and better sleep, Dr. Alex Jimenez, Alexander Jimenez, Truide Torres, Kenna Vaughn, and Astrid Ornelas discuss how diet and lifestyle modifications, such as the ketogenic diet or keto diet, can help improve the 5 risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome to prevent the risk of developing a variety of other health issues, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. � Podcast Insight
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Dr. Alex Jimenez RN, DC, MSACP, CCST
Everybody has a backstory. It is not easy. We got to PUSH Hard. It is not EASY…Dr. Alex Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, talks to Daniel (Danny) Alvarado, owner of the PUSH Fitness Center, about the importance of nutrition, diet, and fitness. Stress is the body’s natural response to any physical, mental, and emotional response. Although too much stress can be harmful, getting the right amount of stress is essential for survival. Dr. Alex Jimenez and Daniel Alvarado discuss how stress is the fundamental basis for inspiration and motivation. The PUSH Fitness Center was first created by Danny to help people achieve their optimal health and wellness goals. Hard-work and pushing towards your goal are essential for every individual. Danny discusses how he chooses to inspire and believe in his athletes in order to help them become the best person they can be. Nutrition, diet, and fitness can help prevent a variety of health issues, including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Dr. Alex Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, and Daniel (Danny) Alvarado demonstrate how stress, inspiration, and motivation in people can support the hard work and the extra “push” they need to improve themselves, achieve their goals, and improve overall health and wellness. – Podcast Insight
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Daniel Alvarado
Dr. Alex Jimenez
Metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors that can ultimately increase the risk of developing a variety of health issues, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, among other problems. Central obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low HDL are the 5 risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. Having at least three of the five risk factors may suggest the presence of metabolic syndrome. Dr. Alex Jimenez and Dr. Mario Ruja explain the 5 risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome, in further detail, as they recommend diet and lifestyle modification advice and guidelines to help people with metabolic syndrome improve their overall health and wellness. From eating fiber and staying hydrated to exercise and better sleep, Dr. Alex Jimenez and Dr. Mario Ruja discuss how diet and lifestyle modifications can help improve the 5 risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome to ultimately prevent the risk of developing a variety of other health issues, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. � Podcast Insight
If you have enjoyed this video and/or we have helped you in any way
please feel free to subscribe and share us.
Thank You & God Bless.
Dr. Alex Jimenez RN, DC, MSACP, CCST
In the following podcast video article, Dr. Alex Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, and Dr. Mario Ruja, another chiropractor in El Paso, TX, discuss chiropractic care and why it works. Chiropractic care is a safe and effective, alternative treatment option that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, of injuries and underlying conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system. Chiropractic care is a healthcare profession that has existed for many years throughout many civilizations and it focuses on the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to carefully restore the original alignment of the spine and the human body as a whole. Dr. Alex Jimenez and Dr. Mario Ruja describe how they were first interested in becoming chiropractors, or doctors of chiropractic, as they also describe how they feel when they are able to provide pain relief to their patients. Dr. Jimenez and Dr. Ruja will focus on discussing why chiropractic care works and how it is different from other healthcare professions in the way it helps treat a variety of health issues associated with the spine, from neck pain to low back pain and sciatica. Chiropractic care can help promote overall health and wellness. � Podcast Insight
If you have enjoyed this video and/or we have helped you in any way
please feel free to subscribe and share us.
Thank You & God Bless.
Dr. Alex Jimenez RN, DC, MSACP, CCST
Metabolic Syndrome affects many people. In fact, more than a quarter of the United States has it! Metabolic Syndrome is not a disease, but instead a cluster of disorders. These disorders on their own are not necessarily alarming but when you have more than one, the body starts to feel the repercussions.
Symptoms
Those with metabolic syndrome often suffer from frequent headaches, inflammation, nausea, fatigue, joint pain, and many more. On top of these symptoms, metabolic syndrome can put individuals at a higher risk for Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke, Obesity, Sleep Apnea, and Kidney Disease.
Risk Factors
Individuals who have an “apple or pear” body shape, are at an increased risk for developing metabolic syndrome. There are no “obvious” signs of metabolic syndrome, but rather one with metabolic syndrome has 3/5 of these risk factors.
