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Symptoms of Arthritis

Arthritis is an aggregate of illnesses whose common features include an inflammation of the joints, surrounding tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Among the oldest known afflictions of human beings, it can affect virtually every part of the body: from the feet to the knees, back, shoulders, and fingers. There are three primary categories of arthritis, each with specific symptoms: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis or Gout.  Please click on the links to read more information and healing protocols for the specific type of arthritis you are referencing.

Types of Arthritis

There are a variety of arthritic conditions, with the three most common forms of the disease being osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Less prevalent types of arthritis include psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and infectious arthritis.

Causes of Arthritis

Arthritis is caused by a variety of factors, including joint instability, injuries, age-related changes, toxins, microbes, altered biochemistry, hormonal factors, and genetic predisposition. Yet other environmental, psychological, dietary, and even dental factors have also been found to bring on the condition. In recent years, research conducted by rheumatologists and allergists has concluded that some patients can experience allergy-induced arthritis.

Stress can also be a major factor because it disrupts the body's hormonal balance. Stress related changes in the chemical levels of cortisol can often lead to changes in the immune system.  A weakened immune system allows certain bacteria to penetrate the body, possibly leading to forms of arthritis.  This sequence often occurs in women undergoing menopause.

Lyme disease can also cause arthritis symptoms, especially infectious arthritis. Presumably caused by bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) carried by deer ticks or black-legged ticks, the symptoms of Lyme disease may vary. Typical symptoms are a preliminary skin rash before the onset of fatigue, aches, and then flu-like symptoms.  Eventually these bacteria penetrate the nervous system and attack brain tissue and spinal cells. The incubation period can be lengthy, with initial exposure commonly occurring during the summer and most symptoms developing weeks or months later

Sometimes, thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be compressed. The result may be pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm. Although painful sensations may indicate other conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common and widely known of the entrapment neuropathies in which the body's peripheral nerves are compressed or traumatized.

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling, or itching numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers. Some carpal tunnel sufferers say their fingers feel useless and swollen, even though little or no swelling is apparent. The symptoms often first appear in one or both hands during the night, since many people sleep with flexed wrists. A person with carpal tunnel syndrome may wake up feeling the need to "shake out" the hand or wrist. As symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. In chronic and/or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away. Some people are unable to tell between hot and cold by touch.

What are the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is often the result of a combination of factors that increase pressure on the median nerve and tendons in the carpal tunnel, rather than a problem with the nerve itself. Most likely the disorder is due to a congenital predisposition - the carpal tunnel is simply smaller in some people than in others. Other contributing factors include trauma or injury to the wrist that cause swelling, such as sprain or fracture; overactivity of the pituitary gland; hypothyroidism; rheumatoid arthritis; mechanical problems in the wrist joint; work stress; repeated use of vibrating hand tools; fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause; or the development of a cyst or tumor in the canal. In some cases no cause can be identified.

There is little clinical data to prove whether repetitive and forceful movements of the hand and wrist during work or leisure activities can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Repeated motions performed in the course of normal work or other daily activities can result in repetitive motion disorders such as bursitis and tendonitis. Writer's cramp - a condition in which a lack of fine motor skill coordination and ache and pressure in the fingers, wrist, or forearm is brought on by repetitive activity - is not a symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Call the office at 310-308-2932 and schedule your appointment to help ease and eliminate this condition.

Diabetes is categorized in three main types. In type I diabetes, also known as juvenile or insulin dependent diabetes, the production and the secretion of insulin by the pancreas are severely deficient. This type of diabetes usually develops in childhood or adolescence. Because insulin levels are absent or dramatically low, people with type I diabetes need to inject themselves with insulin and monitor their blood sugar daily.

Type II diabetes also known as adult onset or non insulin dependent diabetes, is by far the more common of the two in United States. An outstanding 90%-95% in United States is type II diabetes, affecting over 16 million people. It strikes those who are elderly and those who are obese and usually over 40. It is becoming increasingly common with children, due to the lack of exercise, obesity and poor dietary habits.

The third category is known as gestational diabetes, diabetes that occurs during a woman’s pregnancy.

All three types are a serious health risk. If left unmonitored or untreated, blood sugar levels can swing from dramatically low (hypoglycemia) to dangerously high (hyperglycemia). Hypoglycemia comes on quickly and leaves you feeling dizzy, pale, sweaty, and confused. IF you glucose levels are not raised you may be in a coma

Symptoms of Diabetes

Classic symptoms of Type I diabetes are excessive thirst, excessive urination, excessive hunger, unhealthy weight loss, dehydration, and fatigue. Other complications that can result from unmanaged Type I diabetes are ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar coma. Ketoacidosis is a dangerous state of chronic acidity in the body, which means an acidic pH level. It occurs when the body breaks down fats for energy because it cannot get enough glucose. Acidosis results from the presence of ketones, the toxic byproducts of this reaction. Caution: Ketoacidosis can be life-threatening and should be treated as a medical emergency.

Hyperosmolar coma is also a life-threatening medical emergency that is fatal in about 50 percent of all cases and always requires hospitalization. It results from severe dehydration caused by low fluid intake, high blood sugar levels, and/or physical stress such as surgery or infection.

Overall, the symptoms of Type II diabetes are the same as Type I, with the exception of unhealthy weight loss. It is important to note that with Type II diabetics one will often experience excessive weight gain.

Because the incidence of Type II diabetes is on the rise and often undiagnosed early on, it is important to monitor yourself for tell-tale signs that you might be at risk. This is especially true if, as you age, you also find yourself gaining weight, a possible indicator that you are developing a greater risk of insulin resistance. Warning signs for the onset of Type II diabetes include carbohydrate cravings, bouts of dizziness, irritability, and progressive weight gain (especially around the abdomen), an increase in blood triglycerides and cholesterol levels, a progressive increase in blood pressure, fatigue after an "allergic" meal, fainting episodes, and frequent fungal infections. If you find yourself experiencing these symptoms, seek prompt medical attention.

The chronic high levels of blood glucose that cause diabetes can lead to a variety of serious health conditions. Excess glucose in the bloodstream alters normal metabolic and biological functions. For example, it reduces the effectiveness of important proteins such as hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in red blood cells. Research also shows diabetes can lead to increased quantities of very-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or the "bad" cholesterol. This occurs because excess glucose in the bloodstream gets transformed into fats, which in turn can lead to small arteries becoming narrowed by plaque. The end result, if left untreated, is very often high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. People with diabetes are three to four times more likely to die of heart attacks than people without diabetes who have the same number of other major risk factors.

Over the long term, elevated blood glucose levels can also cause damage to the kidneys (nephropathy, chronic renal failure); insufficient blood supply to the eyes (cataracts, retinopathy, glaucoma); other vascular system and organ damage; gastroparesis (loss of peristaltic action in the gastrointestinal tract); high risk of infection; and even death. In addition, poor circulation and peripheral nerve damage, both of which are commonly associated with diabetes, can lead to loss of sensation, neuropathy, foot ulcers, and potentially foot or leg amputation due to gangrenous infections.

Because Type I diabetes is so often due to hereditary factors, it is difficult to take preventive measures, yet there is much that can be done to prevent Type II diabetes, which is by far the most common form of diabetes. Adults who have a high-risk of Type II diabetes can prevent or delay its onset through lifestyle changes that include proper diet, high quality nutritional supplementation, stress reduction, and exercise. Once one`s diet has improved, cleansing and detoxification techniques can be utilized to further improve health.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, controlling your glucose levels is of primary importance in preventing or delaying complications. You will also need to control high blood pressure and to lower high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition, you should seek alternative professional care for detecting problems in eyes, heart, kidneys, and feet. Laser eye therapy can reduce the development of severe vision loss by more than 50 percent. Proper foot care can reduce amputation rates by 45 percent to 85 percent. And the early detection and treatment of kidney disease can reduce the development of kidney failure from 30 to 70 percent. You also need to learn what constitutes good self-care and practice it diligently.

