The adrenals are two small glands located above your kidneys. Despite their small size, they carry a lot of weight in making sure your body is functioning properly. These two small glands are responsible for secreting hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, and your body’s response to stress.
How the adrenals work
When high-stress situations arise, your body’s innate “alarm” system, which helps adapt to the situation at hand, is triggered. The hypothalamus, an area in the brain that produces hormones, sends a signal to the adrenal glands to immediately release the stress hormones adrenaline, cortisol, and norepinephrine. This release generates a surge of energy which causes your heart to beat faster and your blood pressure to go up. This is called a fight-or-flight response.
Periods of chronic stress, whether physical, emotional, or psychological, cause an overproduction of these stress hormones, especially cortisol and adrenaline. Eventually, the adrenal glands are unable to keep up the production of the hormones that are being signaled and this is referred to as adrenal fatigue.
Functional Medicine Approach to Diagnosing Adrenal Fatigue
With a functional medicine approach, we dig deep into the root causes of your symptoms and look at all areas of health to determine where you may need additional support. You’ll receive a comprehensive and holistic treatment plan for a more complete and faster recovery. Please call us today, 703-532-4892.
Signs & symptoms of adrenal fatigue
Early signs of adrenal fatigue include:
Feeling ‘wired and tired’ (Do you have difficulty falling and staying asleep despite feeling exhausted?)
Afternoon slumps in energy (Do you need caffeine to get through the rest of the day?)
Increased anxiety
Carb cravings (Are you craving more sugary, salty, or starchy foods?)
Immune suppression (Are you noticing more frequent occurrence of upper respiratory illness or allergies?)
Signs of more severe adrenal fatigue include:
Extreme fatigue
Depression/anxiety
Seeking more stimulants (drugs, caffeine, sugar)
In peri/post-menopausal women: a worsening of hot flashes & night sweats
Worsening blood pressure
What we can do
Adrenal Stress Index: Our functional medicine provider can use a saliva test to get a better picture of how your adrenals are working. Based on the results, vitamin, glandular, and botanical supplements may be recommended to improve adrenal function.
If you’ve worked on reducing your stress levels and cleaning up your diet, but still feel exhausted, there may be an underlying condition at play. We’ll assess all areas of your health to identify imbalances that could be exacerbating your condition.
If our assessment supports the need for dietary changes, our nutritionist can help. Working with a professional will give you a deeper understanding of what your symptoms are telling you, tailored guidance on what foods to add or subtract from your diet, and encouragement to stay on track! For example, a low glycemic index* diet that includes lean proteins, healthy fats, whole grains, and low glycemic fruits and vegetables will support your adrenals by keeping your blood sugar stable, while processed and inflammatory foods will do just the opposite.
Exercise and relaxation techniques may also be recommended. At the Kaplan Center, our providers can advise you on what type of exercise and relaxation techniques are best suited to help you manage your stress.
What you can do, today:
Dedicate 5 minutes each morning to meditating and make this a non-negotiable part of your daily routine. Starting your day this way will take your body out of flight or fight mode and into rest and restore mode. Throughout your day, notice your thoughts. This type of awareness will help reduce stress levels by empowering you to select more positive and supportive thoughts over negative and stressful emotions.
Food matters! Cut back or eliminate stimulants from your diet to lower the amount of stress hormones your body is producing.
Bottom line: Stress can have a real impact on your health. Listen to your body! If you’ve noticed changes in your energy levels, cravings, or mood, your body is sending you an important message. Ignoring that message could lead to more serious health conditions like weight gain, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, insomnia, and cardiovascular disease.
*Glycemic index is a ranking system for carbohydrates and how they affect your blood sugar levels. High glycemic foods can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, while low glycemic foods are absorbed and digested more slowly, causing a slower and small rise in blood sugar levels.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Whether you buy organic or not, taking some time to properly clean your produce is an important part of any wellness plan that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Eating a rainbow of colors is one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients to nurture your immune system. But remember, you’re not the first person to handle that apple you’re about to take a bite out of! Because it travels through many hands and has passed through many environments, all produce is a host for bacteria, and unless you’re buying organic, pesticides too.
