Send us a text PPI medication is very commonly prescribed for acid reflux but it's important to know its various side effects, of which there are many. Today I'll review the increased risk of infections, what types and the mechanisms involved. Your stomach's acid is a key part of your body's natural defense system against pathogens, both bacteria and virus alike. When the acid level is decreased more pathogens survive and can reach your intestines and respiratory tract. 1. Clostridium difficile (C diff) - this is one of the most well documented infections associated with PPI use and its symptoms include severe diarrhea, colitis, and it can be life-threatening. While the risk is highest for the elderly and those in hospital, it's also a risk factor for those on a high-dose of PPIs or those who have taken the drug for more than 1 year. 2. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) - this occurs when bacteria overgrow in the small intestine which is supposed to be mostly sterile. Symptoms include bloating, bas, diarrhea and malabsorption. 3. Pneumonia - two types of involved: Bacterial and Chemical. Chemical pneumonia results from aspirated acid into the lungs due to acid reflux. The acid causes inflammation of the lung tissue. Bacterial pneumonia is a result of aspirating saliva or food that as inappropriately moved up the esophagus. With someone suffering from GERD this could occur while sleeping or lying down, or as a result of LPR which I describe in the video as well as previous videos on the topic. 4. Food-borne Illnesses - food poisoning can result in Salmonella, Campylobacter or Listeria infections due to insufficient acid in the stomach. Those at risk include: PPI use for more than 1 year High dose PPI use Elderly Those in hospital Individuals taking antibiotics The most important step you can take is to resolve the root cause of your acid reflux and get that treated so that we can wean you down and hopefully off the PPI completely. We have good success in this area. If you take a PPI and would like to discover the underlying root cause of your acid reflux, we'd be delighted to help. The best next step is to call us for a consultation and we can then determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call us at 727-335-0400. Please subscribe to the channel if you enjoy the content. It really helps others to see it. #ppi #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine…

Send us a text If you have Hiatal Hernia Syndrome you may have been told you have a shortened esophagus. A shortened esophagus can put you at risk for, or worsen, a hiatal hernia. I'm going to review why it happens and what you can do about it. One cause is due to chronic reflux and the acid has damaged your esophagus to such an extent that it goes beyond inflammation of the esophageal tissues and becomes scar tissue (fibrosis). Scar tissue does not have the "elasticity" of healthy tissue and it also tightens and pulls. Therefore, this chronic situation can result in a shortened esophagus that is difficult to repair. However, and here's the good news, there is another contributor to tightening and shortening that is reversible. We look to your vagus nerve that has several different functions that can all affect your esophageal length. The vagus nerve is responsible for the smooth muscle of your esophagus to engage in peristalsis which is a wave-like motion that moves food and liquid down your esophagus. The vagus nerve is also responsible for the tone of your LES (lower esophageal sphincter), which is basically a valve that resides below your diaphragm level near the base of the esophagus which allows food and liquid to pass through into the stomach, but it also closes to prevent anything from refluxing in the wrong direction. LES tone is thought to be compromised in Hiatal Hernia and now you know a cause that you can do something about. Tips are coming! Further there are longitudinal muscles that run vertically in your esophagus that temporarily shorten it through contractions when you're swallowing. This is of course transient, but it can become more chronic and result in excessive contraction, and thereby shortening, with dysfunctional vagal tone. You can see there are several routes by which abnormal vagal tone can affect the length of your esophagus and put you at risk for developing or worsening a hiatal hernia. Tips to normalize vagus nerve tone: (These are explained in depth in the video) 1. cold exposure 2. gargling, humming, singing 3. laughing 4. moderate intensity exercise 5. eye gazing Lastly I mentioned a vagal nerve stimulator and a discount code we offer to patients. It's called Truvaga and if you're interested I can send you the link for the discount. If you have chronic GERD and want to prevent irreversible shortening of your esophagus we'd be happy to help The best next step is to reach out for a consultation and we can then determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call us at 727-335-0400. Please help more people have access to these videos by subscribing and liking the video. I appreciate you! #GERD #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine…