Dr. Stein will be able to design a health care protocol that is suitable for your diabetic condition. Remember the longer the condition goes untreated the worth your symptoms will be and the longer it takes to treat the condition and keep it under control. Call the office to make your appointment at 310-308-2932.

What is more interesting is how we allocate expenditures on digestive care:

• $25 billion on physician visits
• $21 billion on medical procedures
• $10 billion on prescription medications
• $3 billion on over-the-counter medications
• $0.3 billion on dietary supplements.

The media does not help. We are overwelmed with TV commercials and magazine articles that urge us to see a physician for prescription drugs or to purchase over-the-counter medications for heartburn, gas, bloating, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. However, the reality is that most digestive problems are the result of a long term and chronic  “poor digestive lifestyle” We do not wake up one day with heartburn. We do not catch constipation. These digestive problems are the result of years of digestive abuse.

Dr Stein’s extensive program will help you with your digestive issues and provide for you a lifestyle that will eliminate your condition, and have an opportunity to make informed decisions about your future lifestyle that will help you maintain perfect health throughout your life. Call the office at 310-308-2932 to schedule your appointment.

As a whole, conventional medicine has achieved limited success in treating fibromyalgia, and in many cases conventional physicians fail to detect it altogether, despite the fact that it is now known that as many as 6 million Americans are affected by it, the vast majority of whom are women and primarily between the ages of 34 and 56. Symptoms of fibromyalgia can be so severe that approximately one out of every four people who suffer from it are unable to go to work.

In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology created an official diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia, which stated that for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia to be given, a patient must first exhibit pain for at least three months in the majority of the following muscle sites: back part of the skull on either side, the lower vertebrae of the neck (C5-C7), the upper back (trapezius), the shoulder blades, the second rib, the femur (top of the thigh bone), the buttocks, and the knees.

Though often considered a new type of health condition, fibromyalgia was in fact first written about in 1816, and received official medical confirmation as being a separate and distinct disease in 1904. It was not until 1987, however, that the American Medical Association finally recognized it as a disabling disorder. Even today, however, many conventional physicians fail to realize that fibromyalgia is not due to physical inactivity, which can cause muscles to atrophy and weaken, but most commonly occurs in highly physically active people. In addition, many conventional doctors misdiagnose fibromyalgia patients, telling them that they are suffering from psychological conditions, such as depression, and that their symptoms are "all in their head." By contrast, practitioners of alternative medicine take fibromyalgia very seriously, and employ comprehensive treatment programs specifically tailored to the needs of each of their patients so as to most effectively address fibromyalgia`s many underlying causes.

The primary symptom of fibromyalgia is muscle pain throughout the body that can often be severe, sometimes to the point of debilitation. Typically, the pain occurs due to tightening and thickening in the thin tissue, known as myofascia, that support your body`s muscles. Fibromyalgia pain is not limited to the muscles alone, however. It can also affect the joints and manifest as headache and carpal tunnel syndrome. The areas of the body most affected by fibromyalgia pain include the upper back, hips, knees, neck, and rib cage, all of which can become even more painful when touched.

Like CFS, fibromyalgia is usually associated with multiple other symptoms, as well. These most commonly include allergies, anxiety and depression, generalized body stiffness, dizziness, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders (including irritable bowel disease), insomnia and other sleep problems, and irritability and mood swings. Other symptoms can range from dry and/or watery eyes and heightened sensitivity to cold, light, smells, and sounds to sensation of numbness or tingling in the body and a pronounced intolerance to exercise and physical activity. In women, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) can also be part of fibromyalgia syndrome.

Conventional physicians treat fibromyalgia primarily through the use of painkiller medications. Such an approach fails to address the multiple causes of fibromyalgia, and also carries with it the risk of serious side effects. In addition, this symptom care approach is typical of conventional medicine`s failure to properly understand chronic health conditions such as fibromyalgia, which explains why it so often fails to successfully treat such conditions. Dr. Stein, on the other hand, focuses his treatment approach on the whole body while simultaneously stimulating the body`s ability to repair itself. Call the office at 310-308-2932 to schedule your appointment.

Causes of Headaches

The key to successfully treating headaches and achieving long-term relief of headache symptoms lies in determining all of the underlying causes that trigger headaches. Dr. Stein recognizes that chronic headaches are most often the result of systemic imbalances throughout the body, not just in the head itself, and that the potential causes of headaches can be varied, ranging from food and/or environmental allergies, constipation, gastrointestinal problems and hormonal problems, to infections, musculoskeletal problems, nutritional deficiencies, stress, and physical trauma.

What follows are overviews of the most common causes of headaches.

Allergies: Allergies, especially those caused by food, are a predominant cause of headaches, especially migraine. In fact, according to research published in The Lancet, food allergies contribute to 93 percent of all migraine headaches. Food allergies can also cause or contribute to other types of headaches, as well, as can chemical and environmental allergies (see below). Among the most common foods that can trigger allergy-related headaches are all dairy products, eggs, wheat, corn, rye, sugar, chocolate, coffee and other caffeine products, alcohol, pickled or cured meat and fish, shellfish, game (hare, pheasant, venison), fatty and fried foods, brewer’s yeast, and pickles. Seasonings such as bay leaves, cinnamon, chilies, and sassafras; as well as certain fruits, including avocados, bananas, citrus fruits, peaches, plums, and raspberries; and certain vegetables such as beans, eggplant, onions, spinach, tomatoes, and nuts, can also trigger allergy-related headaches; as can food colorings and additives such as aspartame, benzoic acid, monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium nitrate, tartrazine, and tyramine, as well as other dyes and food colorings.

Blood Clots: Blood clots can cause a variety of headaches, especially vascular headaches, because of how blood clots cause arteries to become constricted. This, in turn, results in diminished blood flow to the brain, as well as reduced levels of oxygen.

Chemical and Environmental Factors: The incidence of headaches continues to rise due to ever-increasing amounts of chemical and environmental pollutants that are released into our air, soil, and water supplies each year. Natural environmental substances, such as molds and pollens can also cause headache attacks. Common chemical irritants that can cause headaches, as well as contribute to a host of other health problems include carbon monoxide, chlorine, chemical deodorizers, formaldehyde, hydrocarbons, perfumes, pesticides, plastics, and radioactive fallout.

Exposure to cigarette smoke, including secondhand smoke, can be a headache trigger. The nicotine contained in cigarettes causes blood vessels to constrict, while the carbon monoxide that cigarette smoke contains has the opposite effect—unhealthy expansion of blood vessels. Both of these factors can trigger headaches, especially cluster headaches and migraines. Cigarette smoke also interferes with your body’s supplies of nutrients and oxygen, both of which are necessary to prevent headache, as well as many other types of disease.

Heavy metal poisoning, which can occur following exposure to animal feeds, fossil fuels, and polluted drinking water, is another common cause of headache pain. One particularly insidious form of heavy metal, mercury, lies in the mouths of many unsuspecting headache sufferers. The cumulative build-up of poison caused by silver mercury fillings may be the underlying factor behind many mysterious illnesses, including headaches, depression, allergies, fatigue, and menstrual disorders.