Take for example the E.coli outbreaks in the United States over the last several years. These outbreaks are caused by infected romaine lettuce and responsible for causing illnesses across multiple states. This may be an extreme, but it illustrates the point — just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Additionally, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, bell peppers, and many other fruits and vegetables are covered with wax to protect from spoilage and to maintain hydration. But given a choice, is it something you want to eat? Likely not…
Our healthcare providers want to work with you to help you make positive lifestyle modifications that will benefit of your mind, body, and soul. Wellness is about making good choices and establishing good habits. If you are looking to improve your overall wellness, please give us a call today, 703-532-4892, to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.
The good news is that you DO have a choice! Bypassing a good wash leaves you susceptible to a wide range of bacteria and unwanted substances. Removing pesticides and de-waxing your fruits and vegetables is a fairly simple process and always recommended. It’s particularly important for berries and lettuces, even if they are organic, as they are a good host for powerful super bacteria.
We recommend the following two methods that use natural solutions to properly remove wax, pesticides, and harmful microbes before use (best to do this as soon as you unpack your groceries).
To de-wax & clean most fruits and vegetables:
Place the produce in a container filled with baking soda and water, approx. 1 tsp per 2 cups of water, covering them completely and letting it soak for at least 20 minutes. The baking soda will remove the wax on the outer skin and, more importantly, has been shown to be effective in removing pesticides. You can follow this up with a solution of ¼ cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water (again, just covering the produce) to remove bacteria. The hydrogen peroxide is a powerful anti-microbial that will help remove bacteria from the surface of the produce and also helps in removing pesticides.
For produce such as leafy greens and berries*:
Cover the produce in a solution of ½ cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water for 20 minutes & rinse with filtered or spring water.
*Berries typically spoil faster after washing, so this process is best done right before eating.
Although this may seem like a time-consuming process the benefits are far-reaching. Once the habit is created it will become second nature and you’ll feel great about being proactive in your health.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Finding relief from chronic pain may feel like a never-ending, uphill battle. Maybe you’ve been prescribed a medication or you’ve tried some type of therapy to address your most debilitating symptoms only for your pain to eventually return. Or, maybe you’ve gotten to the point of accepting life with it. Many people can’t even fathom attempting to get rid of it because it’s physically and emotionally exhausting to try. Indeed, your chronic pain may never fully go away, but if you are living with chronic pain you must understand the following:
Chronic pain will generally get worse over time and the longer it is neglected the more complex the healing process can be. If you have chronic pain, that means you have been living with a condition for months at minimum, and more likely for years. You may not feel ready now, but the longer you wait to address your condition, the longer the treatment process can be.
Chronic pain is not just physical discomfort, it is intricately tied to our emotional well-being. It is estimated that 60% of patients who have chronic pain, also have depression and this relationship is bidirectional (meaning that depression can cause pain and vice versa). Research also confirms that the more severe your pain is, the more severe your depression becomes, with the reverse also being true. The longer you live with chronic pain the higher your risk of developing anxiety or depression.
Chronic pain is a symptom of inflammation. Inflammation can stem from any number of conditions that are taxing to the body such as an illness or disorder, an injury, infection, toxicity, or nutritional deficiencies, and can be cumulative in their inflammatory effect. Heightened inflammation can affect the nervous system and undermine the function of your immune system exacerbating both physical and emotional pain. Without addressing the underlying source(s) of inflammation, your chronic pain will not get better or go away. Once the inflammation is addressed, the severity and frequency of symptoms can improve, sometimes drastically and sometimes completely.
How We Can Help
Seeking guidance from healthcare professionals who specialize in treating chronic pain is key. You want a pain specialist who will 1) uncover ALL of the reasons why your body is inflamed and in pain, and 2) offer you a comprehensive and multifaceted treatment so your healing is as complete as it can be. This functional medicine approach is centered on improving the function of your body as a whole. This may not mean living completely pain-free, it means getting back your energy to reengage in life and feel good both mentally and physically.
Our team is made up of physicians, nurses, PTs, a nutritionist, a psychotherapist, and an acupuncturist so that the most appropriate treatment for you is available under one roof. We will take time to explore the onset of your pain, the specific nature of your symptoms, and the overall status of your health. Once accurately diagnosed we’ll work with you to come up with targeted solutions that suit your lifestyle and your preferences.