Send us a text Patients often ask how they can tell between "legitimate" digestion issues and anxiety. They want to know if the cause of their symptoms is "just anxiety" or something else. With Hiatal Hernia Syndrome common symptoms include acid reflux, heart palpitations, shortness of breath and anxiety. But too often, while the reflux can be confirmed, visits to specialists fail to find anything wrong with your heart or lungs, and then when the complaint of anxiety or panic attacks is added to the list of symptoms, you can be labeled a patient with "health anxiety", thus dismissing your symptoms. It is insinuated that, other than your reflux, your symptoms are likely "all due to stress", meaning it's "all in your head". This is not only unfair to you it's inaccurate. The truth is the Hiatal Hernia Syndrome does cause anxiety via 2 routes: the spasming of your diaphragm which causes your nervous system to secrete stress hormones because of the decreased oxygen, and because of irritation to your vagus nerve which can also cause anxiety. It's a physical and neurological cause that is very real and the good news is, very treatable, naturally. The solution is to get to the root cause of what's creating your hiatal hernia, which isn't difficult to do. Now what if anxiety is a symptom you have in isolation? Meaning you've been an "anxious" person for quite some time but don't have any of the other symptoms we've been discussing. Here at Root Cause Medical we would evaluate the following 7 factors: 1. Diet - we know the standard American diet is full of chemicals and artificial ingredients that can cause anxiety, brain fog and mood swings, to name a few. 2. Food sensitivities - if you look at gluten, which is a common food sensitivity, it's interesting to note that it's neuroinflammatory and can most definitely cause anxiety. Realize that can be the main symptom, despite having little to no digestive complaints. 3. Genetics - SNPs ("snips") that you inherit from Mom and Dad can influence your ability to deal with stress and make you less able to clear stress chemicals, as an example. I tell my personal story in the video... But know that specific nutrition for specifics SNPs can calm the waters and no longer have you feeling anxious. 4. Toxins - we evaluate for many toxins, but as an example, mold toxins pass across the blood brain barrier and can cause brain inflammation and anxiety as a result. 5. Microbiome - we know that there is a strong gut-brain connection and that an imbalanced microbiome can be responsible for psychological symptoms such as anxiety. 6. Hormonal imbalance - it is well understood that hormonal imbalance can create the symptom of anxiety, along with others. 7. Lifestyle Basics - in this category we address such things as sleep hygiene, exercise, hydration and more. I could write a book on the 7 topics above, but suffice to say that evaluation of the factors pertinent to you and your health history can be very impactful when getting to the root of anxiety. Anti-anxiety medications are too freely used to "band-aid" symptoms while doing nothing to address the root cause. Their side effects also concern me as they include aggravating digestion with causing upset stomach, nausea, along with loss of libido, weight gain, emotional blunting (people say they feel like a robot and it's scary), and suicidal thoughts. The good news is that much can be done to get to the root causes of why you may suffer anxiety, whether it's secondary to hiatal hernia or not. If you've been suffering with anxiety, we'd love to help. You can reach out to us for a consultation and we'll let you know if we're a good fit for you. Call us at 727-335-0400. We're here to help. Please subscribe to this channel if you enj…

Send us a text Many Americans suffer from gastrointestinal complaints including: Gas, bloating, indigestion, SIBO, gastroparesis, constipation, diarrhea or IBS, to name a few. These problems go beyond the discomfort associated with them, they are compromising your overall health in a major way. When you think of it, digestion allows you to feed your 10 trillion cells. Therefore when digestion is compromised it impacts your health across the board. It can't be overstated how important it is to optimize your gut function. We're going to discuss a function of your body called the migrating motor complex (MMC) which is a "housekeeping" function of your gut which is a pattern of electromechanical activity that occurs in the stomach and small intestine while you're fasting. It acts to clear your gut from residual food, secretions and bacteria and then prepare