Dr. Wakely addresses underlying complex patient challenges to optimize outcomes of peptide and hormone therapies inlcuding the use of Researched Nutritionals clinically studied Tri-Fortify liposomal Glutathione and ATP 360.
]]>Age Management Medicine or Longevity Medicine focuses on slowing, preventing, or reversing the processes associated with aging. The field incorporates a comprehensive approach combining lifestyle interventions and conventional treatment options.
Anti-aging therapies include:
Although many aspects of anti-aging or longevity medicine are supported by scientific evidence, others are more speculative and may lack robust clinical validation. Additionally, the term "anti-aging" itself has been criticized for implying an unrealistic goal of halting or reversing the aging process entirely. The field continues to evolve and research is ongoing to better understand the mechanisms of aging and develop evidence-based interventions to extend health and life spans.
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DEXA Bone Density Analysis: Our Hologic® DEXA Bone Density Analysis is a cutting-edge diagnostic tool that allows for precise measurement of bone mineral density. This non-invasive procedure utilizes advanced X-ray technology to assess the strength and density of your bones, providing valuable insights into bone health. Whether you're concerned about osteoporosis, bone fractures, or general skeletal well-being, our DEXA scan delivers accurate results that help guide personalized health strategies.
Visceral Fat Analysis: Understanding the distribution of body fat is crucial for assessing overall health. Our Visceral Fat Analysis goes beyond traditional body composition assessments, focusing on the fat stored around vital organs. Visceral fat is associated with various health risks, including cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders. By accurately measuring and analyzing visceral fat, we provide a comprehensive overview of your body's fat distribution.
Comprehensive Health Reports: After undergoing DEXA Bone Density and Visceral Fat Analysis, you will receive detailed and easy-to-understand reports. These reports will include a breakdown of your bone health, highlighting any areas of concern, as well as a comprehensive analysis of your visceral fat levels.
Consultation: HormoneSynergy® / RetzlerRx™ is dedicated to your health journey. If you are a concierge patient, Dr. Retzler will consult with you to discuss your results, address any concerns, and collaboratively develop a tailored plan to improve and maintain your bone health and manage visceral fat.
At HormoneSynergy, we prioritize your health and aim to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions about your well-being. Experience the difference in personalized care and advanced diagnostics with our DEXA Bone Density and Visceral F
]]>Longevity medicine focuses on preventive healthcare and early detection of diseases to promote overall well-being and extend lifespan. Standard screening methods for longevity medicine may include blood tests, genetic testing, lifestyle assessments, and imaging studies targeted to specific areas of concern.
While advancements in medical technology are continually occurring, it's important to note that widespread use of full-body MRI for routine health screenings may have limitations and considerations:
Cost and Accessibility: Full-body MRI scans can be expensive, and the availability of such extensive imaging may be limited in some regions.
Radiation Exposure: While MRI doesn't use ionizing radiation like X-rays or CT scans, it's essential to consider the potential risks and benefits of any medical imaging procedure.
False Positives: Full-body MRI may detect abnormalities that are not clinically significant, leading to unnecessary follow-up tests or interventions.
Ethical and Privacy Concerns: Performing extensive imaging without clear medical indications raises ethical questions, and there are also privacy concerns associated with the storage and handling of large amounts of sensitive health data.
While a Full Body MRI can be potentially useful and identify some things that are clinically important, many of the things that they identify are clinically unimportant, but will still result in extensive follow-up testing, interventions, biopsies, procedures, and operations to manage things that never would may not have harmed a person in the first place.
Before investing in a full body MRI it is crucial to consult privately with a physician who specializes in longevity medicine or preventive care to determine the most appropriate and effective screening methods based on your individual health risks and goals and whether it would prove a useful tool considering the costs and implications involved.
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Genomic instability: Accumulation of DNA damage and mutations over time can lead to genomic instability, which is associated with aging and age-related diseases.
Telomere attrition: Telomeres are protective structures at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division. Telomere shortening is associated with cellular aging and senescence.
Epigenetic alterations: Changes in DNA methylation, histone modification, and other epigenetic modifications can influence gene expression patterns and contribute to aging.
Loss of proteostasis: Decline in the maintenance of protein structure and function, leading to the accumulation of misfolded proteins, is a hallmark of aging. This is often associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
Deregulated nutrient sensing: Disruption in signaling pathways that respond to nutrient availability and energy status can contribute to age-related metabolic dysfunction and diseases such as diabetes.
Mitochondrial dysfunction: Impaired function of mitochondria, the cellular organelles responsible for energy production, is associated with aging and age-related diseases.
Cellular senescence: The accumulation of senescent cells, which have ceased to divide and undergo changes that affect neighboring cells, contributes to tissue dysfunction and inflammation.
Stem cell exhaustion: Decline in the regenerative capacity of stem cells, which are responsible for tissue repair and maintenance, is a hallmark of aging.
Altered intercellular communication: Changes in cell signaling and communication between cells can contribute to the aging process and age-related diseases.
Loss of tissue homeostasis: Disruption in the balance between cell proliferation and cell death can lead to tissue dysfunction and is associated with aging.
It's important to note that these hallmarks are interconnected, and the aging process is likely influenced by the complex interactions among these various mechanisms. Additionally, the field of aging research is dynamic, and new findings may lead to refinements or additions to the list of hallmarks over time.
]]>Biological Signaling: Peptides act as signaling molecules in the body, and their diverse functions make them valuable for therapeutic purposes. Some peptides are naturally produced in the body, while others can be synthesized or derived from various sources.
Hormonal Regulation: Certain peptides can influence the production and release of hormones. For example, growth hormone-releasing peptides (GHRPs) can stimulate the release of growth hormone, which plays a role in growth, metabolism, and overall health.
Tissue Repair and Healing: Peptides can contribute to tissue repair and regeneration. Some peptides have been studied for their potential to accelerate wound healing, repair damaged tissues, and promote collagen synthesis.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Some peptides exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, making them potentially useful in conditions characterized by inflammation. These peptides may modulate the immune response and reduce inflammation.
Neurological and Cognitive Effects: Certain peptides are being investigated for their potential neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effects. These peptides may influence factors related to brain health, such as neurogenesis and synaptic function.