Our Integrative Treatments
Integrative medicine combines the best of conventional and alternative treatments to get the outcome you need to live with less pain and an improved quality of life. Your chronic pain could be treated by one or a combination of the following,
Manual Therapies (osteopathic manipulative medicine, physical therapy) Osteopathic techniques restore function to an unbalanced and restricted musculoskeletal system. Gentle stretching and manipulation can improve the mobility of your muscles, soft tissues, and joints, for an improved range of motion. In the same vein, physical therapy will employ exercises to restore function to a particular area. When manual therapy is recommended, you and your provider will discuss which type is most appropriate for your condition.
Injection Therapies (prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma/PRP, perineural injections/PIT, trigger point injections, steroid injections)
Depending on the nature and location of your pain, injection therapy may be recommended. While all injection therapies deliver some type of solution to a targeted area, some are used to treat musculoskeletal injuries, and others are used for treating neuropathic pain.
Nutrition and Lifestyle Modifications
Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can play a significant role in managing chronic pain. Certain foods and beverages, such as inflammatory foods, caffeine, and alcohol, may exacerbate pain symptoms, while others, such as anti-inflammatory foods, antioxidants, and vitamins, can help reduce inflammation and promote healing. If inflammation in the gut or food sensitivities are identified, it’s even more crucial to make changes to your nutrition right away to control the inflammation they may be causing.
Detoxification Therapy
When toxins accumulate in the body over a long period, it can cause damage to your tissues and organs and a toxicity disorder can develop. Unidentified pain can sometimes be caused by such disorders. If toxicity is suspected and confirmed via testing, medications may be prescribed to bind to and eliminate the harmful toxins from your body.
Acupuncture, Biofeedback, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Therapies based on the connection between the mind and body can greatly influence our physical health and emotional well-being. Practices such as acupuncture, biofeedback, and cognitive-behavioral therapy can help individuals with chronic pain learn to manage their symptoms more effectively.
♦ Acupuncture – involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and promote healing
♦ Biofeedback – teaches individuals to control physiological responses such as heart rate and muscle tension through relaxation techniques
♦ Cognitive-behavioral therapy – helps identify and modify negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to chronic pain
Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques
Chronic pain and stress often go hand in hand, creating a vicious cycle that exacerbates discomfort. Learning to manage stress and incorporate relaxation techniques into your daily routine can help lower inflammation (this is proven!) and reduce your perception of pain. Techniques such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and mindfulness meditation can promote relaxation, reduce muscle tension, and alleviate pain. Engaging in activities that bring you joy and foster a sense of well-being, such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or connecting with nature, can also help to distract you from pain and improve your overall outlook on life.
Exercise and Movement
Physical activity is crucial for managing chronic pain since it helps strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and release endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers. While it’s essential to choose activities that are gentle on your body and appropriate for your condition, incorporating regular exercise into your routine can have significant benefits. This may include activities such as walking, swimming, yoga, or tai chi, which promote relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance overall physical function. Start slowly, listen to your body, and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts as tolerated.
The complexities of chronic pain are not just in its causes but in its effects. It can lead to decreased mobility, a constant state of alertness, and emotional distress. We can help you. We understand that your chronic pain is as unique as you are. We also understand that how and when you choose to address your pain is no small decision. Our team is ready to support you every step of the way.
If you have been experiencing chronic pain and need help managing the condition, be sure to speak to one of our experienced nurses today. Please give us a call at 703-532-4892.
Adrenal Fatigue Could Be Why You’re So Tired
/in Conditions, Hormone Health, Wellness/by Kaplan CenterThe adrenals are two small glands located above your kidneys. Despite their small size, they carry a lot of weight in making sure your body is functioning properly. These two small glands are responsible for secreting hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, and your body’s response to stress.
How the adrenals work
When high-stress situations arise, your body’s innate “alarm” system, which helps adapt to the situation at hand, is triggered. The hypothalamus, an area in the brain that produces hormones, sends a signal to the adrenal glands to immediately release the stress hormones adrenaline, cortisol, and norepinephrine. This release generates a surge of energy which causes your heart to beat faster and your blood pressure to go up. This is called a fight-or-flight response.