Other chemical and environmental factors that can cause headache include bright light, noise, high altitude, weather changes, and poorly ventilated enclosures causing prolonged exposure to pollutants.

Dental Problems: One of the most prevalent dental factors related to headache is the mercury that is contained in dental amalgam fillings. Over time, the mercury escapes from the fillings in the form of vapors to settle in various tissues and organs, contributing to a wide variety of health problems, including headaches. Other dental factors involved in headaches include gum disease, low-grade dental infections, tooth decay, and muscle spasms caused by temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). All of these factors can reduce proper circulation in the brain, causing blood vessels to constrict, triggering headache pain.

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Common gastrointestinal disorders that can cause or contribute to headaches include candidiasis (systemic yeast overgrowth), constipation, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and “leaky gut” syndrome. Enzyme and nutritional deficiencies are other common headache triggers.

“Leaky gut” syndrome occurs when the intestinal walls become damaged. This allows undigested food particles, as well as the chemicals contained in commercial, processed food, to pass through the intestinal wall and enter into the bloodstream, where they can cause a variety of health problems, including headache. Headache symptoms may not occur until 12 to 96 hours after the offending toxins enter the bloodstream however, making headaches related to “leaky gut” syndrome difficult to detect.

Hormonal Imbalances: Hormonal imbalances, especially in women, can play a significant role in headache pain. Typically, the most common hormonal imbalances in women are diminished progesterone levels and elevated levels of estrogen. Men and women can both also be affected by hypothyroidism, a condition in which the body is unable to produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormone.

Hormone levels can also be negatively impacted by systemic yeast overgrowth (candidiasis), and by the onset of puberty. Birth control pills, synthetic hormone therapy, pregnancy and menstruation can also cause hormonal imbalances that lead to headache and migraine pain.

Lifestyle Factors: Lifestyle factors that can contribute to headaches include unhealthy diet, skipped meals, overwork, and sleep problems. Work-related factors, such as long hours at a computer, reading, and close-up work, especially in poor light, can also cause headaches, as can prolonged watching of television or playing video games.

Musculoskeletal Imbalances: Holistic practitioners recognize how important the musculoskeletal system is to overall health. When the musculoskeletal system becomes imbalanced or misaligned, proper nerve signaling to and from the brain and the body’s various organs can become compromised. The circulation of blood and oxygen throughout the body can also be compromised. As misalignment of the musculoskeletal system sets in, your body’s muscles can become either contracted or stretched beyond their proper shape, setting the stage for chronic pain, including headaches, to occur.

Imbalances to the musculoskeletal system that can cause or contribute to headaches include head and/or muscle trauma, misalignments of the spine and/or the coccyx (tail) bone, and poor posture. Injured or weak ligaments and muscles in and around the neck can also cause headaches.

Pharmaceutical Drugs: The following types of drugs can all cause or contribute to headaches: antihistamines, asthma medications, birth control pills, blood pressure medications, diet pills, diuretics, heart medications, painkillers, and synthetic estrogen and other synthetic hormones.

Stress: Stress, whether it is caused by physical or mental/emotional factors, is one of the primary causes of headaches. As stress becomes chronic, it causes your body’s muscles to become contracted and tense, especially the muscles of the face, head, neck, upper back, and shoulders. This, in turn, causes the muscles to tire and to also be deprived of adequate amounts of oxygen, due to diminished blood flow. In addition, muscle tension due to stress can result in an excessive production of chemicals by your body, such as histamines. As these chemicals are created to excess, they can cause neurons in the muscles to fire, creating headache pain.

Psychological stress, caused by repressed or improperly expressed anger, anxiety, depression, fear, and sorrow, can also result in or exacerbate headache symptoms.

Call the office at 310-308-2932 and schedule your appointment to treat this condition once for all. Remember to truly get rid of this condition it must be done using a whole body approach. Many people are led to believe that popping a pill is the answer. But in the long run you are only ruining your kidneys and liver and leading to more toxicity in the body.

Although high blood pressure is often assumed to be a natural consequence of aging, the fact that so many Americans in their 20s, 30s, and 40s suffer from high blood pressure clearly indicates it is not an age-dependent disease. In actuality, high blood pressure is the result of poor overall health and lifestyle choices. Conventional medicine primarily focuses on treating the symptoms of high blood pressure rather than addressing its underlying causes. It does this mainly through the use of blood pressure medications, all of which can cause dangerous side effects.

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

The most common symptoms of high blood pressure are breathing difficulties, dizziness, fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, insomnia, and irritability. Left unchecked, however, high blood pressure can lead to serious heart conditions, including stroke, as well as damage to the brain and kidneys.

Causes of High Blood Pressure

Like many other chronic health conditions, high blood pressure is primarily due to our unhealthy modern lifestyle and diet. In indigenous cultures around the world, where a healthy, natural diet is the norm, and Western lifestyle factors do not exist, high blood pressure is virtually nonexistent. Therefore, in order to effectively prevent and reverse high blood pressure, knowing what causes it is an essential first step. The primary causes of high blood pressure are atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), poor diet, environmental toxins, and lifestyle factors. Various pharmaceutical drugs can also cause or worsen high blood pressure.

Atherosclerosis: Not only is atherosclerosis a major cause of high blood pressure, it is also one of the primary causes of both heart attack and stroke. Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is caused by the buildup of plaque in your body`s blood vessels, especially the arteries. In atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque thickens the blood and hardens the arteries, making them narrow and less elastic. Combined, these symptoms of atherosclerosis create resistance to the body`s blood flow, raising blood pressure levels.

Poor Diet: While high blood pressure is quite common in Western, industrialized nations, researchers have found that it hardly exists at all among native peoples in Africa, China, South America, and Micronesia. The reason for this has to do their diets, which are much healthier than today`s standard Western diet. This point is brought home even further by what happens when people from these native lands relocate to more industrialized areas and begin eating accordingly. Soon after they adopt a more Western-based diet, they too begin to show signs of high blood pressure, as well as many other chronic diseases.

Environmental Toxins: Environmental toxins such as cadmium, mercury, and lead, can all elevate blood pressure levels. Typically, the levels of environmental toxins in people with high blood pressure are 300 to 400 percent higher than those with normal blood pressure levels. Other common environmental toxins or pollutants have the potential to raise blood pressure levels, as well. Sources of such toxins include tap water, toxins circulating through the air we breathe, and, in the case of mercury, dental amalgam fillings, various vaccines and sadly, fish and seafood. Chemical residues and toxins remain in produce that is conventionally grown and in the flesh of animals that have been raised with chemically treated feed.

Lifestyle Factors:  Common lifestyle factors that can cause high blood pressure include excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine, smoking (including regular exposure to secondhand smoke), and a sedentary lifestyle. Research has shown that both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels rise in direct proportion to the amount of caffeine a person consumes throughout the day. As for alcohol, even moderate consumption of beer or wine can raise blood pressure levels in some people.

Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke causes high blood pressure because of how smoking damages cells and narrows arteries. In addition, cigarettes contain an abundance of life-threatening chemicals that further increase overall health risks. Even smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco and snuff can raise blood pressure levels because of the nicotine and sodium they contain.

Being sedentary can also contribute to high blood pressure because a lack of exercise results in poor oxygenation of the body`s cells and tissues, and can create a negative impact on the heart muscle, causing it to have to work harder to do its job.

Pharmaceutical Drugs: There are many drugs out there that cause high blood pressure as a side effect. Since drugs are toxic to the body, the number one toxin you can put in your body is prescription and non-prescription drugs. The reason is that all drugs have negative side effects. If you are taking a drug to suppress one symptom that drug is causing some other major problem to develop in the body. Even if you stop taking drugs, the wheels have been set in motion and in a few weeks or month you have some more symptoms caused from the first drug you took a couple of month ago. It is important to note that drugs only suppress symptoms; they do not treat the cause.

