Before heart month closes out, we share the more advanced tests to assess your heart health.
Knowing the health of your heart is important because cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability for both men and women worldwide. CVD has impacted me and I am sure so many of you. I have witnessed my father, mother, grandmother and step-mother all experience heart-health related events from heart attacks to sudden cardiac death. This is truly a devastating and silent killer. You can have blocked arteries and have no symptoms at all until the system fails.
Overall, it is important to recognize that CVD is a significant health issue for women as well as men, and to ensure that women receive appropriate screening, diagnosis, and treatment for this condition.
But, we can all do something to prevent CVD. And it can start with testing to learn where we stand.
Knowing your own factors that can increase your risk is helpful. In our 20 years of clinical experience the factors we see as most important are:
This is the trifecta that leads to plaque buildup in the arteries, indicative of CVD.
A simple blood test can easily test inflammatory markers such as hs-CRP, LpPLA2, high ferritin levels over 150 and are best looked at together to predict risk of CVD.
hs-CRP, or High sensitivity C-reactive Protein, is a marker of heart-specific inflammation and can be done in your next routine blood work. A regular CRP test can check for inflammation but hs-CRP can find smaller increases in CRP and is preferred if checking for risk of coronary artery disease (which falls under CVD).
Lp-PLA2, or lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, is an enzyme that is primarily produced by inflammatory cells such as macrophages and T-lymphocytes. It is also found in low levels in circulating blood and is bound to LDL cholesterol particles. Lp-PLA2 is also involved in the metabolism of lipoproteins and the breakdown of phospholipids in cell membranes. Elevated levels of Lp-PLA2 have been associated with increased risk of CVD, including heart attack and stroke, as well as other inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers. Lp-PLA2 is often measured through a blood test, and high levels of Lp-PLA2 are considered a marker of increased cardiovascular risk. While Lp-PLA2 is not widely used in routine clinical practice, it may be useful in certain cases, such as when traditional risk factors are inconclusive or when determining optimal treatment strategies for patients at high risk for CVD. Specialty labs run this test.
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in blood cells and iron is necessary not only for healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body but healthy muscles and organ function. When the body uses iron, cells release a small amount of ferritin into the bloodstream. High ferritin levels can suggest inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Still’s disease, both of which can lead to inflammation of the sac-like covering of the heart. Rheumatoid arthritis can also increase the risk of hardened and blocked arteries.
When it comes to cholesterol, it is important to remember that cholesterol is essential for many functions. Our liver makes, on average, 70% of our cholesterol simply because our body uses cholesterol in a multitude of pathways, such as:
As for cholesterol testing, a traditional lipid blood test is not enough for cholesterol and CVD risk assessment. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is a type of cholesterol that can accumulate in the walls of arteries and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the buildup of plaque in the arteries. However, when LDL cholesterol is exposed to oxidative stress, it can become modified and transformed into oxidized LDL, which is considered to be a more dangerous form of LDL and simply put, means rusting from the inside out.
Oxidized LDL is a pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic particle, meaning that it can promote inflammation and damage to the lining of blood vessels, leading to the formation of plaque and increasing the risk of heart disease. Oxidized LDL can also stimulate the production of cytokines, which are inflammatory molecules that contribute to the development of chronic diseases.
Oxidized LDL can be measured through a blood test that detects antibodies against oxidized LDL, or by directly measuring the amount of oxidized LDL in the blood. Oxidized LDL can be more indicative of CVD than LDL levels alone. Elevated levels of oxidized LDL are considered a marker of increased cardiovascular risk, and may be useful in assessing a person’s risk of heart disease, particularly in people with known risk factors such as high cholesterol, hypertension, or diabetes. Preventing the oxidation of LDL is an important part of reducing the risk of heart disease. This can be achieved through lifestyle changes such as
Additionally, certain medications such as statins may also help reduce the oxidation of LDL and lower the risk of heart disease.
Homocysteine is another marker, found in blood, that can impact risk for CVD. This marker is associated with increased oxidative stress. Elevated levels of homocysteine, known as hyperhomocysteinemia, have been associated with an increased risk of CVD.
One proposed mechanism for this association is that high levels of homocysteine can damage the inner lining of blood vessels, or endothelium, leading to inflammation and the formation of plaques that can narrow and stiffen arteries. This process, known as atherosclerosis, can eventually lead to heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular complications.
