Gene Testing- Who you are Makes all the Difference

I’m sure you have heard it a few time, “I have X, Y, Z condition…It’s genetic!” The fact is that only a few conditions such as Huntington’s Disease, Tay-Sachs Disease, and Down Syndrome are considered genetic disorders.  “What about the rest? I just know that my diabetes, cholesterol issues, sleeping problems, high blood pressure, and the tumor I had removed last week are genetic…my mom had it!”

It’s not that you have a certain gene but it’s the variation of that gene that makes it easier for you to develop a dysfunction that leads to disease. These genetic variations are called Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms or SNP’s. In essence, they are what make you biologically different from your neighbor. When your cells divide they must copy their DNA. They should look exactly the same, however, variations commonly occur that ultimately determines how humans develop diseases and respond to pathogens (things that cause disease), chemicals, drugs, vaccines, and other agents.

Here is an example of a SNP:  Let’s say that a particular gene’s purpose was to process Folic Acid. If you have a genetic variation that causes the way you process Folic Acid, you may need to supplement 500x more Folic Acid just to function correctly. Your run-of-the-mill multi-vitamin or prenatal vitamin won’t cut it. Folic Acid is needed for proper cell division/repair which is a huge problem in cancer patients and women planing to become pregnant. Those with SNP’s that disturb Folic Acid  may also be prone to anemia, cause neurological problems in developing fetuses, and disrupt behavior such as ADD, anxiety disorder, and depression.  Thanks to the Human Genome Project we were able to identify thousands of SNP’s that play a role in a person’s chances to develop diseases.

SNP’s can effect:
•    Hormonal/Endocrine System- Estrogen Positive Cancers, Endometriosis, Pre/Post Menopause  Complications, Osteoporosis, Cardiovascular Disease, Inflammation
•    Cardiac system- Cardiovascular Diseases, Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Oxidative Stress
•    Detoxification System- Cancers, Chronic Fatigue, Adverse Drug Reactions, Allergies
•    Energy Production System- Cancers, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia,
•    Neurological System- Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease, Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, Seizures, ADD, Autism
•    Structural System- Osteoporosis, Inflammation, Vitamin D Abnormalities
•    Immune System- Allergies, Autoimmune Disease, Cancers

Testing for these genetic variations, or SNP’s, can be done in adulthood as well as childhood. This means that we can now develop a life-long nutritional plan that will offset these potentially deadly SNP’s.  This is a breakthrough, a breakthrough that can accurately show risk of a future disease BEFORE IT EVER STARTS.

True Health and Dr. Brady Hurst now offers testing for SNP’s. With this information, Dr. Brady develops a personalized plan that will give your body what it needs to override these genetic differences and live a long health life with the lowest risk of developing disease.

If you mention this blog post, we will grant a %10 discount off your initial consultation.

Dr. Brady is a certified Chiropractic Neurologist and an authority in field of Functional Medicine. People from all over the world call on him for their nutritional management and prevention of diseases.

Dr. Brady Hurst
True Health Center for Advanced Alternative Medicine and Chiropractic.
www.TrueHealthDC.com

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and the Immune System- The Functional Medicine Approach

Summery

• Thyroid Gland- Gland that sits just below your “Adams Apple”. It helps control rate of energy production and conservation.
• Hypothyroidism- “Turning down the thermostat” for most of your biological activities.
• Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an auto-immune disease where your body attacks it’s own Thyroid tissue. Imbalances are seen in the immune system’s TH1/TH2 responses, imbalances that typically come about when chronically exposed to an antigen (virus, bacteria, foods, everyday chemicals ect.) Immune Imbalances can lead to auto-immune diseases like Hashimoto’s.
• Suspect Hashimoto’s if you are on medications for hypothyroidism like Synthroid and they “just don’t work”.
• Functional Medicine Practitioners like Dr. Brady may test for “Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies” and “Thyroglobulin Antibodies”, which are the white blood cells that attack the Thyroid gland. This is also where traditional medicine stops and you become a professional patient. Since most of people with Hashimoto’s have an inborn error in processing vitamin D, (strong immune balancer) the inactive and active form of vitamin D would also be tested. Comprehensive testing is crucial.
• Things that make Hashimoto’s worse:

• Gluten Intolerance- 95% of symptoms will go away when eliminated!
• Iodine- This can increase oxidative stress on the Thyroid (see Jodbasedow phenomenon).
• Sugar handling issues (hypoglycemia/insulin resistance/diabetes).
• Intestinal infections- Theses go undetected most of the time (AKA YOU CAN NOT FEEL THEM). Testing, again, is crucial.
• Unbalanced hormones.
• Heavy metal burdens- We all have a degree of heavy metal burden. Again, this can be tested for by a Functional Medicine Practitioner like Dr. Brady.

• Goals:

1. To stabilize antibody spikes by balancing the immune system
2. Reduce oxidative damage done by the auto-antibodies

• The majority of today’s traditional healthcare practitioners would have stopped at step 1 and you would have been on the long, downward spiraling, road of medication. Dr. Brady see people suffering like you from all around the nation. Dr. Brady is a Functional Medicine Practitioner in Atlanta Georgia and uses cutting edge medical technology and knowledge to restore ones normal function in both the sick and the well. When there is no box, It CAN be done!

We have developed a TeleHealth Service designed to help people worldwide. Our use of advance laboratory testing helps identify any potential blockades that keep you from losing weight and being healthy in every moment.

If you mention this blog post, we will grant a %10 discount off your initial consultation.

If this information helped you, please pass it on to others so they may be helped in the same way.

Dr. Brady Hurst
www.TrueHealthDC.com