Anti-Aging: Peptide therapy is sometimes explored in the context of anti-aging, with peptides thought to contribute to cellular rejuvenation and overall well-being. However, the specific mechanisms involved and the effectiveness of such interventions are areas of ongoing research.
Individualized Treatment: Peptide therapy is often considered as part of individualized treatment plans. The choice of peptides and their dosages can vary based on the specific health goals and needs of the individual. This approach is often guided by the principles of personalized or precision medicine.
It's important to note that while some peptides have shown promise in preclinical and early clinical studies, the field is still evolving, and not all peptides have been thoroughly researched or approved for medical use. Additionally, the safety and efficacy of peptide therapies may vary, and individual responses can differ.
If you are considering peptide therapy, it is crucial to consult with a qualified healthcare professional who can assess your individual health status, provide guidance on appropriate peptides, and monitor your response to the treatment. Peptide therapy should be approached with caution, and individuals should be aware of the potential risks and benefits associated with these interventions.
]]>Dr. Kathryn Retzler make XYMOGEN formulas available to customers and patients of our clinic on our Xymogen online store.
XYMOGEN’s Exclusive Professional Formulas are only available through select licensed health care professionals for their patients. You can now Buy Xymogen Supplements on our Xymogen online store.
Click here to ORDER XYMOGEN SUPPLEMENTS ONLINE
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Q: How serious is the virus?
A: The World Health Organization’s official name for the virus is SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 illness. There are now 547 cases in 34 states and 21 deaths. Most people (approximately 80-85%) have mild illness. The mortality rate may be “considerably less than 1%” instead of the 2% reported by some groups, according to Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases. See the editorial published February 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine. This editorial accompanies a report of 1100 Chinese patients with confirmed COVID-19 which documented a 1.4% mortality rate for those admitted to the hospital.
Q: How does it spread and what’s the best way to avoid transmission?
A: The virus spreads through respiratory droplets from an infected person coughing or sneezing. People are thought to be most contagious when they have symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing).
You’ve likely heard from public health officials to avoid contact with symptomatic people, wash your hands, and don’t touch your face. Viruses can linger on surfaces and find their way into your body from rubbing your eyes or touching your nose or mouth. Here’s a good article about how to avoid touching your face.
Q: How contagious is the virus and is there anything I can do to avoid getting it?
A: At the root of this question is the “pathogen vs terrain” cause of illness. Ideally, integrative medicine acknowledges both. The specific virus that causes COVID-19 appears to spread easily so avoiding transmission is fundamental. Most people have mild symptoms. If you are in a high-risk group (older adults especially with heart, lung, or kidney disease or diabetes), you may be more likely to develop severe symptoms. The most important thing you can do to minimize viral illness is to maintain a robust immune system. There are 5 pillars for optimal immune function—diet, sleep, exercise, stress management, and supplements.
Ideal Diet
You must create an overall diet which, as public health and nutrition expert David Katz observes, is a noun not a verb. In other words, rather than continually dieting, develop a health-affirming eating pattern: Diet is “the single leading predictor in modern nations of life and death, longevity and vitality, and the risk of all major chronic diseases.” Your best diet is likely a whole-food, plant-centered Mediterranean approach. For more information on implementing a Mediterranean diet with resources, recipes, and shopping ideas, see the non-profit organization Oldways.
How many of these aspects of an immune-enhancing diet do you follow?
Meeting daily nutritional requirements: a minimum of 7-9 servings of vegetables (especially leafy greens and cruciferous) and low-glycemic fruit (such as berries and pomegranate seeds), good quality protein, healthy fats, and whole grains or high fiber food.
Avoiding simple or refined carbohydrates such as sugar and processed grains. This includes not drinking sugar in soft drinks, fruit juices, or added to coffee. Whole grains (wild rice, quinoa, steel cut oats), beans and legumes are fine for people without high blood sugar who digest them well. Dairy, especially soft cheeses and milk, can contribute to inflammation for many people.
Not consuming sugar. I’m repeating this because it’s so important. You must read labels (recently, Daniel bought what he thought was pure organic almond butter and didn’t notice the added sugar listed on the label).
Practicing time-restricted eating by consuming all calories within a 6 to 10-hour window. Eating early vs later may be more effective to improve blood sugar and insulin response. Also, allow 3 hours between your last meal and bedtime.
Sleep
We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping. With average US life expectancy of 78 years, 25 years are spent asleep yet many people don’t prioritize sleep or understand how critical it is to longevity and survival. It may seem like you enter a passive state when you sleep but your brain and body perform many complex activities during this time. Sleep allows time and energy to repair damage from daily metabolism, stress, UV radiation, and toxin exposure. Cortisol and adrenaline drop during sleep and the recovery hormones growth hormone and melatonin are released. Growth hormone, mostly secreted during deep sleep, enables muscles to grow and strengthen and injuries and tissues to repair. Growth hormone and melatonin, combined with downregulation of cortisol and adrenaline, enhance immune defense. If you don’t get enough quality sleep, you can get sick more easily when exposed to viruses and bacteria. Research has shown that adequate sleep the night following vaccinations is needed for immunological memory.
Exercise
Unfortunately, the percentage of Americans who don’t exercise is alarming: according to the CDC, nearly 50% of American adults don’t meet physical activity guidelines for aerobic exercise—2 hours and 30 minutes of moderately-intense (continuous effort at 55-70% of maximum heart rate) or 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorously-intense (70-85% of maximum heart rate) aerobic activity throughout the week. For additional health benefits, adults should increase moderate activity to 5 hours weekly or perform vigorous activity for 2 hours and 20 minutes per week.
Exercise boosts cardiorespiratory fitness, meaning it enhances heart and lung function. Frequent physical activity increases the number and activity of T-cells needed to kill virus-infected cells, and minimizes the decline in immune function (called “immunosenescence”) seen with aging. Epidemiological evidence indicates that regular exercise reduces the risk of contracting viral and bacterial communicable diseases and mitigates symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections.
Don’t use time demands or stress as an excuse not to exercise—if your stress level is high, it’s even more important to engage in physical activity to prevent respiratory infections.