Other Causes:In addition to the above factors, high blood pressure can also be caused by diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and chronic stress.

High blood pressure is a serious condition and if not treated properly can lead to further health complications. Dr Stein healing system is designed to treat all of the aspects that were discussed above. Remember, medication only mask your symptoms not treat them. So the longer you go on taking medication the more toxins that will accumulate in your body. The more toxins you consume the more poison your body will endure and the sicker you will be. Call the office at 310-308-2932 to schedule your appointment.

Elevated cholesterol levels are often caused by the standard Western diet, which relies heavily on animal products, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates. It can also be caused by hereditary conditions or preexisting diseases like diabetes and insulin resistance, or syndrome X.  It stands alone that high cholesterol can be treated by diet, exercise, detoxifying the body and reducing stress.

It is important to note for all those people that are treating this condition using medication, it is a serious mistake. Remember, medication cannot cure a condition only mask its symptoms. But the down fall to this is that they all cause other side effects that can lead to more serious conditions and a very damaging to the liver.

Often there are no symptoms with high cholesterol, so it is important to perform a blood analysis regularly. One sign of high cholesterol can be a buildup of cholesterol rings on the skin under the eyes.

In order to truly get rid of your high cholesterol a lifestyle change must take place. With Dr. Stein, he will tailor a program that is suited for your needs and lifestyle. Don’t rely on medication to help you, because even though your cholesterol is lowered, you are damaging the liver and leading to more health problems down the road. Let the healing of Dr. Stein’s Program change your life and experience what true health feels like. Call the office at 310-308-2932 to schedule your appointment.

Hyperthyroidism Causes

Common causes of hyperthyroidism in adults include:

• Diffuse Toxic Goiter (Grave's Disease)
  
  Overactivity of the entire thyroid gland caused by antibodies in the blood which stimulate the thyroid to grow and secrete excessive amounts of thyroid hormone
  
• Toxic Adenoma ("hot nodule")
  
  A dominant thyroid nodule, or lump, is overactive and secretes excess thyroid hormone
  
• Toxic Multinodular Goiter (Plummer's Disease)
  
  One or more nodules or lumps in the thyroid becomes overactive
  
• Subacute Thyroiditis
  
  Hyperthyroid phase of subacute thyroiditis, caused by viral infection or post-partum inflammatory process
  
  Due to thyroid inflammation, excess hormone is released into the blood circulation
  
• Drug-Induced Hyperthyroidism
  
  Iodine-induced hyperthyroidism: older population, typically in setting of preexisting nontoxic nodular goiter
  
  amiodarone (Cordarone)
  
  Iodine-containing contrast material used in radiology studies

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms

Symptoms and their severity depend on duration and extent of thyroid hormone excess, and the age of the patient. Individuals may experience:

• Nervousness and irritability
• Palpitations and tachycardia
• Heat intolerance or increased sweating
• Tremor
• Weight loss or gain
• Increase in appetite
• Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea
• Lower leg swelling
• Sudden paralysis
• Shortness of breath with exertion
• Decreased menstrual flow
• Impaired fertility
• Sleep disturbances (including insomnia)
• Changes in vision
       Photophobia, or light sensitivity
       Eye irritation with excess tears
       Diplopia, or double vision
       Exophthalmos, or forward protrusion of the eyeball
• Fatigue and muscle weakness
• Thyroid enlargement
• Pretibial myxedema (fluid buildup in the tissues about the shin bone; may be seen with Grave's disease)

Hypothyroidism Causes in Adults

Common causes of hypothyroidism in adults include:

Autoimmune Thyroiditis (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis)

This inherited condition is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in adults. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system, or natural defense system, attacks its own thyroid gland. This causes a thyroid enlargement or goiter and progressive thyroid destruction.

Subacute Thyroiditis(inflammation of the thyroid gland after a viral disease)

In this condition there is usually a phase of hyperthyroidism (a condition in which the thyroid produces an excess of thyroid hormones) followed by a hypothyroid phase. Eventually thyroid function returns to normal. The three types of subacute thyroiditis are subacute granulomatous, also referred to as painful thyroiditis; subacute painless thyroiditis, which is silent and also referred to as lymphocytic thyroiditis; and postpartum thyroiditis.

Previous Thyroid Therapy

Surgical removal of the thyroid gland may be performed to treat thyroid nodules or other conditions. Treatment of hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine also results in destruction of thyroid tissue and may lead to hypothyroidism.

Drug-induced Hypothyroidism

Taking some prescription medications may alter thyroid function. These include lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) and amiodarone (Cordarone).

Pituitary and Hypothalamic disease

Both the hypothalamus and pituitary gland are involved in the signaling pathways that control the function of the thyroid gland. Diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland can, therefore, affect the amount of thyroid hormone made and secreted by the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism due to pituitary disease is termed "secondary hypothyroidism," while hypothyroidism due to hypothalamic disease is termed "tertiary hypothyroidism."

Iodine deficiency

Iodine deficiency does not occur in the U.S.. Only severe iodine deficiency will cause low thyroid hormone levels. This condition may occur in mountainous areas of poor, less industrialized nations.

Hypothyroidism Symptoms

Symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism and their degree of severity may vary and depend on the duration and extent of thyroid hormone deficiency. Individuals with hypothyroidism may experience:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Intolerance to cold
• Muscle aching and cramps
• Constipation
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Poor appetite
• Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
• Dry, rough skin
• Coarse hair or hair loss
• Eye and face swelling
• Deeper and/or hoarse voice
• Irregular or heavy menstrual periods
• Depression
• Memory loss
• Slowed thinking and mental activity
• Increased blood cholesterol levels

Neuropathy is characterized by disturbances in the nerves outside the spine, which make up the peripheral nervous system. They are usually non-inflammatory in nature, and can be due to disease such as diabetes, pressure from nerve entrapment (as in carpal tunnel syndrome), disk lesions, nutritional deficiencies, or to unknown causes.

Neuritis is inflammatory in nature, with the inflammation occurring in specific nerve or nerve group. Symptoms of neuritis are similar to those of neuralgia and neuropathy, except they more frequently include burning and can be accompanied by swelling and fever and, in some severe cases, episodes of convulsions.

Symptoms

Overall, symptoms of these three conditions range from mild to severe pain, constant or intermittent pain, burning, tingling, and/or stabbing pain.

Cause

Neuralgia, neuropathy, and neuritis can be caused by diseases such as anemia, diabetes or thyroid disease, pressure from a tumor, nutrient deficiencies, metabolic imbalances, infection, gout, leukemia, syphilis, alcohol abuse, heavy metal toxicity, or direct trauma. To determine the underlying cause, it is necessary to seek professional medical assistance. Once the underlying cause is detected, it must be properly treated before long-term relieve of nerve symptoms can be achieved.

The condition can be very stressful and affect our daily living. Dr Stein program will effectively determine the underlying cause and help you cope and deal with this issue. Call the office at 310-308-2932 to make your appointment and don’t let nerve pain be a factor any longer.

Clinically, obesity is defined in several ways: as a significantly higher than average proportion of body fat; as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) value greater than 30; or as weighing more than 20 percent over average weight according to statistical tables such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Height-Weight guidelines.

