Special Products for Special Concerns of Special People

Often people don't completely understand what to take or where to turn for their anti-aging and wellness recommendations.    A little of this, and a little of that, can add up to a lot of unnecessary $pending on regimens that a person might not actually need.  Can you relate?  This is where our team fits best.  Not only do we design custom regimens for hormonal imbalance and pain, but we also design custom and over-the-counter integrative and functional regimens as well .  I refer to it as prescribed supplements.  In fact, if I'm working with a physician or practitioner on a patients profile, I also include specific recommendations for nutraceuticals in addition to hormone therapy customs.  Why?  Key nutrients are essential in how hormones metabolize in the body.  If a person is relying on diet alone to make that happen, I can almost guarantee it's not enough.  With our clinical databases, clinical support team, and networking providers coast-to-coast, we can find answers for YOU and get you on a regimen to address your unfortunate family medical history, your current diagnosis, or simply your attempt to just be healthier overall.  You are the most important person in our world and it's why we are seeing such tremendous success in Branson MO. 

  I work primarily with pharmaceutical grade and high quality products for which you must be a healthcare practitioner to purchase and use in patient care.  When selecting products, I also try to keep cost and effectiveness at the forefront of what I stock and offer to clients.  And remember, we have access to the top anti-aging/wellness/functional/regenenerative/integrative product lines out there.  We provide a great resource to patients.  I'm proud of that and have seen a tremendous shift over the last 10 years in how people are trying to stay ahead of the disease curve. 

To give you and idea, here's a few of the special orders that I have placed for patients and practitioners over the last few weeks.  Some of these have been so popular and effective with patients that I keep them in stock.

~Weight loss product clinically proven to have effect in 2 weeks with no stimulant effects.  I actually did a trial of this one to make sure it didn't cause the jitters.  It doesn't.  All good!!  

~Stress and Adrenal Fatigue Restoration Protocols.  Again, I've personally tried many of the products that I recommend and continue to take many of the supplements in this regimen myself.

~Products for reduction of high Homocysteine levels

~Ovulation regulation for fertility

~Testosterone support formula for Men

~End Fatigue Sleep Revitalization Formulas

~Anxiety Balance formulations

~Healthy Hormone Metabolizers

~Glucose Support Formulas

~Alzheimer's/Dementia Brain Support Formulas

~Polycystic Ovary Syndrome support

~Womens GI Formulation

~Anti-inflammatory Nutraceuticals

~Joint and Muscle Restoration Products

~Skin Care Agents

~Blood Pressure Support Formula

~Meal Replacement Shakes

~Collagen Support Formulations

~Skin care/ Fine lines and wrinkles remedies

And remember that we also offer testing kits:
Hormone Testing
Adrenal Testing
Thyroid Testing
Weight Management Testing
Iodine Testing
Fertility Testing
Sleep Profile Testing .....


Standard Tests
Saliva, blood spot and dried urine are used for the minimally-invasive hormone testing.  The simplicity of sample collection and stability of samples in storage and transport have made these ideal for clinical use as well as research.  See the table below for a full list of our current test offerings.

Test	Blood Spot	Saliva	Dried Urine
Estradiol (E2)
Progesterone (Pg)
Testosterone (T), free
Testosterone (T), total
DHEA-S
Estriol (E3)
Estrone (E1)
Cortisol (C), free
Cortisol (C), total
SHBG
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
Free Thyroxine (fT4)
Free Triiodothyronine (fT3)
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Thyroid Peroxidase Hormone (TPO)
Thyroxine (T4), total
Thyroglobulin
IGF-1 (Somatomedin C)
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Insulin (Ins), fasting
Cholesterol (CH), total
HDL Cholesterol (HDL)
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP)
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
Triglycerides (TG)
Vitamin D, Total
25-OH Vitamin D2
25-OH Vitamin D3
Iodine (I)
Bromine (Br)
Arsenic (Ar)
Selenium (Se)
Mercury (Hg)
Creatinine (Cr)

.......and the list goes on and on in all that we are providing.    It truly is the FUTURE of medicine NOW!!!  If you would like a personal evaluation and a custom designed regimen, please don't hesitate to call our team.  We're happy to answer your questions, make recommendations, work with your doctor, or whatever you need.  We can also ship the products straight to your home.  Or, if you're in the area, stop by and see us personally.  It's a great city to catch a LIVE Family Friendly show while you're visiting. 