for your next meal. It consists of 4 Phases: Phase I is called Quiescence where no contractions are happening. This phase lasts 45 to 60 minutes. Phase II is Irregular Contractions where intermittent and irregular contractions occur that are preparing your for Phase III. This phase lasts 30 to 45 minutes. Phase III is the Housekeeper Wave and consists of regular, strong, peristaltic contractions that begin in your stomach or small intestine and move down through your intestines. It's the cleansing phase that sweeps debris and bacteria down the GI tract. This phase lasts 5 to 10 minutes. Phase IV is the Transition phase where your body transitions back to Phase I. Tips for Optimizing Your MMC 1. Don't eat between meals and allow a 3.5 to 4 hour window with no food. 2. At night fast for 12 to 14 hours and enjoy several cycles of the MMC occurring. 3. Consume adequate magnesium, vitamin B12 and zinc - nutrients Americans are frequently insufficient in. NOTE: PPI drugs suppress your body's ability to absorb these nutrients, especially magnesium and vitamin B12. Therefore, even if you're consuming enough of these nutrients, if you're not absorbing them it's problematic. What to avoid 1. High fat meals 2. Alcohol 3. Opioids 4. Certain antidepressant drugs suppress the MMC. These are some tips to assist with your symptoms, but I'm definitely not stating that they are the sole cause. Therefore, give these a try and see how you do. Realize that if you are still struggling it simply means there are more root causes that need to be identified. That's why we're here. If you need assistance to optimize your gut health, we're happy to assist. Call us for a consultation and we'll determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400. #rootcausemedicine #sibo #constipation…

Send us a text One of the dangers from taking PPIs for years is an increased risk for dementia. What is the mechanism associated with this? We are going to look at 4 different mechanisms. The first is the creation of a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is essential for producing neurotransmitters. GABA is such an example and with low GABA you can experience cognitive dysfunction along with anxiety and insomnia. Magnesium is anti-inflammatory. If its low oxidative damage occurs to nerve tissue along with reduced blood flow to nerves. Oxidative damage is akin to rust on metal but in your body the damage is to your cells, DNA and tissues. It can lead to advanced aging, cancer, Alzheimer's and heart disease. Magnesium also plays a role in electrical stability. When it's low nerves get overstimulated and can result in tremors, twitching and even seizures. The next mechanism involves a vitamin B12 deficiency. With low B12 methylation is impaired which causes neuroinflammation, increased risk of stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin B12 insulates your nerves so when deficient is disrupts nerve signaling, critical for brain function. Third involves nitric oxide production. PPIs inhibit the conversion of nitrates in foods to nitrites and then on to nitric oxide (NO). The conversion requires an acidic pH which is which PPIs inhibit its production. NO is a vasodilator, maintaining blood flow to the brain and preventing oxidative stress. NO also plays a role in neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity (important for learning and memory) and neuroprotection (protecting you from dangerous neuroinflammation). Finally PPIs cause microbiome disruption which leads to leaky gut. With a leaky gut inflammatory molecules can enter your bloodstream and cross to your brain causing neuroinflammation which leads to dementia. More research needs to occur but the mechanisms are sound and it makes sense that longer exposure to PPIs can influence brain health. If you would like help getting to the root cause of your reflux so that you don't have to continue a PPI, we're here to help. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation so that we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400. Please subscribe to the channel if you enjoy the content and share with someone you know. #acidreflux #dementia #rootcausemedicine…