Begin where you are. If you’re completely sedentary, your goal may be to go for a 10-minute walk after meals (which, by the way, will lower your blood sugar better than walking 30 minutes once a day) or shoot for 10,000 steps per day. If you want to get the most benefit from exercise, consider the results of a study comparing moderate continuous exercise with high intensity interval training (HIIT). Interval training was superior in enhancing endothelial function (dilation of arteries, decreased clotting, and lower plaque formation and rupture), insulin sensitivity, muscle mass, and reducing blood sugar. Overall, studies suggest HIIT is the most effective form of exercise to improve blood sugar regulation and insulin resistance. HIIT also reduces body fat better than moderate-intensity training and requires less time.
Interval training involves a series of low-to-high-intensity exercise periods interspersed with rest or recovery periods. One option is to walk, run, or bike at a low-intensity pace for 5 minutes, then increase the incline, speed, or resistance to high-intensity (84-92% of max HR) for 30 to 60 seconds, followed by lower intensity for 90 seconds. Repeat this pattern for a total of 8 times (if you're out of shape, best to start with 4 cycles and work up).
Your heart rate should be 65-75% of maximum during warmup and between interval bursts. Heart rate should be 84-92% of maximum during higher-intensity interval bursts. To determine your target heart rates, fill in these blanks:
Maximum heart rate (HR) = 208 – (0.7 x age): _____
Multiply max HR by 0.65 = _____
Multiply max HR by 0.75= _____
Multiply max HR by 0.84= _____
Multiply max HR by 0.92= _____
If you’re telling yourself the story, “I’m just not motivated to exercise,” consider this—motivation is a myth. The desire to improve doesn’t come from outside of yourself; it’s cultivated within by “just doing it.” I’ve been an exerciser for more than 25 years completing many marathons and half marathons and it’s still difficult to get up early to work out or go for a run in the rain after a long day of patients. To keep myself accountable, I sign up for races in advance, track my running miles on an app, use a Pelton bike, and sign up for classes at Orange Theory Fitness.®
Stress
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, I once heard Brené Brown make a statement that summarized what I’ve noticed over the past 19 years working with patients: “The body notices, keeps score, and never lies.”
The American Institute of Stress, a non-profit founded in 1978 by prominent researchers such as Drs. Hans Selye and Linus Pauling, is a treasure of information on stress-related topics—from research to self-assessment tools to stress management help. The Institute estimates that 75-90% of all visits to physicians are for stress related problems.
The feelings and symptoms of stress are due to a sequence of biochemical events in your body. Technically, stress is not an actual event or circumstance—it’s your body’s reaction to an event or circumstance. This means that stress is not what happens to you—it’s how you respond to what happens to you. You have the ability to control how you respond to events and circumstances in your life and to diminish the impact stress has on your body.
Significant, prolonged stress can over-activate the immune system, tipping the balance toward inflammation. Frequent infections and illnesses are also common with chronic stress in part due to the suppression of natural killer cell function. Natural killer cells are part of your body's surveillance system—their job is to circulate and destroy cancerous and viral-infected cells. A meta-analysis reviewing more than 300 studies regarding stress and the immune system concluded that chronic stress suppresses all aspects of immunity, increasing the risk for frequent infections and cancer.
Since breathing controls your autonomic nervous system, one simple way to neutralize stress is to focus on your breathing. Your heartbeat speeds up with every inhalation and slows down with every exhalation. When you feel stressed, focus on lengthening your exhalation. This shifts your autonomic nervous system form sympathetic (fight or flight) to parasympathetic (rest and digest) activity. You may want to count to yourself—4 counts for each breath in, 6 counts for each breath out. After only 3 breath cycles requiring less than 1 minute, you will minimize the impact of stress.
Perhaps the best stress-reducing tool is to learn mindfulness. Mindfulness improves the brain’s ability to process emotions under stress. With regular mindfulness meditation practice, you will train your mind to focus on the present moment and lower cortisol. Originally taught as a standardized program by Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness training can help you find the “pause” button in your brain. If you feel easily triggered or irritated by life experiences, mindfulness will enable you to respond rather than react. If you often rush through the day or feel like life is overwhelming or out of your control, mindfulness will empower you, and help you shift your focus from worrying about the past or future to being here, now.
Perhaps you think meditation is a “chore,” another thing on your to do list, or you’re intimidated by the idea of “sitting and doing nothing.” This perception is common and may come up over and over (in fact, this resistance may get in the way of eating a healthy diet, exercising, or adopting other health-affirming habits). Developing mindfulness takes no effort—it simply involves observing what is. When you learn mindfulness, you can allow grumbling or complaining thoughts to surface and let them pass—in other words, you can learn to become “a master of your own life.” Check out Jack Kornfield’s free 40-Day Mindfulness Training Program.
Supplements
The most important nutrients for immune function are zinc, selenium, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and vitamins A, C, & D. If you’re taking PhytoSynergy Multi – 2 tablets per day, you should add extra vitamin C – 1000 mg once or twice per day and NAC 1000 to 1800 mg per day. Your Vitamin D3 dosage should be based on lab results (ideal is 40-70 ng/ml). If you feel like your immune system is week, you can take 2 capsules of Chronic Immune from Mountain Peak Nutritionals once per day.
What if you feel like you’re getting sick?
Recognize symptoms (especially cough, fever, or chills) and stay home to avoid exposing others.
Eat as much raw garlic as possible. Try mashing 2 to 4 cloves in an avocado to mask the intense taste. This will provide 6,000 to 12,000 mcg of allicin (the most anti-viral, immune supportive component of garlic). You can also take SuperGarlic 6000 made by Metagenics. Each tablet contains 6,000 mcg of allicin, enterically coated so they dissolve in the intestine and don’t cause stomach upset or bad breath. Don’t take deodorized garlic—it won’t work.
Take 1000 mg of vitamin C every hour to bowel tolerance (until loose stools develop) and 2 capsules of Acute Immune (from Mountain Peak Nutritonals) every two hours.
Heat up your body and sleep as much as possible. To generate a fever, use an infrared sauna or take a hot bath and drink 1-2 cups of strong ginger tea. You can make ginger tea by boiling grated or blended ginger root in water for several minutes before straining. After soaking in the bath, be careful not to become chilled. Go to bed, pile on the blankets and sweat. Congratulate yourself if you develop a fever—this is a sign that your immune system is engaged to fight the virus. Also, sleep as much as possible and avoid coffee, alcohol, all sugar, and dairy products.