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja

Part 2: Metabolic Changes with Aging

Thanks for staying tuned in to the blog.  All 90,000 of you.  :)  WOW!

As promised I wanted to follow up with part 2 (of 2) discussing the metabolic changes that can come about with the aging process.  Could obesity, diabetes, and poor metabolism be connected to menopause and hormonal imbalance?  Science is showing that the answer is YES!  Are cholesterol, depression, and heart disease connected?  Again, science is proving YES!

Here's some key evidence and interest of where hormone balance is headed.  I've served in this realm for many, many years and I can tell you that the trend in medical care to pay attention to hormonal imbalance and it's connection to disease is moving up, up, up.  Remember to check back to Part 1 for more information about hormones and aging as well.

Insulin Resistance and Diabetes:
The HERS study and the WHI study, suggest that estrogen alone, or when estrogen is combined with progestogen, actually can reduce the instance of new-onset diabetes.  (Remember that medroxyprogesterone (synthetic), is not the same as progesterone.  You want to do the bio-identical version to get the best health benefits.)  Furthermore, integrating hormone replacement therapy into the care of those with impaired glucose tolerance, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes has been shown to improve glucose.   Not only that, but the evidence is showing strongly that insulin resistance is improved, lipid/cholesterol profiles are improved, blood pressure is improved, and abdominal obesity is improved when hormones are appropriately restore and balanced.  With estrogen loss it appears that a woman faces increased central body fat, increased low-density lipoproteins, increased triglycerides, decreased HDL's, increased glucose and increased insulin resistance which can all lead to other diseases.  Instead of putting a Band-Aid on these other problems, it might be a good idea to look into hormone deficiency as an underlying contributor.  Will we one day see hormone therapy included in regimens for diabetes and cardiovascular disease?  It's not out of line if you ask me and other professionals serving in this unique area of medical care.


Blood Pressure/Cholesterol/Depression/Anxiety 

Here's some real data shared from a physician serving in the realm of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.  Her information was cited in OBGYN news magazine Jan 15, 2009 after she tracked 150 women on transdermal (cream or topical) hormone replacement therapy at baseline and then 1 yr later.   Look at how the numbers moved.  In a positive direction.  Yay!

Blood Pressure 133/80 -------->121/76 @ 1yr on therapy
Triglycerides 175--------------->120 @ 1yr on therapy
Fasting glucose 110------------->92 @ 1 yr on therapy
Hamilton Depression Score 6.6--------->5.0 @ 1 yr on therapy
Hamilton Anxiety Score 9.6 ------------>6.5 @ 1yr on therapy

WOW right?  Pretty compelling evidence.....


Body Fat Redistribution "The Spare Tire Syndrome"

The explanation for this peri- & post- menopausal nuisance can go in a lot of directions, but I'll try to zone in on a few reasons for this common complaint.  Often women don't feel good due to poor sleep (progesterone deficiency), hot flashes (estrogen deficiency), body aches, and adrenal fatigue.  The body tries to compensate for the loss of energy and low level adrenal hormones by triggering cravings for sugar, salt, and caffeine.  Guess where those things hang out after consumed?  Right where they are not wanted.   A diet will be a great struggle for a person until these weight contributing factors are dealt with appropriately.  Hormones should be tested and that's why the lab that I have used for over a decade has now come out with a Weight Management Testing Kit. Remember also that lifestyle modification to address sleep and stress is a crucial piece in 'figuring' things out too.  That's where it's important to work with a practitioner looking at all aspects.