Send us a text A common question in the area of digestive health has to do with gas and bloating. Why am I always bloated? Why do I look pregnant after eating? Gas and bloating is not only embarrassing but it can be confusing when you're trying to eat well. It's also pretty darn uncomfortable and can be quite painful. What's important is to appreciate what it means, and that is your gut is not functioning normally, and over time that's going to create a variety of health issues that are serious but avoidable. Why is it serious? Because your digestive tract is responsible for turning your food into fuel. Ultimately it's why we eat and gas and bloating is signaling that the conversion into utilizable fuel is not happening well. Ultimately that can create imbalances that will result in low energy, unstable mood, brain fog, pain and soreness, and later diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, autoimmune disease, cognitive decline and more. It's not overstatement that without good gut health it's truly impossible to be healthy. Let's start with some easy tips which you can try today and see how they help: 1. Breathe: practice box breathing before you begin eating (I describe how to do this in the video and why it works) 2. Chew: eating slowly and chewing completely prevents you from swallowing too much air that can result in gassiness. 3. Take a 15 minute walk after eating. The specifics are in the video. If that doesn't work it's on to Plan B. It's still easy to fix, we just need to do a deeper dive to understand why your body is creating gas and bloat. What we do here at Root Cause Medical is the following: 1. Rule out food sensitivities that your body isn't reacting to as fuel, but rather considers a toxin. 2. You have low hydrochloric acid of low pancreatic enzymes. A test can help us figure that out. 3. You have dysbiosis, meaning an imbalance of the bacteria in your colon and the "bad guys" are living off undigested carbohydrates and fermenting them, resulting in gas. 4 You have SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. I explain this further in the video. 5. You have a toxin burden which is affecting the immune system within your gut and causing inflammation and a leaky gut. 6. Your genetics predispose you to digestive imbalance - this can be fixed naturally, we just need to identify its presence. 7. Your vagus nerve is imbalanced and that is putting a lot of burden on your digestive tract. It's a pretty long list but we'll be able to determine which of those 7 factors are more likely affecting you and then perform testing to get specifics. It's important to not ignore gas or bloating and not rely on quick fixes like over the counter gas relievers. That will do nothing to identify the root cause. If you're suffering with this the best next step is to reach out to us for a consultation. We can then determine if you're a good fit for what we do. Call us at 727-335-0400. We're here to help! #gas #bloatingsolutions #rootcausemedicine…

Send us a text I use the term "inflammation" often so let's discuss it more in depth. Inflammation is at the root of all the degenerative diseases we're trying to avoid including heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, cognitive decline, obesity and cancer. But what is it? Inflammation is ongoing activation of the immune system either acutely (for a short time) or chronically (long term). The acute inflammation is the good protective kind that heals you up quickly after a cut or an infection. It's the chronic inflammation that is creating all the issues. Chronic inflammation occurs due to a persistent trigger which your body cannot resolve and over time is causes tissue damage (like chronic reflux can damage your esophagus), dysfunction and disease. The causes include: Infections like sinus infections that recur, post-viral infections, and H. pylori (stomach infection), to give a few examples. Toxins - such as heavy metal or mold Poor diet - not eating real food, but rather having a heavy ultra-processed diet, high sugar, etc. Obesity - abdominal fat secretes its own inflammatory chemicals called cytokines which is why obesity is the root cause of so many other diseases. Dysbiosis - an imbalance of your microbiome. Gut bacteria cause a leaky gut and trigger an immune response either in the gut itself or systemically throughout your body. Stress - disrupts your sympathetic nervous system and doesn't allow your immune system to repair. Sleep disruption - poor sleep patterns overburden your immune system. Some tips to lower your inflammatory profile include: Breathing exercises - I like box breathing because it shifts your into a parasympathetic nervous pattern that benefits your immune system. Exercise - it's important for your immune system's health to exercise regularly Hydrate Sleep as mentioned above Clean diet - also mentioned above. However, to enable your body to heal if chronic inflammation has been present requires a personalized program for many. In other words we need to discover what the exact diet and lifestyle is best for you, what does your microbiome require to become optimized, do you need a hormone rebalance, and how best to optimize sleep plus identify the presence of any toxins or infections present. If you need help, we're here for you. The best step is to call us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400. #inflammation #microbiome #rootcausemedicine…