If you are immunocompromised or have lung disease and you get sick, please call your primary care provider. If you have severe chest pain or trouble breathing, go to an urgent care or emergency room. If you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19 (recent travel from an infected area or exposure to someone with known infection) please call before going to your primary care provider or seeking care to prevent infecting others.
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Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy uses pulsed-energy waves to improve a man's sexual performance. As a man ages, the blood vessels that supply the blood needed for good erectile function, begin to collapse or break down. The pulsating waves of the Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy improve blood flow by opening existing blood vessels and stimulating the growth of new blood vessels. Increased blood flow results in improved sexual performance.
Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy also stimulates the creation of new blood vessels and the rejuvenation of erectile tissue. 80% of men with ED receiving Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy therapy saw a reversal of their condition and 86% of all men receiving the treatment for ED report positive results and improved sexual performance!
Dr. Kathryn Retzler is now treating men with the Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy in her Portland Oregon office at 4640 SW Macadam Ave., Suite 290 Portland, OR.
Call Daniel at 503-230-7990
]]>Imagine our surprise however when walking in to an art gallery first thing in the morning and seeing this:
When is the last time you saw THIS first thing in the morning?
Now you must remember that over the past few months we have introduced several new treatments for erectile dysfunction and improving men's sexual performance.
Needless to say, we took this as a sign that we are doing the right work in the world.
So, if you haven't seen this kind of artwork lately (especially first thing in the morning) we'll share with you a few options that might help you learn and come to appreciate "Wood Art".
Here are 3 ways HormoneSynergy® Clinic can help you resurrect your carpentry skills and wake up with a new outlook on life.
Testosterone Therapy - Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in men with low testosterone has consistently shown to produce positive benefits with minimal side effects. Also, benefits of testosterone therapy can be both physical and mental. Restoring testosterone levels to within the normal range by using testosterone replacement therapy has shown to:
Although some benefits appear in the first month of therapy, most effects begin to take place over the first few months. There are two essential elements of sexual function: tactile sensation (physical contact) and mental stimulation (thoughts and visual images as known as libido). When given to men with low testosterone, TRT increases sexual thoughts and sexual desire.
So, testosterone benefits libido. The benefits of testosterone therapy on physical sexual function are not conclusive. Erectile dysfunction can be related to one or more of many potential underlying medical conditions unrelated to testosterone levels including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Thus, taking testosterone may not necessarily fix these unrelated underlying problems. Nevertheless, recent reviews on the effects of testosterone on erectile potency are encouraging. Also, in some patients, testosterone used in conjunction with Shockwave Therapy and / or Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) improves erectile function more than testosterone therapy alone.
Shockwave Therapy – Shockwave Therapy is a kind of extracorporeal shock wave therapy also known as ESWT. The treatments are also sometimes referred to as Linear Shockwave Therapy, or LSWT, or simply “shockwave therapy.”
Shockwave therapy has been used for many years for the treatment of conditions ranging from orthopedics to urology. In the case of ED, the procedure uses either micro-bursts of mechanical energy or high-frequency acoustical waves to open and repair blood vessels in the penis that tend to build up with plaque, or otherwise become compromised over time.
When used to treat vascular related erectile dysfunction, the mechanism of action for the ESWT is induced angiogenesis and neovascularization in the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum. The resulting improvement in blood flow, achieved by the creation of new blood vessels and the rejuvenation of existing vessels, increases the patient’s ability to obtain and sustain an erection.
Platelet Rich Plasma Penile Injection – is one of the latest and most effective alternative treatments for ED. This injection uses Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP. PRP uses the healing and growth factors in the patient’s own blood to improve his ability to obtain and maintain an erection. Unlike TriMix or other “penis” injections, PRP injections are completely drug-free, have minimal side effects, and when combined with other proprietary ingredients, can actually increase the size of the penis.
If you're interested in any or all of these treatments please fill out our CONTACT PAGE or email daniel@hormonesynergy.com
]]>Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy is a scientifically proven technique that can improve sexual performance and restore your confidence, without the use of potentially harmful drugs, or painful surgery. It has proven to be a safe and effective alternative to Viagra and other oral ED treatments. In fact, Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy has been shown to be TWICE as effective as Viagra and similar ED drugs, with none of the harmful side effects.
Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy uses pulsed-energy waves to improve a man's sexual performance. As a man ages, the blood vessels that supply the blood needed for good erectile function, begin to collapse or break down. The pulsating waves of the Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy improve blood flow by opening existing blood vessels and stimulating the growth of new blood vessels. Increased blood flow results in improved sexual performance.
Shock-wave therapy also stimulates the creation of new blood vessels and the rejuvenation of erectile tissue. 80% of men with ED receiving Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy ED treatment saw a reversal of their condition and 86% of all men receiving the treatment for ED report positive results and improved sexual performance!
Dr. Kathryn Retzler is now treating men with the Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy in her Portland Oregon office at 4640 SW Macadam Ave., Suite 290 Portland, OR.
Call Daniel at 503-230-7990
]]>In fact, Erectile Dysfunction is as big a risk factor for future cardiovascular events as smoking and family history of heart attacks (4). Besides being a predictor of future heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, the presence of ED can predict death from all causes (5).
At HormoneSynergy we recognize that treating erectile dysfunction effectively means treating the CAUSE and not just the SYMPTOMS. This is why we now offer Men seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction a FREE "HormoneSynergy® Optimal Aging Assessment with the purchase of SIX (6) Shockwave Therapy Treatments (Six treatments is the standard recommendation for ED).
This assessment may be the most comprehensive evaluation of your health that you’ve ever received. This option includes:
Lab work consisting of hormone evaluation, advanced cardiovascular risk assessment, and if indicated, genetic tests to detect variants in genes that may influence aging, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and cancer risk. You will receive a written interpretation of all results.
Hormone evaluation includes adrenal function (DHEA-S and cortisol), thyroid function (TSH, free T4, free T3, and thyroid antibodies if indicated), sex steroids (estradiol and testosterone), and pregnenolone. Additional hormones (progesterone, IGF-1, PTH, gonadotropins FSH, LH) are tested if indicated.
A comprehensive metabolic panel, hemoglobin A1c, insulin level and HOMO-IR helps determine diabetes risk, liver health, kidney function, and electrolyte levels.
Homocysteine, inflammatory markers (hsCRP, and Lp-PLA2 and MPO if indicated) aids in assessing methylation status, inflammation, and blood vessel health.