Health authorities now cite obesity as one of the most serious health problems facing our country. Being seriously overweight for any period of time poses a direct threat to your health. In addition, obesity is now known to significantly increase your risk of many other serious chronic and degenerative health problems, including depression, diabetes, gallstones and other forms of gallbladder disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and stroke. Obesity can also cause or worsen the risk of certain types of cancer such as breast, endometrial, and uterine cancer in women, and cancer of the colon and rectum in men. Consider these statistics: 85 percent of all cases of adult-onset (Type II) diabetes are directly related to obesity, as are 45 percent of all cases of high blood pressure, 35 percent of all cases of heart disease, and nearly 20 percent of all cases of dangerously elevated high cholesterol. Finally, obesity without any other health complications causes the premature deaths of 300,000 Americans each year.

Dieting is the number one approach for dealing with obesity and being overweight in the United States, with Americans spending billions of dollars each year within the diet industry and its related dietary products. For the vast majority of obese and overweight people, however, all their money, time, and effort are usually for naught.

Here are the seven facts about obesity:

1. Obesity is a lifelong disease
   
2. Obese people have metabolisms that will always be abnormal
   
3. It is impossible to eat what normal people eat and stay slim
   
4. Anyone can lose weight and keep it off so long as the underlying factors that contribute to obesity and excessive weight gain are determined and properly addressed
   
5. One of the important keys to successful weight loss is a proper understanding of insulin metabolism
   
6. Sugars and processed foods have no place in your diet
   
7. Successful weight loss cannot be achieved solely through fad diets, weight loss supplements, or an exercise program. The key to lasting success is a comprehensive dietary and lifestyle program that addresses all of your causes of obesity or excessive weight gain.

Are You Overweight or Obese?

One of the keys to successfully losing weight is being honest with yourself. Many people know they are overweight but do not admit it, or else they rationalize it so that they don't feel a need to do anything about it. This is a potentially dangerous mistake. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Have your clothes been getting tighter? Do photos of you from last year reveal a thinner face?
  
• Are you unable to eat what others eat and stay trim?
  
• Have you gotten in the habit of eating hurriedly and not bothering to prepare nutritious meals?
  
• Do you feel that, for one reason or another -- psychologically or physiologically -- your food choices are really food cravings?
  
• Do you have a history of repeated diets that always begin because you want to conform to some ideal of what you "should" look like?
  
• Are you overweight because you always abandon your latest weight-loss diet to eat what you feel you have been deprived of?
  
• Have you reached the point where you seem completely unable to maintain a comfortable weight or a healthy dietary regimen?

Even if you think that your excess weight is not presently affecting your health, more than likely it is.

If you are overweight or obese, Dr. Stein can arrange a thorough examination to determine if there are any undiagnosed medical causes for your condition, such as food allergies, insulin imbalances or low thyroid function and other metabolic disturbances. Once this is achieved a healthcare program will be designed to meet your health needs and address the issues at hand. Call the office at 310-308-2932 to schedule your weight program and protocol.

Most insurance adjusters know all about the kind of injuries people like can experience in an accident. They know sometimes you don’t feel injured right away and that’s why they try to settle as quickly as possible while your medical bills are low or non-existent. They’d rather see you in pain after you settle with you picking up the tab for your own treatment.

This Can Happen Even If It’s Your Own Insurance Company You're Dealing With!

Make no mistake, insurance is a business like any other, and the less they spend on appropriate care, the more money they make their shareholders.

Even if you were involved in a minor fender bender, studies have proven you could suffer from a severe injury that isn't easily noticeable.

You can be severely injured and only feel a little or no pain at all after the accident. Your doctor can easily miss this and mistake your pain for something completely different. This is when insurance companies try to settle with you. Don't make this mistake! Until a recognized and reputable doctor who has experience with low impact, soft tissue injuries says you are 100% okay, don't make the decision to settle too soon!

See, after any accident, it’s advisable to visit the emergency room to make sure you don’t suffer from any life-threatening injuries like broken bones, a punctured lung, or internal bleeding. This is what emergency room doctors specialize in.

But the problem is that as long as there’s no immediate threat to your life, the emergency room physician is likely to send you along on your way with pain medication to mask the pain.

And here’s the problem with only taking pain medication after your accident…

Soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, discs, nerves and blood vessels need oxygen. They also need to function and move properly.

When you only take pain relief and/or anti-inflammatory medication, scar tissue and adhesions can form limiting the proper motion needed for healthy nerve and blood flow.

Scar tissue is also a substandard tissue that can turn into its own source of pain - causing a number of chronic pains, symptoms and syndromes!

The Problem Is That Soft Tissue Injuries
Are NOT Always Visible On X-Rays

That’s why most doctors don’t have the training to detect soft tissue injuries…they over-rely on vital signs, x-rays, and the pain described by the patient!

Since many doctors can't detect your injury, they make the wrong diagnosis about what's wrong with you. So any treatments you get based on this diagnosis will do practically nothing for you!

The treatment of choice for medical doctors, like your family doctor, is to use drugs to cover up your symptoms (in your case, the biggest symptom is pain) so you don't feel injured anymore. This form of treatment only gives you the illusion that you're okay, when really you can be seriously injured and not know it.

So, If You Are Experiencing Any Of These Symptoms, You May Be Suffering From A Hidden Or Soft Tissue Injury…

• Muscle Stiffness
  
• Spasms
  
• Neck Pain
  
• Headaches
  
• Numbness And Tingling
  
• Mid-Back Pain
  
• Low Back Pain
  
• Difficulty Sleeping
  
• Irritability
  
• Memory Loss
  
• Fatigue
  
• Difficulty Concentration

Or worse yet, you may be feeling none of these right now because your injury hasn’t started producing these symptoms yet.

The Shocking Truth About Using Pain Relievers, Physical Therapy, And Surgery To Get Rid Of YOUR Pain!

Let’s assume you are experiencing some neck pain. How will your doctor attempt to treat you? Well, rather than go after the cause of the problem he or she can’t find (your doctor will never admit they don't know what they're doing), he or she’s going to attempt to cover up your pain with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and other, more powerful pain relievers.

These drugs only work by sabotaging your body’s ability to register pain. They do absolutely nothing to fix the problem causing the pain. So, while these drugs are sweeping the dirt under the rug, you’re giving the illusion you’re actually okay. This is dangerous.  

Why?

1. Accident victims on pain medication are more likely to settle their case. The insurance companies use this to their advantage so don’t make hasty decisions while on pain relief medication. It may come back to haunt you later.
   
2. Usually under pain relief medication, you are more likely to worsen your injury! Your body’s way of telling you that you are making things worse is pain and, if you do not feel the pain, you may be aggravating your injury and not even know it! Ever have a sprained ankle? What happens if you keep walking on it rather than sit it out for a few days? It hurts more and more. And why? Because you’re making it worse!

The same is true for these hidden injuries in your neck and back. Yes, you read that correctly! Your doctor who means well and wants you pain-free, may be hurting you by giving you seemingly harmless drugs!

That's not to mention the side effects of using these drugs. You see, the bodily functions these drugs are blocking to hide your pain also have other functions in the body. Depending on the drug, you may run into serious kidney, stomach, or liver problems as a result of popping these drugs just to get through a day of work.

The next step doctors will rely on once their initial treatments fail is to refer you to a physical therapist.

The only problem here is the physical therapist is told what to do by your doctor. This means whatever therapy you undergo is designed to treat the problem your doctor thinks you have, when really it may be something totally different.

So, after this charade, it’s no coincidence most people with ‘hidden’ injuries are still in pain and may even feel worse!

At this point, you are either sent back to therapy to try another treatment that odds are won’t work because the person directing the treatment, your doctor, never diagnosed your problem correctly. Or, he may recommend you see a surgeon about your problem.

