| “If
you’re sick of being tired all
the time, don’t pour another cup
of coffee, pop another Ginseng, or drag
yourself through another day without
reading this article. It could change
your life.
“And,
please don’t let anyone convince
you that fatigue is all in your head,
or even worse, that you simply have to
live with it.”
Over
time, Chronic Fatigue (CFS) can make
life miserable, wearing down the body,
depressing the spirit, and making a person
much more vulnerable to a wide range
of related illnesses. Living with CFS
can be even more difficult when the individual--and
those others around him or her--do not
fully understand the factors behind this
debilitating condition.
Fatigue
is often part of complex, multifactorial
health conditions. There are a myriad
of possible internal and external mechanisms
whereby the body's metabolic system can
get thrown "out of whack"
and induce feelings of exhaustion--and
many of these mechanisms are interrelated.
The
following are possible underlying causes
and contributing factors of both fatigue
and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Each
one can be triggered by different mechanisms
in the body, and thus may have very different
diagnostic indicators.
Fatigue
and Toxic Build-Up: Fatigue can develop
from toxic stress when the liver is no
longer able to detoxify the body's harmful
waste by-products and heavy metals begin
accumulating from external exposure.
Solution - The 28 Day Liver Cleanse.
Fatigue
and Free Radicals: unstable free radical
molecules can damage the energy-producing
mechanisms inside the body's cells. Solution –
Neutralize the reactive Intermediaries.
Fatigue
and Gastrointestinal Issues; parasites,
bacterial overgrowths, Candida, poor
digestion or mal-absorption can all contribute
to Fatigue. The incidence of infection
from gastrointestinal “hitch hikers”
is increasing in the U.S., and once these
microscopic creatures establish themselves
inside the GI tract, they can dramatically
sap the body's energy. Solution- CDSA 3P
Test can determine if a pathogen exists
and what natural products combat them.
Fatigue
and Glucose/ Insulin: Insulin resistance
and glucose intolerance are two key factors
highly involved in the body's regulatory
action of fuel metabolism. Solution – find
out if you have these and regulate your
body’s blood sugar naturally.
Fatigue
and Allergies: Fatigue and allergic sensitivity
often go hand-in hand, with a multitude
of possible allergenic substances hidden
in the food we eat. Leaky gut can contribute
to food sensitivities. Solution - Test
for Food Sensitivities and/or Leaky Gut
Syndrome. Then neutralize the allergies
and heal the gut mucosa.
Fatigue
- Toxins and Nutrient Deficiencies: Exposure
to Chemicals from the environment, especially
in combination with key nutrient shortages,
can be an insidious source of chronic
fatigue. Solution –
Chemical Exposure Test to determine if
you were exposed to toxic chemicals then
detoxify them out of your system.
Fatigue
and Fatty Acids: Identifying and treating
fatty acid deficiencies has been shown
to increase energy levels in many patients
with chronic fatigue. Solution – Essential
fatty Acid Test to determine if deficiencies
exist then supplement with the proper
ratios of these important fats.
Fatigue
and Amino Acids: As the primary source
of important proteins, amino acids play
a key role in the body's production of
energy. When certain amino acids are
depleted it can lead to depression, weight
gain and cravings for carbohydrates.
Solution – test for deficiencies
and balance the deficiencies.
Fatigue
and Hormone Imbalances: hormones: are
essential and primary regulators of the
body's metabolism. Imbalances can affect
virtually every metabolic process in
the body, exerting significant effects
on mood and energy level. All hormones
need to be balanced; Adrenal, Thyroid
and Sex hormones all play a major role
in energy production.
Chronically
high or low levels of powerful adrenal
hormones can wear the body down and produce
feelings of exhaustion and bring out
peri-menopause, menopause and andropause
symptoms (yes men do go through male
menopause). Adrenal fatigue can raise
cortisol levels and lead to obesity especially
around the mid section. Solution – Adrenal
Stress Test and balancing these hormones
with nutritional intervention.
Thyroid
function has a profound impact on overall
health via its modulation of carbohydrate,
protein, and fat metabolism, vitamin
utilization, mitochondrial function,
digestive process, muscle and nerve activity,
blood flow, oxygen utilization, hormone
secretion, sexual and reproductive health,
and many other physiological parameters.
One
of the most common hormonal disorders,
hypothyroidism has been called the "great
imitator" for the vast number of
medical conditions it can mimic. Thyroid
imbalances may elicit fatigue, depression,
coldness, constipation, poor skin, headaches,
PMS, dysmenorrhea, fluid retention, weight
gain, anxiety/panic attacks, decreased
memory and concentration, muscle and
joint pain, as well as low sex drive.