Low DHEA
Also worth mentioning, is that between the ages of 20-40, women also experience approximately a 50% drop in DHEA levels.  Gasp!  That can have a major impact especially for women complaining of fatigue, weight gain, poor concentration, and so on.  Low DHEA can also have a significant impact on metabolism.  Many prescribed supplements for weight loss will include DHEA as an agent to help move the numbers on the bathroom scale down.  I would not suggest that you take DHEA without doing a hormone panel because of it's capability to metabolize into other hormones that you may not need.   Again, work with someone well educated in the area of hormonal imbalance.

Low Testosterone
If you don't have enough, you're going to notice.

 Declining testosterone production is another offending culprit in the weight/metabolism world.  Addressing "Low T" can help with lean muscle mass, vitality, stamina, and weight control.  Get this! I just reviewed a patients profile today and at 50 years old the normal range is 16-55 (saliva) for Testosterone.  She came in at a 10.  No wonder she's drained, gaining weight, and having other associated symptoms.  No wonder!!  She's feeling the impact of low T.  It's not just a man thing.


Please do yourself a health favor and get your hormones tested.  Talk with your doctor about your symptoms and assess and address your personal imbalances.

To your good hormone health,
Dr. Sonja
417-231-4544

Part 1: Metabolic Changes With Aging

Today's blog is to mention just a few of the metabolic changes that can occur in the process of aging.  Although many things can be expected, it does not mean that they cannot be prevented, treated, or simply pushed back a few years from what's typically normal.  Women especially tend to gain and struggle with their weight more than ever before after going through menopause or experiencing a hysterectomy.  They also complain of dry, brittle hair, aging skin, poor concentration, fatigue, insomnia, etc.   To give you some of the reasons for this, it's probably easiest to break things down into some categories to help you better understand.   So, here goes...

Thyroid: By the age of 60, about 17% of women and about 9% of men have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  That's just those we know about.  Thyroid disease is one of those conditions that seems to go undiagnosed because values look "normal".   My position statement is that normal is not necessarily optimal.  Plenty of patients that I have come into contact over the years struggled for a long time until they finally found a practitioner that was willing to treat their symptoms outside of the numbers appearing normal.  My experience has been that after a hysterectomy, most women should stay on top of thyroid health like never before. Many women will tell you that they had a hysterectomy and then a few years later received the diagnosis of hypothyroidism.  Why?  The endocrine system is intricately designed with hormone and feedback loops.  Upset one thing and something else is going to be affected.  Experience has taught me a great deal simply by listening and putting two and two together.

Perimenopause: This period of time for women usually begins in the 40's with about 95% of women seeing this transitional onset into menopause at the ages of 39-51.  The average time this stage lasts is about 2-8 years and with it comes a lot of biological changes.  Ovarian function changes, menstrual cycles begin to vary, there's less frequent ovulation thereby resulting in lower progesterone production, and the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all begin to decline.  Estrogen production can go low enough that menstrual cycles will cease to exist and after missing 12 periods, a woman is deemed to be in menopause.  Just think about a time period of YEARS when describing the changes that take place.  This is why I encourage women to test at least in their early 40's so that a benchmark can be established.  I personally tested at 37 years old and found some hormonal imbalances that I have addressed ever since.  Hormone restoration to youthful years is possible with custom/compounded bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.  Yay!

Menopause: Once menopause strikes, the adrenal glands try to pick up the pace to help what's been lost in the function of the ovaries.  Androstenedione, DHEA, and DHEA Sulfate, hormones produced by the adrenal glands, also take a dive resulting in about 70% less production than what the body was used to operating in younger ages.  Testosterone production decreases by 25% after menopause.  This can bring on loss of vitality, poor stamina, bone loss, loss of lean muscle mass, incontinence and many other things.  Even though things decline, the problem really comes into play because of the shift of hormones.  The androgen to estrogen ratio becomes significantly more out of balance because of estrogens plummet and there's less conversion of`androstenedione to testosterone.  This results in hair thinning and the pesky facial hair and acne that older women complain of.  Even with testosterones decline, there's still not enough estrogen to oppose it. 

Okay, so that's part 1.  I know there's a lot to process when talking about hormonal imbalance, but the BIG message in all of this, especially if you can relate to the content of this blog, is to assess and address the imbalances.  Better sooner, than later. 