State-of-the-art cardiovascular tests including advanced lipid tests (LDL-P, apoB, small dense LDL, HDL subpopulations, apoA-1, Lp(a)) are measured. If needed, cardiac muscle function is assessed by measuring cardiac troponin-T and NT-proBNP.
Fatty acids, vitamin B12, vitamin D, Coenzyme Q10, iron, and other nutrients (based on individual need) are tested.
Genetic tests may include ApoE genotype, MTHFR genotype, and with a history or concern of blood clots, prothrombin and factor V Leiden genotype. SLOCO1B1 may be ordered to screen for possible statin-induced myopathy.
Computerized, validated neurocognitive testing helps assess memory and brain function.
Written interpretation with treatment suggestions is provided at your initial appointment.
Brain system questionnaire (developed by Daniel Amen, MD) screens for neurotransmitter imbalances, attention deficit, and mood disorders and helps determine treatment approach.
Seca mBCA 515 Body Composition testing provides a highly accurate assessment of fat (including visceral or “belly” fat) and muscle percentages and basal metabolic rate (calories burned at rest). After age 30, many people lose 3% to 5% of their muscle mass per decade. Body composition testing provides a foundation to develop a plan to rebuild and maintain muscle.
Optimal aging questionnaire provides a thorough lifestyle evaluation with written recommendations
Full 1.5 hour consultation with Dr. Retzler to review all results, answer questions, discuss testosterone therapy, prescription medication and supplement options.
Optional Testing (additional fee)
VO2 Max to determine your aerobic fitness. VO2 max is considered one of the best indicators of your lung and cardiovascular health and endurance.
Coronary artery CT with calcium score is a non-invasive CT scan of the heart. It will calculate your risk of having or developing heart disease by measuring the amount of calcified (hard) plaque in the coronary arteries.
Carotid artery ultrasound with carotid intima media thickness measurement detects plaque and can assess arterial thickness (carotid intima media thickness or “CIMT”). The carotid arteries provide a “window” to the coronary arteries (the arteries that feed the heart) since carotid plaque >1.5 to 2.0 mm usually correlates with plaque in the coronary arteries. Carotid plaque and increased CIMT may indicate increased stroke and dementia risk.
Concierge Membership
Concierge medicine is a patient-focused relationship between a doctor and his or her patient where the patient pays a fee for improved access and high-quality, individualized medical care. With concierge care the focus is shifted away from a symptom management, disease maintenance approach toward a preventive, health-centered one.
You are NOT required to become a patient of our office to receive Shockwave Therapy. However, If you want Dr. Retzler to monitor your health care and prescribe hormones and / or medication you MUST be a HormoneSynergy Concierge Member of our practice.
Men who do become concierge members of the practice will receive 50% off all follow up Shockwave Therapy® treatments.
We can discuss this option with you during your Shockwave Therapy or following your Optimal Aging Assessment.
Insurance
If you have certain commercial insurance (United Healthcare, Moda, BlueCross BlueShield, Pacific Source) or Medicare ADVANTAGE, initial laboratory testing can cost between $0 and $318 depending upon the testing ordered, your individual policy as well as your insurance deductible.
If you do not have insurance or you if you have Providence, Kaiser, Medicare, Medicare supplemental, Medicaid VA or TriCare, initial lab testing can cost $300 to $500.
In order to provide individualized, comprehensive care, we do not participate with any health insurance companies. We do not bill insurance companies or accept reimbursement from any insurance companies, nor are we a Medicare provider. You may attempt reimbursement for office visits by submitting a health insurance claim form with diagnosis codes to your insurance company (we will provide and help fill out this form for you).
Please note: Dr. Retzler makes NO profit on lab testing. All lab fees due will be provided directly to the lab that processes them.
References
1 Feldman HA, et al. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol. 1994;151(1):54-61.
2 Cheitlin M. Erectile dysfunction: the earliest sign of generalized vascular disease? J Am Col Cardiol. 2004;43(2):185-186.
3 Billups KL. Erectile dysfunction as an early sign of cardiovascular disease. Int J Impot Res. 2005;17 Suppl 1:S1924.
4 Thompson IM, et al. Erectile dysfunction and subsequent cardiovascular disease. JAMA. 2005;294(23):2996-3002.
5 Böhm M, et al. Erectile dysfunction predicts cardiovascular events in high-risk patients receiving telmisartan, ramipril, or both: the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial/Telmisartan Randomized AssessmeNt Study in ACE iNtolerant subjects with cardiovascular Disease (ON TARGET/TRANSCEND) Trials. Circul. 2010;121(12):1423-46
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Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (more commonly known in the United States as Shockwave Therapy) is a non-invasive therapy which originated in Europe during the early 1990s.
Typically used to relieve musculoskeletal issues, shock wave therapy has evolved to have many applications over the years, and recently has been utilized to provide improved erectile function for patients suffering from erectile dysfunction. In contrast to short-term solutions offered by popular mainstream ED medications (like Viagra® and Cialis®), which often create dependency, shock wave therapy for ED provides lasting results.
In her latest interview with Mike Mutzel of High Intensity Health Dr. Kathryn Retzler discusses the most common causes of ED, Porn Inducted Erectile Dysfunction and common treatments including PDE5's, Shockwave Therapy and PRP Injections.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMnfEG9QZbQ
]]>What you will learn:
Dr. Retzler received her doctorate from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon in 2001. After completing an internship in integrative medicine with Andrew Weil MD, and a residency in McMinnville, OR with Dr. Bruce Dickson, she decided to focus her enthusiasm, talents, and knowledge in building bridges between conventional and alternative medicine.
She founded HormoneSynergy Clinic to help people achieve vibrant health, ideal brain function, and longevity. As a specialist in holistic medicine, she understands the role balanced hormones and neurotransmitters play in all areas of health.
She has completed a fellowship in preventive cardiology through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine with Mark Houston, MD and attends several age management and brain health seminars and conferences yearly, with gratitude to the mentors with whom she has trained under and influenced her work -- Mark Houston, MD, Edward Lee, MD, Rebecca Glaser, MD, Thierry Hertoghe, MD, Dale Bredesen MD and Daniel Amen, MD.
She has been on the faculty of the Age Management Medicine Group (AMMG) since 2015 and lectures regularly on BHRT, erectile dysfunction, and IV Therapy.