Now, it’s true that surgery is an extremely drastic treatment for these sorts of injuries, but if a surgeon doesn’t know what to go after, you’re probably not going to come out of the operating room fixed.

Oftentimes surgeries, especially in the neck and back, will only result in a short period of pain relief, at best. More than half of all back surgeries will never get you out of complete pain.

Plus, there’s the added risk of infection and anesthesia problems, not to mention other side effects that aren’t too uncommon when it comes to cutting a body open…like missed time off work and reduced living for weeks or months at a time. Do you really think surgery is even an option you should consider especially since your doctor may not have the whole picture?

Discover RIGHT NOW If You Suffer From A Hidden Injury!

Hidden injuries are extremely serious problems.  Unfortunately, medical science is under-trained and unequipped to diagnose and treat them with any measure of success. This is a giant health care problem in this country, considering 20 million people have suffered from a hidden injury.

The sooner you find out you have a hidden injury, the sooner you can start a treatment plan to get rid of it and get you out of pain as soon as possible. Wouldn't it be nice to finally be pain-free and living your life the same way you did before the accident ever happened?

Well, if you do find out that you do suffer from a hidden injury, then this can be your reality. Imagine being pain-free without pills, or painful and repetitive physical therapy, or even the thought of surgery.

Isn't that nice? Wouldn't you rather be healthy and alive once again, rather than living life only one pill away from endless pain, misery, and frustration? Aren't you tired of going to your doctor again and again, and never getting better?

Dr. Stein uses a drug and surgery-free method to help auto accident victims just like you out of pain as quickly and easily as possible. I've been able to help almost everyone who I've diagnosed with a hidden injury.

In fact, Dr. Stein has been so successful and happy with helping people just like you get out of pain, He focused the majority of the practice and skills at getting auto accident victims out of pain and keeping them that way!

Call and schedule your appointment and don’t wait, because the longer you wait the worse the situation will become and then a person will likely have residual effects from the accident. Let Dr. Stein heal you back to health with his powerful system of healing.

Here are a list of the following conditions that Dr. Stein treats in the office:

 1) Plantar Fasciitis- When your first few steps out of bed in the morning cause severe pain in the heel of your foot, you may have plantar fasciitis (fashee-EYE-tiss). It's an overuse injury affecting the sole or flexor surface (plantar) of the foot. A diagnosis of plantar fasciitis means you have inflamed the tough, fibrous band of tissue (fascia) connecting your heel bone to the base of your toes.

You're more likely to get the condition if you're a woman, if you're overweight, or if you have a job that requires a lot of walking or standing on hard surfaces. You're also at risk if you walk or run for exercise, especially if you have tight calf muscles that limit how far you can flex your ankles. People with very flat feet or very high arches are also more prone to plantar fasciitis.

The condition starts gradually with mild pain at the heel bone often referred to as a stone bruise. You're more likely to feel it after (not during) exercise. The pain classically occurs again after arising from a midday lunch break.

If you don't treat plantar fasciitis, it may become a chronic condition. You may not be able to keep up your level of activity and you may also develop symptoms of foot, knee, hip and back problems because of the way plantar fasciitis changes the way you walk

2) Ankle Sprains- The most common type of ankle injury is a sprain. A sprain is stretching and tearing of ligaments (fibrous bands connecting adjacent bones in a joint.) There are many ligaments around the ankle and these can become damaged when the ankle is forced into a postion not normally encountered.

The most frequently seen sprain occurs when weight is applied to a foot which is on an uneven surface, and the foot "rolls in" (inversion). Because the sole of the foot is pointing inward as force is applied, the ligaments stabilizing the lateral - or outside - part of the ankle are stressed. Many patients report hearing a "snap" or "pop" at the time of the injury. This is usually followed by pain and swelling on the lateral aspect of the ankle.

3) Tendonitis - Sometimes the tendons become inflamed for a variety of reasons, and the action of pulling the muscle becomes irritating. If the normal smooth gliding motion of your tendon is impaired, the tendon will become inflamed and movement will become painful. This is called tendonitis, and literally means inflammation of the tendon.

What causes tendonitis?

The most common cause of tendonitis is overuse. Commonly, individuals begin an exercise program, or increase their level of exercise, and begin to experience symptoms of tendonitis. The tendon is unaccustomed to the new level of demand, and this overuse will cause an inflammation and tendonitis.

Another common cause of symptoms of tendonitis is due to age-related changes of the tendon. As people age, the tendons loose their elasticity and ability to glide as smoothly as they used to. With increasing age, individuals are more prone to developing symptoms of tendonitis. The cause of these age-related changes is not entirely understood, but may be due to changes in the blood vessels that supply nutrition to the tendons.

Sometimes, there is an anatomical cause for tendonitis. If the tendon does not have a smooth path to glide along, it will be more likely to become irritated and inflamed. In these unusual situations, surgical treatment may be necessary to realign the tendon.

4) Knee Injuries - If you've ever injured your knee, you're not alone. Knee injuries have actually become pretty common. One of the main reasons they're common is that with so many teens playing sports, knees can be overused, leading to several types of injuries, some of which can't be repaired. So what are some of these knee injuries and what can you do to prevent them?

Common causes for injuries are overuse (from repetitive motions, like in many sports), sudden stops or twists, or direct blows to the knee. Here are some of the more common injuries: Sprains, Strains, Tendinitis, Bursitis, Meniscal Tears, Fractures, Dislocations, and Cartilage injuries.

5) Low Back Pain - Low back pain is pain affecting the lower part of the back. It is described as:

• Acute if it has lasted less than 6 weeks.
  
• Sub-acute if it has lasted 6-12 weeks.
  
• Chronic if it has lasted more than 12 weeks.

Low back pain is very common, costing millions in lost work, as well as millions in medical, state and insurance resources every year.

Low back pain means a pain or ache somewhere between the bottom of the ribs, at the back, and the top of the legs. The pain often begins suddenly, and may follow an obvious strain or injury, but may seem to come on "out of the blue", or come on slowly.

The pain may travel to or be felt elsewhere. It often goes into the buttocks, but may go further down the leg and even into the foot.

The pain may be worse on bending and is often worse sitting, especially in an easy chair. Sometimes turning over in bed and sitting up are agonising. Coughing or sneezing can often make the pain much worse. The muscles of the back may go into painful spasm.

Back pain may be combined with pain into the leg, travelling down below the knee, this is otherwise known as sciatica, because the main nerve to the leg (the sciatic nerve) is being irritated by pressure on it.

6) Disc Herniations -You've probably heard people say they have a "slipped" or "ruptured" disk in their neck or lower back. What they're actually describing is a herniated disk, a common source of neck, or lower back and arm or leg pain.

Disks are soft, rubbery pads found between the hard bones (vertebrae) that make up the spinal column. In the middle of the spinal column is the spinal canal-a hollow space that contains the spinal cord and other nerve roots. The disks between the vertebrae allow the back to flex or bend. Disks also act as shock absorbers.

Disks in the lumbar spine (low back) are composed of a thick outer ring of cartilage (annulus) and an inner gel-like substance (nucleus). In the cervical spine (neck), the disks are similar but smaller in size. A helpful comparison is a jelly donut: its thick outer portion represents the annulus, while the jelly is similar to the nucleus.

A disk herniates or ruptures when part of the center nucleus pushes through the outer edge of the disk. To continue with the donut analogy, the jelly pushes backwards toward the spinal canal. This puts pressure on the nerves. Spinal nerves are very sensitive to even slight amounts of pressure. Pain, numbness or weakness may occur in one or both legs.