Send us a text There's a type of reflux which is atypical and "silent" because it doesn't create the typical symptoms of acid reflux. It's LRP - laryngopharyngeal reflux. Your larynx is your voice box, and your pharynx is your throat. This condition is frequently misdiagnosed as allergies, infections (like chronic sinusitis), vocal strain, or even anxiety-related throat tension, when it's actually a form of acid reflux. And endoscopies are frequently normal so going through that test is no help in identifying this problem unless your concurrently have classic acid reflux. It can be very frustrating living with these symptoms and your doctor missing the real cause. The interesting question is how acid reflux can pass through your esophagus and not create classic symptoms. There are a few different thoughts on how this occurs. Firstly this type of reflux is brief and occurs when the individual is upright vs lying down as is so common with classic acid reflux. The acid doesn't "pool" or reside in the esophagus for long, going right up past the sphincter (valve) situated at the top of the esophagus to create its symptoms. This valve is called the UES - upper esophageal sphincter. Due to the acid moving past the esophagus into the voice box and throat, it's not surprising that the symptoms associated with LPR are as follows: chronic cough hoarseness throat clearing post nasal drip lump in throat difficulty swallowing sore throat The causes are considered to be: A weak UES - upper esophageal sphincter. The vagus nerve irritation can cause this and we frequently discuss the interrelationship between hiatal hernia and vagus nerve tone being abnormal. Increased intra-abdominal pressure - the cause I always discuss as the reason underlying hiatal hernia syndrome. The key is to identify the root cause of what's creating it. Diet and lifestyle - the typical "bad guys" we discuss including sugar, refined carbohydrates, ultra-processed foods, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, stress, etc. Vagus nerve irritation - it affects not just the sphincters, but how the stomach, diaphragm and heart function. Gastroparesis - a slowing of the stomach to empty its contents into the small intestine. This can be caused by certain medications, infections, diabetes and more. Smoking and excess Alcohol LPR can later become class acid reflux, or as mentioned above, both can occur at the same time. The Root Cause Medicine approach is to truly identify the root cause of why the reflux is occurring rather than "band-aiding" symptoms with medications. We look at diet, gut health, vagus nerve function, inflammation, and more. Much can be done to eliminate reflux from happening when the true root cause(s) are identified. And the good news is that the treatment is a natural one - no drugs or surgery. If you're suffering with these symptoms we'd be delighted to help. Contact us for a consultation and we'll determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400. #silentreflux #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine…

Send us a text I'm frequently asked if acid reflux can feel like a heart attack. It absolutely can and that occurs due to two main reasons. Anatomy, or geography, is one reason - the stomach, esophagus and heart lie very close to one another. Therefore the burning of acid up into the esophagus can be felt in the chest and surrounding area, therefore mimicking a heart attack. Even pressure in the chest, which occurs with a heart attack, can happen with reflux. There is another reason which relates to your nervous system. The vagus nerve, your longest cranial nerve, travels to your heart, lungs, esophagus, stomach and the rest of your digestive tract. There is a reflex when connects the heart to the esophagus, as well as the heart to the stomach: the cardioesophageal and cardiogastric reflexes, respectively. An "irritation" to the heart occurs due to these reflexes and it is not innocent. It factually compromises blood flow to your heart which can result in ischemia (lack of blood flow) and an increased risk of heart attack. I don't say this to scare you, but acid reflux should not be ignored because long-term it IS creating damage to your heart potentially. If you need help addressing acid reflux naturally, we are happy to help. You can call us for a consultation and we'll help to determine if what we do is a good fit for your needs. Call 727-335-0400. #acidreflux #heartburn #rootcausemedicine #heartattack…