In addition to damaging blood vessels directly, high levels of homocysteine have also been linked to an increased risk of blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
There are many factors that can contribute to high levels of homocysteine in the blood, including genetic factors, poor nutrition, and certain medical conditions, like vitamin B deficiency, kidney disease, underactive thyroid and psoriasis and therefore cannot be looked at in isolation when in regards to CVD risk assessment. Treatment typically involves addressing any underlying causes of hyperhomocysteinemia and supplementing with folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, which have been shown to lower homocysteine levels in some cases. Having said that, despite evidence that shows lowering homocysteine levels decreases cardiovascular risks in patients with homocystinuria (a rare genetic disorder, which can lead to atherosclerosis at a young age), a meta-analysis by the American Heart Association showed that homocysteine-lowering therapies did not significantly affect reducing the chances of stroke nor have a significant impact on coronary heart disease. Bottom line is – having high levels of homocysteine can point to many diseases and simply lowering it does not guarantee a reduced risk of CVD.
The last test is a direct look into your vessel walls and the level of calcium/mineral building up on your vessel walls.
A CT (computed tomography) Heart Calcium score test, also known as a coronary calcium scan or even heart scan, is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging test that uses computed tomography to detect the buildup of calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries. The test can help assess a person’s risk for heart disease by evaluating the degree of atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup, in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This is a newer test in Cardiology and not usually covered by insurance.
During the test, the patient lies on a table and a CT scanner takes multiple X-ray images of the heart from different angles. These images are then combined by a computer to create a detailed picture of the heart and the coronary arteries. The scan takes only a few minutes and is painless, although some people may feel uncomfortable from lying still for that amount of time.
The CT Heart Calcium test produces a score that reflects the amount of calcium detected in the coronary arteries. The score ranges from 0 (no detectable calcium) to more than 400 (severe calcium buildup), with higher scores indicating a higher risk of heart disease.
The CT Heart Calcium test is generally recommended for people who are at intermediate risk for heart disease but do not have any symptoms. The test is not recommended for people who already have a known heart condition or have already been diagnosed with heart disease, as it is not useful in assessing the severity of existing plaque buildup.
The test can help doctors identify people who may benefit from lifestyle changes or medical interventions to reduce their risk of heart disease – all the same as listed above for reducing oxidative stress and taking medication to lower cholesterol or blood pressure.
Research has shown that a CT Heart Calcium test is an effective tool for predicting the risk of heart disease. The following are some key findings from various studies:
Overall, the research suggests that the calcium score CT is a valuable tool for assessing a person’s risk of heart disease and can help guide prevention and treatment strategies. However, like any diagnostic test, it has limitations and should be used in combination with other clinical information to make informed decisions about patient care.
As always, speak to your doctor if you and/or your family has a history of heart disease. List your symptoms in detail, get regular blood work done, ask if these tests are appropriate for you and what you can do specifically to reduce your risk of CVD.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that perimenopause is a natural stage of life for women, and it’s important to take care of their physical and emotional health.
Perimenopause is the period of time leading up to menopause when a woman’s body experiences hormonal changes and the production of eggs decreases. It typically begins when a woman enters her 40s, although it can start earlier or later, and lasts until menopause, which is defined as the end of menstrual periods. For some women, symptoms can start as early as 35 years of age and others can last into their mid 50’s.
During perimenopause, women may experience a range of symptoms due to fluctuations in hormones, including hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, and decreased sex drive. These symptoms can be mild for some women and severe for others. I often liken this period to a rollercoaster ride with the high levels of hormones suddenly diving into low and then we go back up again.
The signs of perimenopause can vary from woman to woman, but some common signs include:
Below are some lesser known signs and symptoms of perimenopause:
Here are some of the top lifestyle factors to support perimenopause:
I often get asked “what type of exercise should I start to support my body during this transition?”
Some of the best exercises for building and maintaining strong bones while reducing stress hormones are:
Research shows that it’s important to note that these exercises should be done regularly, at least three times a week, to see a benefit for bone health. Consult a doctor or physical therapist before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions.
Yes, we have all been there: uncomfortably bloated in your new holiday outfit and running to the bathroom at the party. It is not fun. It seems like there is a yummy treat around every corner! But, the sugary sweets, over indulgence, and extra celebratory drinks combined with extra stress can wreak havoc on our digestive system.
Why do we have such a digestive mess generally from October through January?
Here are some of the factors we have noticed over the years:
The gut-brain connection is key to our freedom from gut distress this holiday season. This link is technically known as the enteric nervous system and includes the all-important vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is our two-way super highway sending messages from the gut to the brain and back. This connection is important for breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and expelling waste. They require chemical processing, mechanical mixing and rhythmic muscle contractions that move everything down the line.