7) Carpal Tunnel - Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers (although not the little finger), as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move. The carpal tunnel - a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand ¾ houses the median nerve and tendons. Sometimes, thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be compressed. The result may be pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm. Although painful sensations may indicate other conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common and widely known of the entrapment neuropathies in which the body's peripheral nerves are compressed or traumatized.

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling, or itching numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers. Some carpal tunnel sufferers say their fingers feel useless and swollen, even though little or no swelling is apparent. The symptoms often first appear in one or both hands during the night, since many people sleep with flexed wrists. A person with carpal tunnel syndrome may wake up feeling the need to "shake out" the hand or wrist. As symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. In chronic and/or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away. Some people are unable to tell between hot and cold by touch.

What are the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is often the result of a combination of factors that increase pressure on the median nerve and tendons in the carpal tunnel, rather than a problem with the nerve itself. Most likely the disorder is due to a congenital predisposition - the carpal tunnel is simply smaller in some people than in others. Other contributing factors include trauma or injury to the wrist that cause swelling, such as sprain or fracture; overactivity of the pituitary gland; hypothyroidism; rheumatoid arthritis; mechanical problems in the wrist joint; work stress; repeated use of vibrating hand tools; fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause; or the development of a cyst or tumor in the canal. In some cases no cause can be identified.

There is little clinical data to prove whether repetitive and forceful movements of the hand and wrist during work or leisure activities can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Repeated motions performed in the course of normal work or other daily activities can result in repetitive motion disorders such as bursitis and tendonitis. Writer's cramp - a condition in which a lack of fine motor skill coordination and ache and pressure in the fingers, wrist, or forearm is brought on by repetitive activity - is not a symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome.

8) Tennis Elbow - Tennis elbow is a degenerative condition of the tendon fibers that attach on the bony prominence (epicondyle) on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow. The tendons involved are responsible for anchoring the muscles that extend or lift the wrist and hand (see Figure 1).

Risk Factors/Prevention

Tennis elbow happens mostly in patients between the ages of 30 years to 50 years. It can occur in any age group. Tennis elbow can affect as many as half of athletes in racquet sports. However, most patients with tennis elbow are not active in racquet sports. Most of the time, there is not a specific traumatic injury before symptoms start. Many individuals with tennis elbow are involved in work or recreational activities that require repetitive and vigorous use of the forearm muscles (see Table 1). Some patients develop tennis elbow without any specific recognizable activity leading to symptoms.

Symptoms: Patients often complain of severe, burning pain on the outside part of the elbow. In most cases, the pain starts in a mild and slow fashion. It gradually worsens over weeks or months. The pain can be made worse by pressing on the outside part of the elbow or by gripping or lifting objects. Lifting even very light objects (such as a small book or a cup of coffee) can lead to significant discomfort. In more severe cases, pain can occur with simple motion of the elbow joint. Pain can radiate to the forearm.

9) Golfer’s Elbow - Medial Epicondylitis is usually referred to as "Golfer's Elbow", not because only golfers develop the ailment, but because that activity is a common cause of the problem.

There are many other activities that can result in Golfer's Elbow such as working out at the gym or simply working in front of a computer for prolonged periods. Each of these activities use the same muscles repetitively and can result in the inflammation of muscles, ligaments & tendons.

Symptoms of Golfer’s Elbow

• Tenderness and pain at the medial epicondyle, made worse by flexing the wrist. The pain may spread down the forearm. Activities that use the flexor muscles like bending the wrist or grasping can make matters worse.
  
• Pain caused by lifting or bending the arm or grasping even light objects such as a coffee cup.
  
• Difficulty extending the forearm fully (because of inflamed muscles, tendons and ligaments).
  
• Pain that typically lasts for 6 to 12 weeks; the discomfort can continue for as little as 3 weeks or as long as several years. 

10) Shoulder Injuries - The shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body. It is our shoulders that allow us to put our hands where they need to be for work, play, and all of our daily activities. To manage this, the shoulder has to have the right balance of strength, flexibility, and stability. Loss of this balance can lead to pain and injury. Maintaining this balance through exercises aimed at stretching and strengthening can help avoid shoulder problems.

The shoulder is at risk for injury in many sports. The rotator cuff (see above) can be injured through overuse or through trauma. Rotator cuff tendinitis is common in overhead sports such as baseball, tennis, volleyball, and swimming. Rotator cuff tears can occur if the tendons are overloaded in weight lifting or football. There are ligaments which hold the shoulder bone in its socket. The shoulder has a very large range of motion, and needs some flexibility of the ligaments to allow for that range. But if the ligaments become stretched or torn, this can lead to instability. A mild amount of instability will allow the shoulder to slip part way out of socket, called a subluxation. When the shoulder comes completely out of its socket this is called a dislocation. Subluxation or dislocation can occur with nearly all sport activities. The ligaments of the shoulder are attached to the socket at the labrum. Tearing of the labrum sometimes occurs with instability. Another part of the shoulder commonly injured is the acromioclavicular or AC joint. The clavicle or collarbone meets the shoulder at the acromion where a small joint is found. This joint can be injured to varying degrees in a fall onto the outside part of the shoulder. Injury to the AC joint is called an AC separation. AC separations occur in contact sports and are frequently seen in skiing and biking falls. Clavicle fractures are common injuries seen frequently in sports where speed or contact are involved.

 Please contact the office at the 310-308-2932 if you have any one of these conditions and need treatment for any these conditions. All protocols are a whole body approach that incorporate, nutrition, vitamins and minerals, homeopathic remedies, detoxification, muscles integrity and structural integrity.

Tinnitus can be extremely disturbing to people who have it. In many cases it is not a serious problem, but rather a nuisance that may go away. However, some people with tinnitus may require medical or surgical treatment. Twelve million Americans have tinnitus, and one million experience it so severely it interferes with their daily activities.

Tinnitus can arise in any of the four sections of the hearing system: the outer ear, the middle ear, the inner ear, and the brain. Some tinnitus or "head noise" is normal. A number of techniques and treatments may be of help, depending on the cause.

• Some of the most common include a sound of crickets or roaring, buzzing, hissing, whistling, and high-pitched ringing.
  
• Other types of tinnitus include a clicking or pulsatile tinnitus (the noise accompanies your heartbeat).
  
• The most common type of tinnitus is known as subjective tinnitus, meaning that you hear a sound but it cannot be heard by others.
  
• A much more uncommon sort is called objective tinnitus, meaning your doctor may sometimes actually hear a sound when he or she is carefully listening for it.

Tinnitus Causes

Tinnitus is not a disease in itself but rather a reflection of something else that is going on in the hearing system or brain.

• Probably the most common cause for tinnitus is hearing loss. As we age, or because of trauma to the ear (through noise, drugs, or chemicals), the portion of the ear that allows us to hear, the cochlea, becomes damaged. 
  
  
  • Current theories suggest that because the cochlea is no longer sending the normal signals to the brain, the brain becomes confused and essentially develops its own noise to make up for the lack of normal sound signals. This then is interpreted as a sound, tinnitus.
    
  • This tinnitus can be made worse by anything that makes our hearing worse, such as ear infection or excess wax in the ear.
    
  • Tinnitus caused by ear trauma is usually noticed in both ears, because both ears are usually exposed to the same noises, drugs, and other influences
    
  • Loud noise exposure is a very common cause of tinnitus today, and it often damages hearing as well. Unfortunately, many people are unconcerned about the harmful effects of excessively loud noise from firearms, high intensity music, or other sources.
  
  
  
  • Ten million Americans have suffered irreversible noise-induced hearing loss, and 30 million more are exposed to dangerous noise levels each day, according to the NIDCD.
  