Send us a text I'm frequently asked "Why has my doctor been unable to diagnose my Hiatal Hernia Syndrome?" "Why have I lived all these years suffering and received no help?" Let's first review what Hiatal Hernia Syndrome is. It's the coming together of about 20 different symptoms with a common root cause. It frequently starts with acid reflux, bloat, gas, constipation, and then over time other symptoms occur such as heart palpitation, shortness of breath, anxiety, mood swings, light headed, tingling into the arms, regurgitation and more. As you can see this involves potentially many different organs and systems of the human body. And this is why the condition remains undiagnosed. You primary care physician is looking for a disease for which he or she can prescribe the approved medication. And when you seek out a specialist like a cardiologist or a gastroenterologist or pulmonologist, they similarly are constrained by finding a disease and when they don't find one they are able to give a medication to lessen symptoms, but that's where it ends. A hiatal hernia can be diagnosed and the treatment for that is PPIs or surgery. And that is the entire depth and breadth of what's recommended. What doesn't happen is to stand back and truly look at your body as a whole because Hiatal Hernia Syndrome is all about the inter-communication and cross-talk among several organs that are affecting one another. The stomach is compressed, it elevates and then spasms your diaphragm creating shortness of breath, and when the diaphragm elevated it gets in the way of the heart resulting in heart palpitations or even A fib. That's the physical aspect of the syndrome. But there's a neurological aspect which is completely unappreciated. The vagus nerve travels "everywhere" in your body. But if you see a neurologist about your vagus nerve they'll ask you if you have epilepsy or depression. They focus on vagus nerve stimulation to address predominantly those two conditions. What isn't appreciated is the reflex the controls an interplay between your heart and your stomach, as well as a reflex between your esophagus and your heart. These reflexes are called the cardio-gastric reflex and the esophageal-cardiac reflex and what happens in each is that the acid that is irritating the esophagus and stomach sets off an intercommunication to the heart, which now gets irritated. The word "irritated" understates it because the heart is affected in profound ways, resulting in less blood flow to the heart, heart palpitations and decreased heart rate, along with increased risk of heart attack. You can see that the lack of understanding of how all these organs communicate with one another and why you can have digestive upset along with shortness of breath, heart palpitations and anxiety is what's resulting in your continued suffering with a condition that is not hard to fix. The treatment is natural - no drugs or surgery, and we have a very high success rate. But it requires this understanding of how this interplay occurs and how to diagnose what the root cause is for each individual. It's customized, personalized care. It's frustrating to be told that what you know you are experiencing isn't possible, or it's "all due to stress". It's not, and you're right - it is all interconnected. If this is you and you're ready to get help, we're here for you. We can't help everyone but if we think you're a good fit for what we do, then our success rate is high - 85%. We're happy to help if you want assistance. You can call us for a very affordable consultation and we'll let you know if you're a good fit for what we do. Call us at 727-335-0400. #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine #acidreflux…

Send us a text If you've been considering Hiatal Hernia surgery, you've likely been told that surgery has a very high success rate and that you can expect to no longer need your PPI (antacid medication), and there are no long term side effects. Surgery is always a risk, but the outcomes sound pretty good when you consider what you are told in the main. Study from 2001 published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) entitled "Long-term outcome of medical and surgical therapies for GERD". The objective of the researchers was to determine exactly what the title states: Long-term outcomes of medicine vs surgery. The first outcome was surprising when it came to post-surgery patients. 92% of the patients taking a PPI continued to take it regularly - not surprising, but was not expected was that 62% of post-surgery patients needed to take an antacid regularly. Regularly, not occasionally. And 62% - that does not align with the promises made to patients regarding surgery outcomes. As part of the study patients filled out symptom score and also had endoscopies performed. The symptom scores of the surgery patients were better than that of the medical group, but the grade (degree) of esophagitis and strictures found were no different between the two groups. This means that the amount of reflux even in the post-surgical group was enough to continue damage to their esophagus. Patients were followed for up to 140 months (11.66 years) and the survival rate of the surgical group was lower than that of the medical (PPI) group. It was significant - 1.57-fold increased risk of death in the surgical group, predominantly from heart disease. The conclusion of the researchers was this: "Antireflux surgery (Hiatal hernia surgery) should