How we eat is even more important that what we eat
We’ve all heard it is all about what we eat and WE are telling you the magic is in how we eat. Has anyone ever taught you how to prepare to eat? This is something we do every day without even thinking about it. When we are in our daily go-go-go life, we are using our sympathetic nervous system.
Our body only releases enzymes and digestive juices like HCL when our relaxed nervous system is activated. This is known as our parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is vital in order to properly digest our meals and prevent microbiome imbalances in the gut. When we are in our sympathetic nervous system, we are in fight or flight mode and not rest and digest mode.
I want to share my 4-step process to preparing your body to eat. Do this before every meal to improve your capacity to digest. This can have the biggest impact on your gut health. It’s so simple, it might seem hard to believe but it works WHEN YOU MAKE IT A HABIT. Building these 4 steps into your everyday life, as a habit, can be a game changer.
Next time you sit down to eat, take 3 minutes to prepare your body for your meal.
Step 1: Activate your parasympathetic or relaxed nervous system with deep, slow abdominal breathing. When we are deeply and slowly breathing our relaxed nervous system is automatically activated and this is key to proper digestion. Take 3 deep, slow breaths with each inhale and exhale lasting to about a count of 4 seconds. Try it now – can you feel a shift in your awareness?
Step 2: Expressing gratitude can shift the brain into a more relaxed state. Find a simple thing you can be grateful for in the moment and focus on this for a few moments – you can combine this with Step 1. When we are in gratitude it is hard for our nervous system to be in stress or fear.
Step 3: Start every meal with something bitter or sour. This taste stimulates the production and release of important stomach acids and enzymes. Bitter foods have been shown to aid digestion, improve nutrient absorption, stimulate immune function, and even keep those dreaded sugar cravings at bay.
Step 4: Chew each bite 20-25 times. Fully chewing your food gives your body the best chance to properly digest before your gut bugs ferment and putrefy the food inside you.
Picture this, racing through your day and you get home to prepare a steak dinner for you and your spouse. You both rush through, quickly catching each other up on your day before taking care of last minute work or home errands. Those larger food pieces are going into a stomach with less than optimal digestive capacity. Then the digestive distress starts.
When you do not properly digest your food then your gut bugs finish the job by rotting and fermenting your undigested food. Yes – that is as gross as it sounds. That large piece of steak you did not thoroughly chew is now rotting in your gut. This produces a lot of gas, as you might guess.
Preparing your body to eat by regularly doing the 4-step process can give your digestive system the best chance for reducing (or completely eliminating gut distress). It’s also a great way to have more fun this holiday season.
We long for estrogen balance: we feel scared by what estrogen can do in our bodies yet we cannot feel our best without it. Many of us women have struggled with our hormones. Here are a few of the symptoms related to estrogen:
We then look at estrogen as a bad hormone. We heard about “estrogen dominance” over and over. But estrogen is also a feel good hormone; our brain makes estrogen to feel good. Other reasons we need estrogen:
It’s important to note the issue with balancing our estrogen levels is not limited to women; men make and need estrogen too. For example, men need estrogen for sperm production and maintaining libido.
Estrogen is not the bad guy. The first problem is in how we each metabolize and clear out estrogen. This is a point worth stressing: estrogen can be unsafe if the body is not safely detoxing it from your body. Knowing how your body handles this process is essential to ensuring the estrogen in your body is safe. The second problem is that many of the chemicals in our environment mimic estrogens. This can confuse the body.
There are 3 phases to your body clearing out estrogens efficiently. I am going to share how you can support detoxification at each phase. This process applies to all sexes. The tricky part is that you need to work backwards when supporting these pathways. You have to start by cleaning up phase 3, then phase 2 and phase 1. The goal is to take estrogen, which is a fat soluble hormone, and turn it into a water soluble metabolite so it can be more easily excreted from the body.
Phase 3
This is about the detox pathway: our gut. Here, microbiome health and digestive function become important for clearing estrogen in this final phase. The estrobolome encompasses the part of the microbiome that interacts with estrogen. The big factors are making sure you do not have Leaky Gut. Leaky Gut will allow estrogens metabolized by the liver to be reabsorbed back into your bloodstream, instead of being cleared out of your body via your stool. Ask your doctor to check Zonulin levels in your stool to rule out Leaky Gut.
Good gut bacteria are important for proper digestion but they are also key to effectively cleaning out estrogen. Estrogen needs to be processed in a specific way after the liver does its job in order to be excreted in your stool. When this does not happen, estrogens are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream – only to be processed again. The liver is not happy doing its job twice for no good reason. This is where opportunistic bacteria come into play. There are some bacteria that are only bad when they overgrow. This is because when they overgrow they produce an enzyme called glucuronidase. This enzyme undoes the work the liver did the first time around, in order to make your estrogen water soluble.
