Heart Disease
ABOUT
Heart Disease
When it comes to heart disease, there are many effective natural options to consider. The first step is finding a healthcare professional who will investigate the root cause of your heart concerns. Do you have an underlying medical condition, a genetic predisposition, poor lifestyle habits or a combination of them all? Having one of our Naturopathic Doctors objectively assess your individual risk factors is essential in bringing you one step closer to better heart health.
What are my treatment options?
In many cases, employing the most important nutritional and lifestyle improvements are not given a fair chance before other more conventional options are recommended. A visit to your family doctor may result in a discussion about whether or not medication is the right approach, but it does not always include a detailed discussion about the many other health promoting best practices to consider. Proper nutrition, exercise, supplements and important lifestyle improvements including exerciseand optimizing your sleep and ability to manage stress have all been shown to provide very effective and long lasting results.
What are my treatment options?
In many cases, employing the most important nutritional and lifestyle improvements are not given a fair chance before other more conventional options are recommended. A visit to your family doctor may result in a discussion about whether or not medication is the right approach, but it does not always include a detailed discussion about the many other health promoting best practices to consider. Proper nutrition, exercise, supplements and important lifestyle improvements including exerciseand optimizing your sleep and ability to manage stress have all been shown to provide very effective and long lasting results.
TREATMENTS
Health Solutions we offer
Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the body desensitizes to insulin, and/or loses its ability to produce enough insulin to adequately control blood sugar (glucose) levels. Glucose molecules come from carbohydrate containing foods like vegetables, fruits, starch (breads, pasta) and more refined sources like candy etc. Typically when these foods are consumed, the body releases insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin moves glucose into the cells where it can be used for energy production to fuel the many body processes.
In type 2 diabetes, the cells of the body either become unresponsive to insulin or the body stops producing enough of the hormone. It is often caused by a poor diet and lack of exercise, however genetics can play a strong role as well. A high sugar or starchy diet (breads, pasta etc) results in consistently high blood sugar levels which stresses the body’s insulin producing capabilities. Eventually insulin levels decrease, thereby creating an external need for this hormone.
Symptoms develop gradually and often include: Fatigue, frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and slow healing of wounds or sores. Individuals often have few symptoms when they are in a pre-diabetic state however, so it is best to screen for the condition through regular blood tests.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol levels often increase as people age, with hormonal changes, due to a high sugar or fat diet, poor lifestyle choices and/or a poor general state of health. Genetics also play a significant role in the development of this condition.
It is a common belief that cholesterol only has negative impacts on the body, however this is not entirely true. It can also play numerous important roles including its use as a building block for hormone synthesis and vitamin D production, and it is also acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals. The issue results when cholesterol becomes oxidized and forms sticky plaques on the walls of the arteries. This can lead to blood clots, heart disease and strokes. At KIH clinic, we work with patients to not only bring cholesterol to a more healthy level, but to also decrease their levels of inflammation, thereby minimizing the negative impact cholesterol can have on the body.
High Blood Pressure
Do you have high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries (blood vessels). Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood through these vessels, supplying the body’s muscles, organs and tissues with the oxygen and nutrients that they need to function. Over the course of a day, an individual’s blood pressure rises and falls many times in response to various stimuli. Elevated blood pressure over a sustained period of time is a condition referred to as hypertension.
Hypertension is called the “silent killer” because an individual can experience it for many years without even realizing it. This is because hypertension rarely causes symptoms and is a risk factor for many other conditions including kidney disease, eye conditions and coronary heart disease, which may lead to a heart attack and/or stroke.
CAUSES: There are many causal factors including: Pregnancy, sleep apnea, adverse effects of various medications, alcohol use, genetics and chronic stress.
If you are concerned about your blood pressure and unsure about which approach or combination of approaches is right for you, then let our Naturopathic Doctors help! We have long standing experience treating cardiovascular concerns and can review up-to-date natural treatment options with you that are effective and long-lasting.
Overweight and Obesity
We all function better following a consistent routine including nutritious meals and an active lifestyle. Sometimes we just need a helping hand and some accountability when it comes to maintaining that balance. Let us help get your health back on track with an effective yet sustainable nutrition and lifestyle plan.
A healthy diet and regular exercise play an integral role in any successful weight loss plan, but they are not the only factors. Other key issues include the presence of food intolerances or other digestive issues, mental-emotional concerns and/or hormone imbalances. Identifying whether or not these are an issue for you will go a long way in helping to identifying the root cause of your weight loss struggles.
During your initial assessment, these potential issues will be assessed for along with a complaint-oriented physical exam, waist to hip measurements and recommendations for customized blood work or other lab testing. Additional testing may include comprehensive hormone testing, relevent nutrient and other metabolically-related blood tests. The relevance and pro’s/con’s of each will be discussed so that you have a thorough understanding of how each test can be of use.