In Part 2 we will cover insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, and metabolism.  Stay tuned!

To your good hormone health,
Dr. Sonja

Hormone Symptom Tracker

http://www.johnleemd.com/symptoms2.pdf

Are Your Symptoms Due To Hormonal Imbalance?

Today I'm doing just a quick BLOG to list symptoms that can be related to hormonal imbalance.  Some of these symptoms appear sooner than others (even as young as 35) in the aging process, and the majority of people express that they are not willing to dry up and wear out without a fight against the natural progression of aging.  I know that personally, I am not.

Symptoms:
Hot Flashes
Night Sweats
Vaginal Dryness
Anxiety
Mood Swings
Irritability
Insomnia
Depression
Loss of libido
Hair growth on the face
Panic attacks
Weird dreams
Urinary tract infections
Vaginal itching
Low back pain
Bloating
Flatulence
Indigestion
Osteoporosis
Aching ankles, knees, wrists, shoulders, and heels
Hair Loss
Frequent urination
Snoring
Sore breasts
Palpitations
Varicose veins
Urinary leakage
Dizzy spells
Migraine headaches
Memory lapses
Weight gain
Inattentiveness
Blood pressure problems
Weepy or Tearful
Emotionally Sensitive
Short tempered
Blood Glucose Problems
Nausea


 I have had the privilege of helping thousands of women and men over the years.  I enjoy hearing feedback from each of them as they share all of the improvements and benefits they have noticed as a result of achieving hormonal balance again.   If you are having problems on this list, give me a call.  Don't suffer through the changes of "The Change"of life.   Testing kits are available from my office offering an affordable and convenient way to evaluate your body's hormonal change.  

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja

The "Pauses" of Aging

Most people are familiar with the terms Menopause and Andropause, but did you know that there are other "pauses" that go along with the stages of aging?  It's true!!  Have you ever wondered if there truly are reasons for those "Senior Moments" that many will complain of as they 'pause' to find the right word, thought, or expression for something?  There's a true correlation to the stages of aging and the various 'pauses' that come about as a result of the biological clock ticking.  Memory, for instance, can change as speed of brain processing declines resulting in roughly 10msec of decline every decade after the age of 40.  This is why it can take 10-30 years for a person to 'develop' Dementia.  Other changes can be evident if a person will begin to pay close attention to their body and it's signs. 

Take a look and see how you measure up.

ElectroPause -a decline in electrical activity of brain waives-age 45

BioPause-neurotransmitters-Dopamine(age30)-Acetylcholine(40)-GABA(50)-Serotonin(60)

Pineal Pause-Melatonin-age 20

Pituitary Pause-Hormone feedback loops-age 30

Sensory Pause-Touch,hearing,vision, smell-age 40

Psycho Pause-personality, health, mood-age 30

Thryo Pause-Calcitonin and Thyroid Hormone levels-age 50

Thymo Pause-Glandular size and immune system-age 40

Cardio Pause-Ejection Fraction and Blood Flow-age 40

Pulmono Pause-lung elasticity and function with blood pressure increase-age 50

Adreno Pause-DHEA-age 55

Nephro Pause-Erythropoietin levels and Kidney Clearance-age 40

Gastro Pause-Nutrient Absorption-age 40

Pancreo Pause-Blood Sugar Levels-age 40

Insulo Pause-Glucose Tolerance-age 40

Andro Pause-Testosterone in Men-age 45

Meno Pause-Estrogen,Progesterone,Testosterone in Women-age 40

Osteo Pause-Bone Density-age 30

Dermo Pause-Skin, Collagen, and Elastin-age 35

Oncho Pause-Fingernails and Toenails-age 40

Uro Pause-Bladder Control-age 45

Geno Pause-DNA-age 40

~(Braverman, M.D., Bajaj, D.C.-A4M-Healthcare Practitioners Guide-1st Edition)

Now thinking about all of this and where YOU might stand, are you interested in knowing more about your "Biological Age"?  Are you interested in preventing or prolonging the onset of some of these markers? Are you interested in testing some of these things to be more specific?