This is why it is key to know you are having daily bowel movements, with good levels of healthy gut bacteria and no Leaky Gut. All of this can be assessed in a stool test.
Here are 3 tips to support your gut:
Phase 2
This liver detoxification of estrogen is about the Methylation Cycle. This pathway relies on the COMT and MTHFR genes to take the metabolites from Phase 1 liver detoxification pathways and make them water soluble so they can be cleaned out easily. This phase, when effective, makes an estrogen metabolite that is calming to the brain and lowers cancer risk.
Tips to support your phase 2 liver pathways:
Phase 1
This is the start of estrogen metabolism clean out. Phase 1 occurs in the liver and is run by the Cytochrome (CYP) genes. Fat soluble estrogens add hydrogen to make a more water soluble molecule. In this pathway we can often make a more potent toxin from our estrogens. 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E1) metabolite is the cleanest and healthiest way to detox estrogen.
The next two metabolites are more toxic and have been shown to damage our DNA, which can lead to increased cancer risk:
● 4-hydroxyestrone (4-OH-E1)
● 16-hydroxyestrone (16-OH-E1)
All these Phase 1 detox metabolites are considered free radicals; we want to send them to Phase 2 as quickly as possible, so they don’t enter blood circulation and cause damage.
And this is why we would not want to make Phase 1 work better if the next two phases are not working well: you could be increasing the toxicity of your estrogen metabolites.
Tips to support Phase 1 liver pathways:
Now that you know more about the process estrogen goes through in your body and have some tools to help your detox pathways work more efficiently, it might be time to test and see how your body is doing in these phases. We use the Dutch Complete™ urine test to assess if your pathways are efficient.
If your doctor is unable to run this test for you, we invite you to consider Revolutionary Health‘s package “Are your hormones safe for you?” – get the Dutch Complete™ test and a written analysis report of your results. You even have the option to do a GI-Map test that tests for Zonulin. We believe in comprehensive testing for concrete answers to best serve our patients and clients.
AB 2098 is California’s COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation Bill and it defines “misinformation” as “false information that is contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus contrary to the standard of care.” The issue with this is that throughout the duration of the pandemic we have seen the “contemporary scientific consensus” change with high frequency.
If AB 2098 becomes law, doctors will no longer be able to make personalized recommendations to their patients. As Naturopathic Doctors we value personalized healthcare because we know that every body is different and has different needs. Doctors, who know their patients best, should be able to make recommendations, without fear of repercussions.
To learn more, we share Protecting the Future of Medicine: Why AB 2098 is Bad Medicine, an excellent post by Dr. Elisa Song, M.D.
TAKE ACTION TODAY and call or email Governor Newsom TODAY
ask him to veto AB 2098 BEFORE September 30, 2022
AB 2098 is on Governor Newsom’s desk now. Without his veto before September 30, AB 2098 will automatically become law.
Governor Newsom’s contact details:
By phone: (916) 445-2841
By Governor Newsom’s Email Form: https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/
Glyphosate is the world’s most widely produced herbicide (weed killer) and is the primary toxic chemical in Roundup™, as well as in many other herbicides that are commonly found at your local hardware store. Glyphosate was introduced in the 1970’s to kill weeds by targeting the enzymes that produce the amino acids tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine. The enzymes of many bacteria are also susceptible to inhibition by this chemical, thus altering the microbiome of many animals.
Why is it so dangerous?
What diseases is it associated with?
What are sources of Glyphosate?
How do you get rid of it?
Initially, it is more important to prevent Glyphosate from entering the body first before working toward eliminating the stores that already reside in the body.
Prevention:
Assessment:
Treatment:
If exposure has been chronic or severe you may need to consider using an infrared sauna, such as Sunlighten, for optimal detoxification of Glyphosate.
Are you suffering from gas, bloating, irregular bowel movements, or gut pain? Maybe you think it is food-related but cannot figure it out? Let us tell you, you are not alone. Food intolerances can be tricky to figure out because a reaction can occur anywhere from within a few minutes to 3 days after eating the offending food. Confusing, right?
We are here to tell you it is not always about the food. It is often due to inflammation in the gut (known as Leaky Gut), an overgrowth of bacteria in your microbiome, or stress reactions that shut down your digestive system.
We created this easy Gut Quiz to help you root out the problem areas in your gut!