Have
you had your thyroid tested by your Medical
Doctor and have you been told your thyroid
is normal while you still have any or
all of the above symptoms? Most M.D.’s
only test two out of several thyroid
hormones leaving an unclear picture as
to the true nature of the thyroid’s
health. If auto antibodies are present
than the body is attacking the thyroid
and the immune system needs help. It
is evident that a complete thyroid panel
is necessary to detect why a person is
still having symptoms!
Weight
Issues and Thyroid Hormones
As main regulators of the body's rate
of metabolism, thyroid hormones have
a profound impact on weight. By increasingly
enzyme levels in the cell mitochondria,
which produce energy, thyroid hormones
control how the body burns up carbohydrates
and fats.
If
the body and its metabolism are likened
to an engine, thyroid hormone levels
may be seen as setting the "speed" at
which the engine "idles." These
hormones accelerate the basal metabolic
rate of most cells in the body. This
is important, because a low resting metabolic
rate has been cited as a strong risk
factor for weight gain and obesity.
Hypothyroidism
occurs when the thyroid gland does not
produce enough "energy-generating"
thyroid hormones. Weight gain is a classic
symptom of this dysfunction. In such cases,
levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
may rise in an attempt to spur more production
and secretion of thyroid hormones from
the thyroid gland.
In
addition, overweight women with a family
history of obesity may have lower levels
of the thyroid hormone free triiodothyronine
(T3) in their blood. Natural remedies
to raise T3 levels may help reduce some
metabolic risk factors associated with
abdominal obesity in some overweight
women. In a subset of these individuals,
then, it may be a low T3/T4 ratio or
a low T3/reverse T3 ratio, rather than
a blanket deficiency of all thyroid hormones
that sets the stage for weight gain.
Besides
disrupting metabolism, thyroid imbalances
may affect appetite control. Studies
suggest that thyroid hormones may modulate
levels of leptin, a hormone produced
from fat cells that is believed to control
hunger and stabilize energy levels, and
which may play an important role in eating
disorders and chronic obesity.
Solution-
The Comprehensive
Thyroid Assessment can detect metabolic irregularities arising
from vitamin and mineral deficiencies,
heavy metal toxicity, chronic stress,
enzyme dysfunction, and aging even when
TSH and T4 levels are normal. Thyroid
antibody levels help gauge autoimmune
response frequently associated with antigenic
cross-reactivity and gastrointestinal
dysfunction, which may require additional
clinical investigation and focused intervention.
Thyroid antibody levels may rise in response
to trauma, dysbiosis, inflammation (including
thyroiditis) and progressive thyroid
degeneration. At high levels, antibodies
may block thyroid hormones from attaching
to cellular receptors, causing symptoms
of hypothyroidism even when thyroid hormone
levels are adequate.
Ensuring
healthy thyroid function is a valuable
tool in preventive medicine. Optimal
thyroid function may help safeguard against
the pathogenesis of diabetes, obesity,
heart disease, and depression. Thyroid
hormones also play central metabolic
roles in healthy sexual and reproductive
function in both women and men. Because
they are essential for IGF-1 production,
and thyroid hormones significantly affect
lipid metabolism.
This
test may reveal important clinical information
about:
-
Central thyroid dysregulation indicating
primary or secondary thyroid disease
or dysfunction, associated with fatigue,
depression, coldness, hair loss, headaches,
PMS, menstrual irregularities, fluid
retention, unexplained weight gain or
weight loss, anxiety or panic attacks,
decreased memory or concentration, muscle
and joint pain, low libido, and infertility
-
Peripheral thyroid imbalances arising
from nutrient shortages, heavy metal
exposure, adrenal stress, enzyme deficiencies,
and other chronic illness, which may
result in functional hypothyroidism,
known variously as euthyroid sick syndrome
(ESS), low T3 syndrome, or Wilson's syndrome.
- Thyroid antibody levels, to gauge autoimmune
response that can interfere with thyroid
receptor function and promote inflammatory
diseases like Hashimoto's thyroiditis,
Graves' disease, or postpartum thyroiditis.
Sounds
complicated, but of course not all these
tests need to be taken. Often times a
Functional Health Assessment Questionnaire
or The Bio Meridian Assessment an Electral
Dermal test much like an EEG or an EKG
for the whole body, will help your nutritionist
focus in on the areas where your body
is out of balance. Then they will help
you correct these imbalances naturally
so you can have the energy to enjoy life!
Dr. Rispoli, Ph.D., L Ac. has had a clinical
practice for over 25 years. Her programs
work because she is so thorough in testing
and providing a nutritional approach. She
often quotes that “the body can heal
itself if given the proper nutrients”. |
hCG