A fasting blood glucose level of 100 mg/DL
High Blood Pressure, measuring 130/85
High Triglycerides
Low HDL (Good Cholesterol)� measuring <40mg/DL Men & <50mg/DL Women
Excess Waist Fat (>40in Men & >35in Women)
What Can You Do About It?
Of course, no one wants to be left feeling sick and stranded. There are ways to help prevent metabolic syndrome at home. Below there are five tips for each risk factor and how to prevent/reduce your symptoms.
A Fasting Blood Glucose Level Of 100 mg/DL
Ketogenic Diet
Increase Fiber
Control Portions
Set “Carb Goals”
Choose complex carbs over simple carbs
High Blood Pressure, measuring 130/85
Reduce Sodium
Lower caffeine
DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)
Boost Potassium
Read Food labels
High Triglycerides
Limit sugar intake
Increase fiber
Establish a regular eating pattern
Eat more “tree nuts” ( almonds, cashews, pecans)
Switch to unsaturated fats
Low HDL ( Good Cholesterol) measuring <40mg/DL Men & <50mg/DL Women
Reduce Alcohol
Do not smoke
Choose better fats
Purple Produce (antioxidants to help inflammation)
Increase fish consumption
Excess Waist Fat >40 in Men & >35 in Women
Ketogenic Diet
Exercise Daily
Walk after dinner
Grocery Shop without Aisles
Increase in Water Consumption
Solutions
Aside from doing these tricks and tips at home, a doctor or health coach will be able to further assist one in healing. The main goal is to take these symptoms and disorders and correct them before they become a full-blown diagnosis.
Rather than just running a basic blood panel, they now have tests that allow us to see multiple different levels and numbers. these elaborate blood tests provide great insight to allow us to see the full picture. By completing these labs, it allows the doctor to evaluate the patients better and provide a more specific treatment plan.
In addition to detailed lab work, there are all-natural supplements that have been shown to help improve these symptoms along with proper diet and exercise. Some of these supplements include Vitamin D, Berberine, and Ashwagandha.
On top of these things, there is also an app that is available to download. This app is called, “Dr. J Today”. This app connects you directly to our clinic and allows us to monitor your diet, supplements, activity, BMI, water weight, muscle mass, and more! This app also gives you a direct portal to message Dr.Jimenez or myself.
As stated before, our main goal is to help you decrease your symptoms before they turn into a full-blown diagnosis. One thing we want to surround our patients with is knowledge and a team atmosphere. With the right team, anything is possible and better health is more attainable than you think!
Having Type 1 Diabetes, I have experienced metabolic syndrome before. It is one of my least favorite feelings that exist. I want our patients to know that they do not have to feel that way and there are treatment plans that can help! I will help to create a personalized plan that is tailed to you, so success is the only option. – Kenna Vaughn, Senior Health Coach�
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
As a doctor who practices functional medicine, Dr. Jimenez utilizes the Neural Zoomer Plus. This is a blood test that analyzes neurological autoantibodies which offer very specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. The Neural Zoomer Plus tests the reactivity an individual has to 48 neurological antigens. These neurological antigens may be related to neurological disease and can help individuals assess the presence of a neurological condition.
There are 48 markers that are measured and they can be summed up and categorized into 7 larger groups. These groups include demyelination antigens, blood-brain barrier disruption, optical and autonomic nervous system disorders, peripheral neuropathy, neuromuscular disorders, brain autoimmunity, brain inflammation, and infections. (For a full list of the markers that the Neural Zoomer Plus measures, click here).�
The truth of the matter is that autoimmune disorders affect 5-10% of the general population and can target virtually and structure within the central or peripheral nervous system. Symptoms of an autoimmune disorder involving the CNS/PNS include but are not limited to:�
Having the tools to prevent a disease or disorder can be life-changing. With the ability to assess these markers, the rate of cognitive decline can steadily reduce. If you suffer from any of the above symptoms, the Neural Zoomer Plus may be right for you.