Let’s discuss the difference between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance. Food Allergy is immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated. This means much like your seasonal allergies, which are a result of IgE, the reaction happens within minutes of exposure. Symptoms range from hives, swelling, itching and you can have trouble breathing. Food Intolerance is mediated by a different antibody, immunoglobulin G (IgG), which remains active in the body for 23 days. Food intolerance can also be non-immunological and have no antibody to test, meaning the reaction is not produced by, involved in, or related to an immune response or the immune system. IgG Food Intolerance can be hard to uncover because the reactions can occur anywhere from a few hours after exposure to 3 days. Yes, this means you can eat the food you are intolerant to and not have a reaction start until up to 3 days later. Here is another piece of information to muddy the water: You can test IgG antibodies to food in a blood test but the problem is some antibodies activate the intolerance reaction and some suppress reactions. In the Food Allergy blood test, there is no way to know the difference. How to make this distinction is through a food elimination challenge, which is an integral part of our 6-week Revolutionary Gut course. We show you an easy food elimination challenge to uncover which foods are causing symptoms and stoking your inflammation.
You may have a food intolerance to foods for a range of reasons. These include but are not limited to:
Symptoms of food sensitivity or intolerance can range from mild to severe. Here are some ways it can show up:
If you feel you may be experiencing food reactions, it is important to know if you have Leaky Gut, an overgrowth of microorganisms, or a lack of digestive capacity. It is important to know before diving into food intolerance testing. Why you might be asking?
The cells of the small intestine are responsible for filtering out your digested meals and absorbing into the bloodstream the broken down molecules of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, while not allowing larger, undigested molecules to pass through.
These cells are also responsible for moderating immune function in the gut and preventing microbial infections from creating disease. Your intestinal lining should act like a screen, which lets air and sun in while keeping insects, leaves, and critters out. When there is damage to your screen, many things are allowed that should not be there. Just like with a screen, when there are holes in our intestinal lining (aka Leaky Gut), undigested food, proteins (dairy, gluten, etc), microbes, and toxins can have direct access to the bloodstream. With this increased exposure to these substances, your immune system will produce an IgG antibody reaction to fight the invaders. When you heal from Leaky Gut, many of these food reactions will disappear because you addressed the root of why they started. This is the perfect example where the food was not the root cause.
An overgrowth of microorganisms in your gut microbiome is another reason why you can have inflammation running through your gut that is not due to the food. Your immune system has a job to fight invaders. When bacteria, fungus, or parasites overgrow, your inflammatory response increases and this can lead to an IgG response to food, causing confusion about what the reaction is due to. If you get the overgrowth under control and decrease the inflammatory response then you will find the food reaction will reduce also.
As for a lack of digestive capacity, when you do not properly digest either from
then your microbiome will be overfed and thus overgrow, leading to leaky gut and/or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).
Testing (through a laboratory or an elimination challenge) for food reactions is useful. Removing reactive foods can help you to heal faster. The important things to know are:
There are many things everyone can do, for free, from the comfort of their own home to heal their gut. That’s why we are holding a Free Masterclass – 3 Secrets to a Happy Gut – on Wednesday, April 27 at 6pm Pacific Time, to teach you these secrets.
Once you understand how the gut functions and what it needs to optimally function, limiting certain trigger foods or adapting some minor lifestyle changes will be less daunting. Also, once these changes become a habit, they’re no sweat – even though the benefits are monumental: Imagine NOT feeling bloated or always wondering if there will be a bathroom nearby!
And if you are ready to finally put an end to the discomfort of bloating, IBS and/or constipation and get you back to living the life you deserve, consider our 6-week Revolutionary Gut Masterclass. Click here to learn more. If you have questions, email drskinner@revoutionary.health
From the Cypress Natural Medicine Team, we wish you all good health and a joyous holiday season!
Holiday closure schedule: December 24, 2021 to January 9, 2021 inclusive) We re-open at 9am on January 10, 2022.
If you would like to get in touch, please email us at frontdesk@cnmhealth.com. This will ensure the fastest response once we re-open. If you need to schedule an appointment, please use our online scheduler by clicking here and follow the instructions at the top of the page.
Thank you!
Our next event is this Thursday, December 2 at 6pm Pacific Time.*
What we think, the beliefs we hold, and past experiences can hold us back from living the full lives we truly want (and deserve!). Join Dr. Destia as she explores the mind-body connection and offers ways to strengthen the nervous system and options to dig deeper.
Hear what some previous clients have said about working with Dr. Destia:
*This event will be recorded and made available to registered participants.
Please note Cypress Natural Medicine will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 25-26, 2021. We will reopen at 9am on Monday, November 29, 2021.