not be advised with the expectation that patients will no longer need PPIs or that the procedure will prevent esophageal cancer". Patients with GERD and Barrett's esophagus are at an increased risk of esophageal cancer - which is fortunately rare as it's a deadly cancer. Don't worry. There's an alternative - get to the root cause of the reflux and handle that completely so there is no more reflux and the stomach and esophagus can heal and there's no more need for medication, let alone surgery. Our program is natural and drug-free. We have a high success rate when we determine that someone is a good fit for what we do. If you've been considering surgery but you don't have a large hiatal hernia, consider your options and take heed of the side effects of surgery. Surgery is not a quick fix and its success rates are overall unsatisfactory. If you'd like assistance we're here for you. Call us for a consultation: call 72-335-0400. #hiatalhernia #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine…

Send us a text This video reviews the story of how we discovered Hiatal Hernia Syndrome, its start, its evolution and where we are now. Patient 1 was over 30 years ago - a young woman who awoke in the middle of the night with heart palpitations, trouble breathing and panic. As so many of you have experienced the diagnosis was a panic attack. She did have chronic bloating and constipation but she never suffered with anxiety. We treated her digestive issues and she resolved beautifully and she never had another panic attack. Meeting her did plant the seed in my mind of what did cause her to have this terrifying experience, but I certainly didn't understand the depth and breadth of it until many similar patients came our way at the clinic. As the years passed we started to see a connection between acid reflux, bloating, gas, constipation AND additional symptoms of heart palpitations, shortness of breath and anxiety. The common treatment was an antacid or prescription PPI and as we delved into the side effects of these drugs we became concerned. Proper digestion required stomach acid and this was compromised with these drugs, not to mention the many and dangerous side effects. Patients seeing gastroenterologists were often told about their acid reflux but a hiatal hernia wasn't mentioned... even when it was present! It was interesting to discover that a hiatal hernia was found on the report but not mentioned to the patient. The surgery for Hiatal Hernia was developed in 1991 but it took a while to catch on. By 2010 surgery center started springing up and it seemed liked "overnight" patients were not only being told about their hiatal hernias but even patients with small hiatal hernia were strongly recommended surgery as a "solution". It was about this time I started talking about hiatal hernia and its many related symptoms on my YouTube channel. Making the connection between acid reflux, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and anxiety, to name a few, got a lot of attention from those suffering. Individuals were surprised to learn that all the symptoms had a common root cause that could be treated naturally. As we continued to treat more and more patients with the condition we understand further interrelationships. These included the vagus nerve and its effect of heart rate. blood pressure, dizziness, anxiety, mood swings, hoarseness, trouble swallowing and more. We also did a deep dive into the diaphragm, realizing that it was truly a forgotten organ and it could be affected by the nerve that traveled to it from the neck, having tightness and loss of motion in the mid-back, having a stiff hip (sounds unrelated but the psoas muscle of your hip is attached to your diaphragm) and so much more. In 2020, when the world "shut down", I decided to write a book on the topic since we, as a team, had decided that Hiatal Hernia Syndrome was truly taking on epidemic proportions but the inter-relationship between all the symptoms (up to 20) were completely misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Too often individuals were being told their symptoms were all in their head and pushed off as psychiatric cases and given dangerous drugs. As we heard from more and more people suffering from around the world we worked to develop an online course that included everything we knew on the subject plus our treatment strategies. The goal was to make the information and assistance available to everyone, no matter where they lived while making the financial commitment more affordable. We are getting great reviews from those who have completed the course. Feel free to visit our website. Our google reviews are inspiring. www.RootCauseMedicalClinics.com. If you know someone suffering please share this information with them. We'd be delighte…