Get started on a regimen for Anti-Aging TODAY!  PAUSE for a moment and give me a call.

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja

Bone Loss With Aging

Stats:
Over her lifetime, a typical woman will lose 42% of her spine and 58% of her femur.  In the U.S. an estimated 34 million people are at risk for developing bone loss, and 80% are women.  Fractures result in 800,000 emergency room visits, 2.5 million office visits, and 180,000 nursing home placements costing an estimated $14 billion.  20% of women die within the first month of their femoral fracture.  Sadly, most screenings for bone loss do not begin until age 65 when a significant amount of bone loss has already happened. 

Anti-Aging Bone Health
It is imperative that young women have regular menstrual cycles, adequate Vitamin D levels, and adequate calcium and protein during the ages of 15-25.  This is an important time of bone maturation, strength, and density.  I encourage young women to be on a supplement that contains Vitamin D, calcium, and multivitamins because this time in life is so important.

Biphosphonates
This class of medication was first developed for Pagets Disease in the 1960's. They were not intended for the treatment of osteoporosis, but in the 1990's we saw marketing for these agents come about to help with bone density loss. 

~Reversible side effects of this drug class: Kidney toxicity, join pain, muscle aches, fever, musculoskeletal pain, gastritis, low calcium (wow!!), eye complications, asthma (aspirin-sensitive), altered taste, and central nervous system side effects.

~Irreversible side effects with chronic use
Osteonecrosis of the jaw.  (Awful!!)  Have you ever wondered why dentists offices want to know if you are on Fosamax, Boniva, etc?  This is why.  Look up information about the mini-epidemic called "phossy jaw" related to factory workers with jaw necrosis after continuous exposure to phosphorous fumes. 

Spontaneous femoral fractures.  Even though some might consider this a rare side effect, when one considers that 190 million prescriptions are written worldwide for osteoporosis, this could translate into millions of men and women with the risk of potential fractures.

Hormones and Bone Health
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone and along with parathyroid hormone, and calcitonin, carefully control calcium metabolism. Limited sun exposure, skin pigmentation, and geography are well recognized causes for low Vitamin D.  I suggest 10-30 minutes (at least) in the sun each day.  It's a natural way to obtain Vitamin D.  In the winter months, it might be advisable to increase your Vitamin D supplement regimen due to less exposure to the sunshine.  D essentially drives calcium into the bone. It's important to have both in your vitamin regimen.

Sex Hormones
~Estrogen deficiency accelerates bone loss. 
~Progesterone deficiency is connected with reduced bone growth.  Women who have consistent low progesterone and those who do not have menstrual cycles are at risk.  It is important to supplement progesterone in young women especially who have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).
~Androgens (DHEA and Testosterone) are important for bone health in both sexes.  Low free T is associated with increased hip fractures. DHEA levels directly correlate with bone mass. 
Plain and Simple: IT IS IMPORTANT TO ASSESS AND ADDRESS HORMONE DEFICIENCIES!!

Melatonin
Melatonin has positive effects on bone.  It directly stimulates osteoblasts (bone builders) and increases collagen production.  It also enhances sleep which indirectly raises growth hormone levels.

Vitamin K
Specifically K2-of the 3 forms of Vitamin K, this one is made by bacteria in the gut, ensures calcium is deposited in the bone and not into the arteries. 

Here's a good protocol to follow:
Vitamin D3: 2,000-5,000 units/day
Vitamin K2: 50-150mcg/day
Vitamin C: 1000-4000mg/day
B Complex Vitamin
Vitamin E: 200-800 units/day

Magnesium
This is one of the most common mineral deficiencies in adults.  High doses of calcium, without magnesium, can worsen magnesium deficiency. 

Potassium Citrate
Oral supplementation has shown an increase in bone density of postmenopausal women. 

Diet and Exercise
An alkaline diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, with limited protein and avoiding dairy, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives promotes an alkaline environment leading to improved bone health.

Exercise two times a week helps to maintain bones, and three times a week (or more) has been shown to increase bone.  Get out and exercise!

To your good bone health,
Dr. Sonja