The intention of having our patients complete a Neural Zoomer Plus is to help us detect an individual’s IgA, IgG, and IgM sensitivity to antigens, down to the peptide level. Once we receive the results, not only do we have a resource that aids in the early detection of neurological diseases, but we also have a path. This path allows us to create a personalized prevention plan that will focus on the patient along with their lifestyle. – Kenna Vaughn, Senior Health Coach�
Functional Medicine Doctor Explains Women’s Hormones
We discussed the basics for men�s hormones. Now let�s discuss the basics for women�s hormones. Unfortunately, the effects of our diet and our environment become more obvious in the anatomy and biochemistry of women. These may frequently manifest as hormone imbalances and they can greatly affect their quality of life. Mood disorders have become an epidemic.
By way of instance, depression affects 20 percent of women, about twice as much in women than in men. And premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, affects between 60 and 75 percent of women in the United States. Infertility is also an epidemic which affects more than one in seven couples and it is generally managed by reproductive endocrinologists through invasive procedures, hormone treatments, and in vitro fertilization, or IVF, often without even evaluating what is the cause of the reproductive health issues. I�ve helped many women improve their hormone imbalances through the basic principles of functional medicine.
Now, these are only several of the reasons why we need to determine the source of hormonal imbalances in women. And I believe this knowledge can help women find the answers they need to improve their overall health and wellness. Most importantly, you need to learn to listen to what your body is telling you. After all, the human body is one of the best doctors.
Taking Control of Women’s Hormones
Women�s hormones are much more complex than men�s hormones because they�re constantly changing based on their cycle as well as on their stage of life. If you�re experiencing mood swings, irregular cycles, menstrual pain, heavy bleeding, infertility, weight gain, and brain fog, functional medicine can help improve your symptoms by balancing your hormones.
So, let�s discuss the differences between pre-menopausal women and post-menopausal women. Pre-menopausal women should experience regular cycles every 28 days that last two or three days without a lot of pain, not too heavy bleeding, and no PMS. However, most women don�t experience regular cycles. A proper nutrition consisting of low sugar and starch, high fat, and more fiber can help correct abnormal cycles. A plant-rich diet can also help improve abnormal cycles. Caffeine and alcohol consumption can even cause hormone imbalances in women. Proper nutrition, including taking supplements like magnesium, B vitamins and fish oil, exercise, sleep, and stress management can help regulate your hormones. This is generally enough to help most women.
A doctor or functional medicine practitioner can also help balance your hormones. Because women�s hormones fluctuate throughout their cycle, progesterone and estrogen levels may be different for each woman. Also, depending on the hormonal health issues, patients may need to run their hormone lab panel tests on either day three or day 21 of their cycle for best results.
Furthermore, we will also need to evaluate your ratio of hormones, like that of estrogen to progesterone, because these can be the cause of numerous symptoms for many women. Estrogen dominance is one of the most common problems associated with a woman�s hormone ratio. Progesterone levels in women should be at their highest during the last half of their cycle. The hormone ratio between progesterone and estrogen should be 10 to one. However, if the human body is not producing the required amounts of progesterone, symptoms of estrogen dominance may begin to manifest, regardless if the human body�s estrogen levels themselves are low. Symptoms of estrogen dominance can include: anxiety, heavy bleeding, PMS, breast tenderness, shorter cycles or spotting between cycles, infertility, fluid retention, weight gain, and sleeping problems.
FSH is produced by the brain to help the follicles and the ovaries prepare to release an egg. LH is another hormone produced by the brain which triggers the release of an egg into the uterus so that conception can occur. LH also helps produce progesterone during the second half of your cycle, which may be another reason why many women have low progesterone levels.
These hormones are fundamental to look at if you�re trying to have a baby. The elevated hormone ratio between LH and FSH can demonstrate the presence of a common health issue known as PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome. PCOS is actually not an ovarian health issue. As a matter of fact, it�s a common problem associated with a poor diet and insulin resistance. An increased consumption of sugar and starch can cause irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, acne, hair loss, and infertility.
As for post-menopausal women, hormone blood panel tests are just as important and we generally don�t need to worry about having to evaluate them on a specific day of the month. Also, when we test a woman who�s in their perimenopause, their hormones may be tremendously unstable. Therefore, it�s ultimately essential to diagnose a woman�s symptoms to help treat the source of the health issue.
We previously discussed the importance of testosterone in men. However, testosterone is also important in women. Many women visit numerous doctors after experiencing low energy levels as well as a decreased sex drive. Most doctors will associate these symptoms with aging or they may even tell them it�s all in their head and simply prescribe them some Prozac. But if we were to run a blood panel test on them, their testosterone levels would often come back undetectable. It�s no wonder why women don�t feel like themselves after they�ve lost their libido and their vitality.