Your body has a natural production of histamine – and this natural inflammatory compound normally serves many useful functions. However, too much histamine in your system creates an imbalance with a number of uncomfortable symptoms:
These symptoms can often be mistaken as an allergic or inflammatory reaction.
Your body has a natural counterbalance to histamine – the DAO enzyme (Diamine Oxidase).
DAO is present in your small intestine where it naturally degrades and helps to eliminate histamine in order to protect a balance in your body. Under normal, balanced conditions, DAO and histamine comfortably coexist. However, our diet has changed and we consume less DAO (liver anyone?) while more and more foods are processed and therefore fermented, meaning they contain higher amounts of histamine. The body can no longer naturally cope with the challenge causing more and more people to lack a sufficient supply of DAO. In their case, histamine goes unchecked and can create an imbalance either every day or just from time to time.
How can Umbrellux® DAO help?
Umbrellux® DAO is a patented enzyme formula containing 20,000 diamine oxidase (DAO) per serving - the main enzyme responsible for the degradation of ingested histamine in the gut. This enzyme has been clinically tested and found to break down food-derived histamine in the digestive tract. DAO is not absorbed and does not have systemic activity.*
Umbrellux® DAO is manufactured under license of Sciotec Diagnostic Technologies GmbH, Vienna, Austria.
NOTE: Umbrellux® DAO does not manage or address antibody-related or IgE-related food allergies.*
What we use to sell as "Hist-Arrest" is now being sold under the name of Umbrellux® DAO.
To purchase Umbrellux DAO please click here.
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Reduced glutathione, commonly known as glutathione or GSH, is a tripeptide consisting of L-glutamine, L-cysteine, and glycine. It is ubiquitous in living systems. Glutathione bio-synthesis can be affected by biochemical individuality and/or dietary factors. Chronic oxidative stress can also deplete cellular glutathione. Glutathione is naturally synthesized from N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) in the human body.
Precursors to glutathione, such as whey protein, vitamin C, and glutamine, are also recommended to boost glutathione levels in the body; however, results are inconsistent. Biological individuality is such that not every body has equivalent ability to metabolize the precursor to raise glutathione.*
Unfortunately, most oral forms of glutathione are foul smelling, but more importantly,
the majority of an oral dose is oxidized before it can be absorbed and used by the cells. Two different formula's offer a unique preparation of glutathione that overcomes these usual limitations. The stability of S-acetylglutathione and Liposomal Glutathione through the intestinal wall and the plasma is well documented. Oral intake of S-acetyl glutathione increases total glutathione and percent-reduced glutathione. Percent-reduced glutathione is a very significant biomarker of health status.* [1-5]
HormoneSynergy® S-acetyl glutathione or S-Acetyl Glutathione ULTRA, a lipid-like compound, is taken up intact by chylomicrons in the gut. The acetyl bond is placed on its thiol group or sulfur group, which prevents oxidation and allows the molecule to pass diffusively into the cell after absorption in the gut. The bond is then cleaved by non-specific enzymes inside the cell. Acetylation prevents the breakdown of glutathione, and S-acetyl glutathione does not require energy expenditure to be cleaved to reduced glutathione once it crosses the cell wall.* [1-8
S-Acetyl Glutathione ULTRA w/ NAC
HormoneSynergy® Liposomal Glutathione Synergy provides 500 mg of pure glutathione and activated B vitamin cofactors delivered in phosphatidylcholine liposomes for optimal absorption and bioavailability support.*
Glutathione functions extensively in tissues and organs throughout the body. It plays critical roles in protecting the body from oxidative stress, maintaining cellular functions, and supporting healthy immune function. [1,4] Many factors can increase cellular exposure to oxidative insult, and therefore increase cellular consumption of nutrients—such as glutathione—that provide antioxidant activity. This may result in a fierce cycle of oxidative stress and challenges to detoxification. Complete bio-transformation and protection from oxidative stress are important to maintaining cellular integrity and tissue health.* [2,5]
]]>The Bredesen Protocol™ is a comprehensive, personalized program that targets the multiple underlying causes of Alzheimer’s disease, with an overall goal of improving cognitive function. The program helps identify biochemical and metabolic imbalances in an individual that give rise to the disease, and offers a tailored protocol to restore health and slow or even reverse cognitive decline.
The Bredesen Protocol™ takes into account an individual’s genetic, metabolic, hormonal, and behavioral makeup to produce a personalized therapeutic program that is based on the underlying pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, and which involves multiple modalities in the treatment protocol; including bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, diet, nutritional supplements, exercise, sleep and other lifestyle changes.
Dr. Retzler has developed a line of private label and custom nutritional supplements included in the Bredesen Protocol™ that support cognitive performance and overall brain health.
]]>Dr. Retzler discusses the importance of a Metabolic Recovery and Detox Program
Current Self Guided Options Include:
Metagenics First Line Therapy Clear Change 10 Day Metabolic Detoxification Program
Metagenics First Line Therapy Clear Change 28 Day Metabolic Detoxification Program
]]>Millions of people drink alcoholic beverages on a regular basis without ever developing a drinking problem; they do not become alcohol abusers, alcohol dependent, or alcoholics. But how do you know if you are drinking at a safe level? How much alcohol can you drink and still be considered a low-risk drinker?
Research has shown that women develop alcohol problems at lower levels of consumption than men. Therefore, the guidelines for low-risk drinking are lower for females.
Guidelines for women are three or fewer standard drinks a day and no more than seven drinks per week. As for men, both the daily and weekly standards must be met to remain in the low-risk category.
If you drink only two drinks a day, but drink them every day, that is 14 drinks a week -- twice the recommended amount for low-risk consumption.
What about Red Wine?
Red wine is, indeed, an excellent source of antioxidants (so are the grapes it’s made from) as well as resveratrol. Alcohol (in moderation) has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, and may decrease the risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Unfortunately, many people overindulge without regard for the negative health consequences of alcohol, or the excess, "empty" calories it contains. Moderate alcohol intake is defined as no more than two drinks for men, and one drink for women, per day. Studies have shown that high alcohol intake increases aromatization of androgens to estrogen, and impedes the liver’s ability to clear excess estrogen from the body.