Periods of chronic stress, whether physical, emotional, or psychological, cause an overproduction of these stress hormones, especially cortisol and adrenaline. Eventually, the adrenal glands are unable to keep up the production of the hormones that are being signaled and this is referred to as adrenal fatigue.
Functional Medicine Approach to Diagnosing Adrenal Fatigue
With a functional medicine approach, we dig deep into the root causes of your symptoms and look at all areas of health to determine where you may need additional support. You’ll receive a comprehensive and holistic treatment plan for a more complete and faster recovery. Please call us today, 703-532-4892.
Signs & symptoms of adrenal fatigue
Early signs of adrenal fatigue include:
Signs of more severe adrenal fatigue include:
What we can do
What you can do, today:
Bottom line: Stress can have a real impact on your health. Listen to your body! If you’ve noticed changes in your energy levels, cravings, or mood, your body is sending you an important message. Ignoring that message could lead to more serious health conditions like weight gain, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, insomnia, and cardiovascular disease.
*Glycemic index is a ranking system for carbohydrates and how they affect your blood sugar levels. High glycemic foods can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, while low glycemic foods are absorbed and digested more slowly, causing a slower and small rise in blood sugar levels.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Natural Solutions for Cleaning Your Produce
/in Lifestyle, Nutrition/by Kaplan CenterWhether you buy organic or not, taking some time to properly clean your produce is an important part of any wellness plan that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Eating a rainbow of colors is one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients to nurture your immune system. But remember, you’re not the first person to handle that apple you’re about to take a bite out of! Because it travels through many hands and has passed through many environments, all produce is a host for bacteria, and unless you’re buying organic, pesticides too.
Take for example the E.coli outbreaks in the United States over the last several years. These outbreaks are caused by infected romaine lettuce and responsible for causing illnesses across multiple states. This may be an extreme, but it illustrates the point — just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Additionally, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, bell peppers, and many other fruits and vegetables are covered with wax to protect from spoilage and to maintain hydration. But given a choice, is it something you want to eat? Likely not…
Our healthcare providers want to work with you to help you make positive lifestyle modifications that will benefit of your mind, body, and soul. Wellness is about making good choices and establishing good habits. If you are looking to improve your overall wellness, please give us a call today, 703-532-4892, to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.
The good news is that you DO have a choice! Bypassing a good wash leaves you susceptible to a wide range of bacteria and unwanted substances. Removing pesticides and de-waxing your fruits and vegetables is a fairly simple process and always recommended. It’s particularly important for berries and lettuces, even if they are organic, as they are a good host for powerful super bacteria.
We recommend the following two methods that use natural solutions to properly remove wax, pesticides, and harmful microbes before use (best to do this as soon as you unpack your groceries).
To de-wax & clean most fruits and vegetables:
Place the produce in a container filled with baking soda and water, approx. 1 tsp per 2 cups of water, covering them completely and letting it soak for at least 20 minutes. The baking soda will remove the wax on the outer skin and, more importantly, has been shown to be effective in removing pesticides. You can follow this up with a solution of ¼ cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water (again, just covering the produce) to remove bacteria. The hydrogen peroxide is a powerful anti-microbial that will help remove bacteria from the surface of the produce and also helps in removing pesticides.
For produce such as leafy greens and berries*:
Cover the produce in a solution of ½ cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water for 20 minutes & rinse with filtered or spring water.
*Berries typically spoil faster after washing, so this process is best done right before eating.
Although this may seem like a time-consuming process the benefits are far-reaching. Once the habit is created it will become second nature and you’ll feel great about being proactive in your health.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Chronic Pain: Integrative Strategies for Relief
/in Inflammation, Treatments/by Kaplan CenterFinding relief from chronic pain may feel like a never-ending, uphill battle. Maybe you’ve been prescribed a medication or you’ve tried some type of therapy to address your most debilitating symptoms only for your pain to eventually return. Or, maybe you’ve gotten to the point of accepting life with it. Many people can’t even fathom attempting to get rid of it because it’s physically and emotionally exhausting to try. Indeed, your chronic pain may never fully go away, but if you are living with chronic pain you must understand the following:
How We Can Help
Seeking guidance from healthcare professionals who specialize in treating chronic pain is key. You want a pain specialist who will 1) uncover ALL of the reasons why your body is inflamed and in pain, and 2) offer you a comprehensive and multifaceted treatment so your healing is as complete as it can be. This functional medicine approach is centered on improving the function of your body as a whole. This may not mean living completely pain-free, it means getting back your energy to reengage in life and feel good both mentally and physically.