Total testosterone levels in women should be between 60 and 80 while free testosterone levels should be over 0.5. Testosterone is fundamental towards maintaining lean muscle mass and optimizing energy. Testosterone is also important for clear brain function.
Now women, if you have low testosterone levels, this may be causing you to experience a reduced sex drive or it may even be making you feel fatigue. However, this isn�t always the cause of these symptoms. That�s why it�s so essential for women to test their sex hormone levels. Testosterone is what is known as an androgen, or a male hormone, but it�s also found in women. Other androgens that help contribute to male characteristics include androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, and DHEA. In polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, women will commonly develop elevated levels of any of these hormones. Women who consume a lot of sugar and starch may also develop acne, hair loss or they may even grow facial hair. All of these are symptoms of too much testosterone in women.
PCOS affects approximately 8 to 12 percent of women. As previously mentioned, this health issue is a metabolic problem caused by poor nutrition which ultimately affects the human body�s insulin levels. It can also affect other hormones, such as the androgens we previously discussed. When women develop insulin resistance, the production of male sex hormones can increase. Other tests are important when PCOS is caused by FSH and LH hormones.
FSH generally triggers ovulation. However, if a woman�s FSH is too low due to PCOS, ovulation, and therefore, conception can�t occur. This is why women with PCOS are also commonly diagnosed with infertility. And the key is in a woman�s LH to FSH ratio. Increased levels of LH can stimulate androgens, such as testosterone, and decreased levels of FSH can stimulate the follicles and estrogen. Furthermore, facial hair or thinning of the head hair, irregular menstrual cycles, heavy bleeding, and weight gain in women can be symptoms of PCOS. Although PCOS is believed to be a health issue which exclusively affects overweight women, we�re starting to see an increase of women with healthy weights develop PCOS.
Because functional medicine focuses on finding the source of the health issue, if we see cysts on your ovaries or if any other lab tests indicate the presence of PCOS, we won�t simply stop there. And most often, we just have to look back at the patient�s diet. The high consumption of sugar and starch causes a tremendous metabolic disturbance which can cause a variety of other health issues. We will discuss these various metabolic conditions in another article.
Hormones are fundamental to women’s health. Female sex hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, influence a woman’s mood, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and more. A variety of other hormones can also affect other aspects of a woman’s health. One of the most common health issues associated with hormonal imbalances in women is known as polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS. Women can be tremendously affected by hormone fluctuations. It’s essential for women to seek help from a doctor to find out if their symptoms are caused by hormone imbalances. Functional medicine can also help regulate hormones. Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight
Understanding Women’s Hormones
We measure hormonal imbalances through simple blood tests and we can also measure hormones through urine tests. Tests known as the �DUTCH� and the �Essential Estrogens� are provided by Genova to determine hormone metabolites. These can also determine the downstream breakdown products of hormones in order to help demonstrate what�s happening with your hormone metabolism.
Now, let me explain what are some of the most important things doctors or functional medicine practitioners look at when ordering a DUTCH test or an Essential Estrogens test. Hormone metabolism tests demonstrate your absolute hormone levels as well as which types of metabolites are being triggered. And this is what we utilize to look at your estrogen levels, androgen levels, and progesterone levels, as well as your cortisol levels, which we will discuss later. These are essential metabolites that can be found through our saliva, blood, and urine. We even look at all the different varieties of estrogens which get broken down by the liver.
So, it�s fundamental that we look carefully at our hormone levels. Testing for hormonal imbalances in both men and women can tell us a lot about what�s causing our symptoms as well as what we can do to treat them. We can recommend a series of lifestyle modifications, including guidance and advice in nutrition and exercise. At least that�s what a good functional medicine doctor would do.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal health issues as well as functional medicine topics and discussions. To further discuss the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at�915-850-0900�.
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topic Discussion:�Acute Back Pain
Back pain�is one of the most prevalent causes of disability and missed days at work worldwide. Back pain attributes to the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at least once throughout their life. The spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles, among other soft tissues. Injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as�herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief. �
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