In women, more than one drink per day can increase breast cancer risk. In men, more than two drinks per day boost estrogen levels within the liver and may lead to weight gain in the waist and the development of "man boobs.” Heavy drinking in men—defined as four or more drinks per day, five or more days per week—increases the risk for aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
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By John Knapp
My birthday is July 24. I have gloried in the fact that every year since I was aware of such things it had never rained on my birthday. The exception was last year, my 60th birthday. For the first time ever, it was definitely raining. Not drizzle, not misty fog, but real rain. It gave me pause. I do believe in signs and omens. Looking back I had no idea how ill the omen was for the year that lay ahead.
Though I have very good eating and exercise habits, I have had a hard time as I have gotten older sustaining vigorous exercise. I have written before in this blog about going deep into the Raw Vegan wilderness. It was all in an effort to cure a bewildering set of issues, including fatigue that was occasionally severe. I was told it was depression. I was told “adrenal fatigue.” I tried acupuncture, raw vegan resorts and all told me that my heart rate and blood pressure were quite good, as did my regular doctor.
I gave up “the search” sometime in the last year. I was getting too old to chase the dream of finding the cure for these vague ailments. “Just chalk it up to getting older,” I told myself. Yet, I would continue to have incidences of running completely out of gas on quite easy walks. Those bewildering incidences drove me to the offices of Dr. Kathryn Retzler.
I met with Dr. Retzler, who interned for a year with famed heart specialist, Dr. Mark C. Houston. She had an impressive treatment protocol that was unlike any I had been through before. I was given an extensive questionnaire about my health, and my family’s health history. I had blood work done that looked at types of cholesterol I had not heard of, and even included a look at my genes. Given my family’s health problems and my genetic background, I found I was at high risk for many things, particularly Alzheimer’s and heart disease.
Dr. Retzler ordered a heart CT scan so that she could get something called a “calcium score”. I had never heard of it. When and if cholesterol plaque builds up in your coronary arteries, calcium will eventually attach to it. A CT scan cannot see soft tissue or cholesterol plaque, but it can see calcium. Based on the amount of calcium that the scan finds, a score is given for the major arteries on the surface of the heart, the ones that supply the heart itself with oxygen. If you are in your forties, they would like to see a score of “0”. Scores up to 100 put you in varying categories of risk. A score of 400 puts you in the very high risk category.
On April 13th Dr. Retzler called me at work to talk to me about my scan. I had a calcium score of 3,136. I had advanced coronary artery disease, she said. She referred me to Dr. Michael Shapiro at the heart clinic at OHSU Hospital in Portland, Oregon, and asked that I be given the highest priority, and I was scheduled to see him the next week.
The news was disquieting to say the least. My fraternal twin brother, Mark, had died of advanced coronary artery disease at the age of 46. I had assumed I had dodged that bullet. I searched the internet looking up calcium scores, hitting all the blog sites with frantic people wanting to know what their score meant for them. But I found no one with a score anywhere near as high as mine. The highest that I’d seen was one score of 1,000. It was only later that Dr. Retzler told me that Dr. Shapiro, a cardiologist for over 10 years, mentioned that he had never met anyone with a score as high as mine. His visit summary said it all. “Patient has a profoundly high coronary calcium score.”
Dr. Shapiro arranged for me to have a stress EKG test, which showed my heart was having to work too hard to pump blood. Then it was on to a coronary angiogram, which was over quickly. There wasn’t enough room in my arteries to cleanly navigate the little catheter that takes a picture of insides of the arteries.
I was scheduled for a triple bypass 5 days later, on Monday May 11th, four weeks to the day that I received the results of my heart CT Scan. I had three working days to put my affairs in order, file my disability paperwork and arrange for others to take over my work duties during an unknown amount of time off.
During the bypass procedure, your entire sternum is opened, except at the very bottom where they tie it together to ensure your chest doesn’t butterfly. They call it “cracking” your chest. A heart/lung machine pumps your blood and breathes for you while your heart is completely stopped. More than likely they will be lifting your heart completely out of your chest cavity. (In my case, they harvested veins from my right leg and used them to bypass the blockages on three arteries). When they are finished, they use stainless steel wires to stitch your sternum back together, and small plates to reinforce and stabilize the incision. The entire procedure started at about 8am and was over by 1pm.
The procedure is now so commonplace that the surgery is coded as “routine”. It hardly feels routine when it happens to you.
Recovery from the surgery is different for everyone who goes through it. 99% of the people who have the surgery survive, but recovery can be very slow, sometimes up to a year, and some aren’t made better from having the surgery. Most of the post-surgical complaints are problems sleeping, neck and back problems, depression, trouble thinking clearly and fatigue. More serious complications are stroke, grafts closing after the surgery, and problems with the stainless steel wires and plates used to hold the chest together.
If you’re reading this in early August (and I’m not dead), I’m barely three months in and have had most of the minor problems to varying degrees, particularly fatigue and sleep issues. Returning to work has been very hard and I wish now that I had waited longer. It has been difficult keeping up with my previous pace. People have been kind and helpful, but don’t always understand that you can’t instantly bounce back from a surgery like that. Some expected that I would feel better and be more youthful almost immediately. The fact is, I feel worse than when I went in, but the risk of having a heart attack or stroke has been reduced significantly, and that’s something to be thankful for.
By August, my birthday will have come around again, and I will have turned 61. I received the gift of my beating heart. It’s stronger now, and I can feel it lustily pumping the blood in and out. I probably felt it before, but I never gave it a second listen. It will count out the beat for my happy birthday song, and maybe the rain will join in. Whether or not the rain comes again, I will count it a happy birthday, indeed.
John Knapp lives a quiet life in Vancouver, Washington with his rescue cat, Abby. “I’m not sure who taught her how to rescue people,” John says, “but she did an excellent job with me.”
]]>By Dr. Kathryn Retzler
The drugs of first choice for elevated LDL particles are the HMG CoA reductase inhibitors or "statins." There are three main types of statins: lipophilic [lovastatin (Mevacor) and simvastatin (Zocor)], mildly lipophilic [fluvaststin (Lescol) and atorvastatin (Lipitor)], and hydrophilic (pravastatin (Pravachol) and rosuvastatin (Crestor)].
Statin drugs are very effective for lowering LDL cholesterol levels. They are less effective than niacin and fish oil for reducing triglycerides and changing small dense LDL to large buoyant particles, or niacin for raising HDL cholesterol.