Our team is made up of physicians, nurses, PTs, a nutritionist, a psychotherapist, and an acupuncturist so that the most appropriate treatment for you is available under one roof. We will take time to explore the onset of your pain, the specific nature of your symptoms, and the overall status of your health. Once accurately diagnosed we’ll work with you to come up with targeted solutions that suit your lifestyle and your preferences.
Our Integrative Treatments
Integrative medicine combines the best of conventional and alternative treatments to get the outcome you need to live with less pain and an improved quality of life. Your chronic pain could be treated by one or a combination of the following,
Osteopathic techniques restore function to an unbalanced and restricted musculoskeletal system. Gentle stretching and manipulation can improve the mobility of your muscles, soft tissues, and joints, for an improved range of motion. In the same vein, physical therapy will employ exercises to restore function to a particular area. When manual therapy is recommended, you and your provider will discuss which type is most appropriate for your condition.
Depending on the nature and location of your pain, injection therapy may be recommended. While all injection therapies deliver some type of solution to a targeted area, some are used to treat musculoskeletal injuries, and others are used for treating neuropathic pain.
Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can play a significant role in managing chronic pain. Certain foods and beverages, such as inflammatory foods, caffeine, and alcohol, may exacerbate pain symptoms, while others, such as anti-inflammatory foods, antioxidants, and vitamins, can help reduce inflammation and promote healing. If inflammation in the gut or food sensitivities are identified, it’s even more crucial to make changes to your nutrition right away to control the inflammation they may be causing.
When toxins accumulate in the body over a long period, it can cause damage to your tissues and organs and a toxicity disorder can develop. Unidentified pain can sometimes be caused by such disorders. If toxicity is suspected and confirmed via testing, medications may be prescribed to bind to and eliminate the harmful toxins from your body.
Therapies based on the connection between the mind and body can greatly influence our physical health and emotional well-being. Practices such as acupuncture, biofeedback, and cognitive-behavioral therapy can help individuals with chronic pain learn to manage their symptoms more effectively.
♦ Acupuncture – involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and promote healing
♦ Biofeedback – teaches individuals to control physiological responses such as heart rate and muscle tension through relaxation techniques
♦ Cognitive-behavioral therapy – helps identify and modify negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to chronic pain
Chronic pain and stress often go hand in hand, creating a vicious cycle that exacerbates discomfort. Learning to manage stress and incorporate relaxation techniques into your daily routine can help lower inflammation (this is proven!) and reduce your perception of pain. Techniques such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and mindfulness meditation can promote relaxation, reduce muscle tension, and alleviate pain. Engaging in activities that bring you joy and foster a sense of well-being, such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or connecting with nature, can also help to distract you from pain and improve your overall outlook on life.
Physical activity is crucial for managing chronic pain since it helps strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and release endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers. While it’s essential to choose activities that are gentle on your body and appropriate for your condition, incorporating regular exercise into your routine can have significant benefits. This may include activities such as walking, swimming, yoga, or tai chi, which promote relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance overall physical function. Start slowly, listen to your body, and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts as tolerated.
The complexities of chronic pain are not just in its causes but in its effects. It can lead to decreased mobility, a constant state of alertness, and emotional distress. We can help you. We understand that your chronic pain is as unique as you are. We also understand that how and when you choose to address your pain is no small decision. Our team is ready to support you every step of the way.
If you have been experiencing chronic pain and need help managing the condition, be sure to speak to one of our experienced nurses today. Please give us a call at 703-532-4892.
References:
Roughan WH, Campos AI, García-Marín LM, Cuéllar-Partida G, Lupton MK, Hickie IB, Medland SE, Wray NR, Byrne EM, Ngo TT, Martin NG, Rentería ME. Comorbid Chronic Pain and Depression: Shared Risk Factors and Differential Antidepressant Effectiveness. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Apr 12;12:643609. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643609. PMID: 33912086; PMCID: PMC8072020.