Send us a text Do you take PPI medication? If you or someone you know does, please give a listen. There are some significant dangers associated with this drug that you must know about. It's a very commonly prescribed medication for acid reflux - over 110 million prescriptions annually in the U.S. A 2014 study published in the International Journal of Cardiology wanted to determine the risk of heart attack with those individuals taking the drug as compared to those who did not. The individuals studied had no prior history of having a heart attack. This was a Taiwan study and the population was studied from 2000 to 2009 and each group studied had over 126,000 individuals - PPI users and non-users. They found the increased risk to be anywhere between 1.5 times to 3.5 times depending on the testing methodology used. Were you warned about this risk? Not likely. Here at Root Cause we identify the root cause of WHY an individual is experiencing acid reflux and treat that cause(s) so that PPI medication is no longer needed. Too often patients are told that a PPI is their only alternative other than surgery, which is untrue in the vast majority of cases. The danger to your heart likely comes about due to PPIs annihilating your nitric oxide levels. Nitric oxide is responsible for keeping your blood vessels dilated, normalizing your blood pressure and preventing dangerous clots, thereby protecting your heart. So it doesn't take much of a leap to understand the risk PPIs put on your heart simply from this one effect of PPIs. Note: please don't stop your PPI cold turkey. There is an appropriate way to wean down and off that won't create a rebound of more acid production. Please share this video with those you know who take this medication because the risks are terribly concerning regarding increased incidence of heart attacks. If you need assistance we'd be delighted to help. We can meet with you for a consultation to assess if what we do is a good fit for you. Call us at 727-335-0400. #heartattack #ppi #rootcausemedicine…

Send us a text 90% of Americans are deficient in omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3s make up your cell membranes, your nervous and brain tissue. They are cardioprotective and are highly anti-inflammatory. There's an omega 3 index test where a high index is 8% or more, and those with a high index have a higher life expectancy by 5 years over the average American. In Japan, where they have a very high index of 10% due to all the fish they eat, they enjoy a long life expectancy. They also found that mother's eating so much fish would tend to mean a higher heavy metal load and that is associated with lower IQ in children. But in Japan, despite the high fish consumption. their children had high IQs. Was it the anti-inflammatory effect of the omega 3s, the fact that they also consume a lot of seaweed which tends to chelate out heavy metals, has not been fully elucidated. But the benefits of omega 3s are well appreciated. A study comparing smokers with high omega index to non-smokers with a low index, found the same mortality rate in both groups. This is definitely NOT a recommendation to smoke and remember the control group had a low index, but it does underscore the strong protective benefits of omega 3s. Studies estimate that your dosage should be about 1.5 to 2 grams per day, either from your diet or a supplement. The ratio recommended is 2:1 EPA to DHA. Having decreased inflammation is considered to protect against brain aging, decrease your cancer risk, and alongside exercise, omega 3s are considered most powerful in decreasing inflammation. Finally, the degenerative diseases we're trying to avoid are all inflammation driven, so having a healthy balance of omega 3s in your life is well worth it. If you want assistance improving your health we're here for you. Give us a call for a consultation: 727-335-0400. #omega3 #inflammationreduction #rootcausemedicine…

Send us a text Silent reflux is vastly different from heartburn, reflux or GERD, but its root cause is the same, which is important to realize. Silent reflux is also known as LPR, laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), which basically means that acid is flowing up from your stomach to your larynx or voice box. It can caause the following symptoms: - difficulty swallowing - bad taste in your mouth, especially in the morning - irritation to your vocal cords, affecting your speaking or singing voice - trouble swallowing - choking sensation - increased phlegm Treatment from conventional doctors involving eliminating a lot of your favorite foods and taking an antacid or PPI daily. This does not address the root cause, which is a compression of your stomach. It's not difficult to get to the root cause of why the stomach is compressed and resolve the issue for good, eliminating the need for medication and highly restricted diets. For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400 #acidreflux #hiatalhernia #gerd…