Data is clear that statins can decrease the risk for cardiovascular events in people who are at high risk or who already have had a heart attack. Statin medications can improve nitric oxide synthesis in the endothelium, inhibit LDL oxidation, decrease macrophage uptake of LDL, and reduce monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. In addition, statins can reduce inflammation, lowering hsCRP and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These mechanisms may provide stabilization of plaque. It’s likely that the cardioprotection offered by statins is due to its pleitrophic effects, rather than just LDL lowering.
The JUPITER trial, including nearly 18,000 patients, showed that rosuvastatin (Crestor) is the most effective statin, reducing heart attack and stroke risk by approximately 50%, decreasing blood clots by 43%, and decreasing all cause mortality by 20%. Crestor given at 80 mg once per week may be as effective as 10 mg of Lipitor given daily. In addition, alternate day dosing of statins results in the same LDL reduction as daily dosing (less expensive with fewer side effects).
The most recent evidence regarding the use of statins and prevention of cardiovascular disease from the Cochrane Database reviewed 18 randomized controlled trials where patients without cardiovascular disease were given statins or placebos for a minimum of one year. The conclusion was that statins reduced the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death. There is debate about whether or not statins actually decrease mortality (risk of dying).
It's important to consider how many people need to take statin medications as primary prevention, meaning prevention of heart attack in people without cardiovascular disease or high risk. This is termed the "number needed to treat" or "NNT". The NNT with statins and heart attack prevention is 60. That means, 60 people need to take a statin medication for 5 years to decrease 1 heart attack. The NNT for preventing stroke is 268. To put this in percentage terms, it takes 5 years of daily statin therapy to achieve a 1.6% chance of avoiding a heart attack, and a 0.37% chance of avoiding a stroke in patients who are not high risk.
The harms of statins are less publicized than benefits, but are well documented. A recent review of statin-induced myopathy (muscle inflammation) suggests that 10% is a relatively conservative estimate for this side effect. Statins may also slightly increase this risk for diabetes, especially in women. The most common side effects of statins are gastrointestinal, including constipation and abdominal cramps. These symptoms may be mild to severe and generally subside as therapy continues.
If you are pregnant, have active or chronic liver disease, or are allergic to statins, you should not use any statins. Consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice inhibits the metabolism of statins, which may increase the risk for myopathy or rhabdomyolisis.
If you've been prescribed a statin, please let me know immediately if you develop any significant malaise, fever, muscle tenderness, or weakness. Replacing CoQ10 (depleted by statin medications) has been shown to improve statin-induced muscle pain and weakness by approximately 50%.
About Dr. Retzler:
Dr. Retzler received her doctorate from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon in 2001. After completing an internship in integrative medicine with Andrew Weil MD, and a residency in McMinnville, OR with Dr. Bruce Dickson, she decided to focus her enthusiasm, talents, and knowledge in building bridges between conventional and alternative medicine.
Dr. Retzler founded HormoneSynergy to help people achieve vibrant health, ideal brain function, and longevity. As a specialist in holistic medicine, she understands the role balanced hormones and neurotransmitters play in all areas of health. She has completed a fellowship in preventive cardiology through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine with Mark Houston, MD and attends several age management and brain health seminars and conferences yearly, with gratitude to the mentors who've influenced her work--Rebecca Glaser, MD, Thierry Hertoghe, MD, and Daniel Amen, MD.
Dr. Retzler recommends effective, evidence based natural therapies, lifestyle changes, and bioidentical hormones to address the underlying causes of hormone imbalance and restore health and vitality.
]]>By Dr. Kathryn Retzler
While running on the treadmill today, feeling my heart beat, I thought about what an act of self-love it is to exercise. Last Wednesday was my birthday. Though I don't know how many more years I'll live, I know that keeping my body fit will enable me to enjoy the blessings I encounter. I also know that the ultimate Valentine's Day present I can give Daniel, or that anyone can give their spouse or children, is not a box of chocolates, jewelry, or expensive gadgets. The most valuable gift I can give the people I love is freedom. This includes the freedom to not have to take care of me some day, due to my not taking care of myself today. If you find prioritizing your self--your exercise, healthy diet, or stress reduction needs--difficult, think about achieving and maintaining ideal health as an act of love for others. If you love your kids and partner, take care of your health--otherwise they will end up taking care of you.
By Daniel Soule
Are you valuable enough to invest in your health? Heart disease alone costs Americans over $108 billion per year, and affects around 26 million patients. That’s an average of about $4000 per year. If you have a heart attack or stroke, your out of pocket expenses will likely be over $25,000 (after insurance). Living with diabetes can cost you around $8000 per year. Cancer can run to about $2000 per day, easily running into millions depending on the length and intensity of care required. Add to that the $1000 or so it costs you for minor ailments each year. Most of these disease are lifestyle related and totally preventable.
You’d be surprised how often we see patients who after seeing their lab results and then provided a treatment plan that reduces their disease risk ignore the recommendations because they have to “think about it” or that they "don't believe in taking or spending money on supplements" or "don't like taking pills" or "don't have time to exercise or make healthier food choices"
They often blame their finances or their busy lives, but it is rarely either.
We know this to be true because these are often the same people who spend time and money shopping for plasma televisions, pricey handbags, getting monthly manicures and Botox or who spend a thousand dollars or more over the course of a year at Starbucks and/or eating out two or three times a week, not to mention the nightly bottle of wine habit they enjoy with their spouse.
There is nothing inherently wrong with these things but ask some of these same people to invest $3 per day in a nutraceutical that can help prevent and even reverse an active disease process and it suddenly becomes "too expensive".
When it comes to your health consider it the number one investment in your future; because it is. The time and money you invest today is likely to not only save you thousands of dollars in disease management it's an investment in the quality of life you'll have in your golden years. Isn't that a wise investment?
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Hormones are chemicals made by glands that travel through the bloodstream and bind to receptors on or inside cells. For proper function, each hormone must fit its receptor like a key in a lock. When the key and lock don’t fit exactly, health problems can result. This is why your body’s own hormones (or bioidentical hormones) are better than synthetic, foreign ones.
When you consider that hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) are involved in nearly everything that goes on in your body, it’s no wonder that an imbalance in hormones can cause so many health problems.
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