  
• Other causes of tinnitus include drugs such as aspirin (if overused), aminoglycoside antibiotics (a powerful form of infection-fighting drug), and quinine.
  
• Meniere's disease includes dizziness, tinnitus, and fullness in the ear or hearing loss that can last for hours, but then goes away. This disease is actually caused by a problem in the ear itself. The tinnitus is merely a symptom.
  
• A rare cause of subjective tinnitus includes a certain type of brain tumor known as an acoustic neuroma. The tumors grow on the nerve that supplies hearing and can cause tinnitus. This type of tinnitus is usually only noticed in one ear, unlike the more common sort caused by hearing loss usually seen in both ears.
  
• Causes of objective tinnitus are usually easier to find.
  
  Pulsatile tinnitus is usually related to blood flow, either through normal or abnormal blood vessels near the ear. Causes of pulsatile tinnitus include pregnancy, anemia (lack of blood cells), overactive thyroid, or tumors involving blood vessels near the ear. Pulsatile tinnitus can also be caused by a condition known as benign intracranial hypertension-an increase in the pressure of the fluid surrounding the brain.
  
  Clicking types of objective tinnitus can be caused by jaw joint misalignment (TMJ) problems or muscles of the ear or throat "twitching."

Tinnitus Symptoms

With tinnitus, you hear a noise that no one around you hears. This noise is usually a buzzing or ringing type sound, but it may be a clicking or rushing sound that goes along with your heartbeat. The sound is sometimes accompanied by hearing loss and dizziness in a syndrome known as Meniere's disease.

The TMJ is comprised of muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and bones. You have two TMJs, one on each side of your jaw.

Muscles involved in chewing (mastication) also open and close the mouth. The jawbone itself, controlled by the TMJ, has two movements: rotation or hinge action, which is opening and closing of the mouth, and gliding action, a movement that allows the mouth to open wider. The coordination of this action also allows you to talk, chew, and yawn.

If you place your fingers just in front of your ears and open your mouth, you can feel the joint and its movement. When you open your mouth, the rounded ends of the lower jaw (condyles) glide along the joint socket of the temporal bone. The condyles slide back to their original position when you close your mouth. To keep this motion smooth, a soft disc of cartilage lies between the condyle and the temporal bone. This disc absorbs shock to the temporomandibular joint from chewing and other movements. Chewing creates a strong force. This disc distributes the forces of chewing throughout the joint space.

TMJ Syndrome Causes

TMJ syndrome can be caused by trauma, disease, wear due to aging, or habits.

• Trauma: Trauma is divided into microtrauma and macrotrauma. Microtrauma is internal, such as bruxism (grinding the teeth) and clenching (jaw tightening). This continual hammering on the temporomandibular joint can change the alignment of the teeth. Muscle involvement causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the joint. Teeth grinding (bruxism) and clenching are habits that may be diagnosed in people who complain of pain in the temporomandibular joint or have facial pain that includes the muscles involved in chewing (myofascial pain). Macrotrauma, such as a punch to the jaw or impact in an accident, can break the jawbone or damage the disc.
  
  
  • Bruxism: Teeth grinding as a habit can result in muscle spasm and inflammatory reactions, thus causing the initial pain. Changes in the normal stimuli or height of the teeth, misalignment of the teeth, and changes in the chewing muscles may cause temporomandibular joint changes. Generally, someone who has a habit of grinding his or her teeth will do so mostly during sleep. In some cases, the grinding may be so loud that it disturbs others.
    
  • Clenching: Someone who clenches continually bites on things while awake. This might be chewing gum, a pen or pencil, or fingernails. The constant pounding on the joint causes the pain. Stress is often blamed for tension in the jaw, leading to a clenched jaw.
  
  
• Osteoarthritis: Like other joints in the body, the jaw joint is prone to undergo arthritic changes. These changes are sometimes caused by breakdown of the joint (degeneration) or normal aging. Degenerative joint disease causes a slow progressive loss of cartilage and formation of new bone at the surface of the joint. Cartilage destruction is a result of several mechanical and biological factors rather than a single entity. Its prevalence increases with repetitive microtrauma or macrotrauma, as well as with normal aging. Immunologic and inflammatory diseases contribute to the progress of the disease.
  
• Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation in joints and can affect the TMJ, especially in children. As it progresses, the disease can cause destruction of cartilage and erode bone, deforming joints. It is an autoimmune disease involving the antibody factor against immunoglobulin G (IgG). Chronic rheumatoid arthritis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder with persistent symmetric joint inflammation.

TMJ Syndrome Symptoms

• Pain in the facial muscles and jaw joints may radiate to the neck or shoulders. Joints may be overstretched. You may experience muscle spasms from TMJ syndrome. You may feel pain every time you talk, chew, or yawn. Pain usually appears in the joint itself, in front of the ear, but it may move elsewhere in the skull, face, or jaw.
  
• TMJ syndrome may cause ear pain, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and hearing loss. Sometimes people mistake TMJ pain for an ear problem, such as an ear infection, when the ear is not the problem at all.
  
• When the joints move, you may hear sounds, such as clicking, grating, and/or popping. Others may also be able to hear the sounds. Clicking and popping are common. This means the disc may be in an abnormal position. Sometimes no treatment is needed if the sounds give you no pain.
  
• Your face and mouth may swell on the affected side.
  
• The jaw may lock wide open (then it is dislocated), or it may not open fully at all. Also, upon opening, the lower jaw may deviate to one side. You may find yourself favoring one painful side or the other by opening your jaw awkwardly. These changes could be sudden. Your teeth may not fit properly together, and your bite may feel odd.
  
• You may have trouble swallowing because of the muscle spasms.
  
• Headache and dizziness may be caused by TMJ syndrome. You may feel nauseous or vomit.

Vertigo Causes

Vertigo can be caused by problems in the brain or the inner ear.

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common form of vertigo and is characterized by the sensation of motion initiated by sudden head movements or moving the head in a certain direction. This type of vertigo is rarely serious and can be treated.
  
• Vertigo may also be caused by inflammation within the inner ear (labyrinthitis), which is characterized by the sudden onset of vertigo and may be associated with hearing loss. The most common cause of labyrinthitis is a viral or bacterial infection.
  
• disease is composed of a triad of symptoms: episodes of vertigo, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss. People have the abrupt onset of severe vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, as well as periods in which they are symptom-free.
  
• Acoustic neuroma is a type of tumor that can cause vertigo. Symptoms include vertigo with one-sided ringing in the ear and hearing loss.
  
• Vertigo can be caused by decreased blood flow to the base of the brain. Bleeding into the back of the brain (cerebellar hemorrhage) is characterized by vertigo, headache, difficulty walking, and inability to look toward the side of the bleed. The result is that the person's eyes gaze away from the side with the problem. Walking is also extremely impaired.
  
• Vertigo is often the presenting symptom in multiple sclerosis. The onset is usually abrupt, and examination of the eyes may reveal the inability of the eyes to move past the midline toward the nose.
  
• Head trauma and neck injury may also result in vertigo, which usually goes away on its own.
  
• Migraine, a severe form of headache, may also cause vertigo. The vertigo is usually followed by a headache. There is often a prior history of similar episodes but no lasting problems

Vertigo Symptoms

Vertigo implies that there is a sensation of motion either of the person or the environment. This should not be confused with symptoms of lightheadedness or fainting.

• If true vertigo exists, there is a sensation of disorientation or motion. In addition, the patient may also have any or all of these symptoms:
  
  
  • Nausea or vomiting
    
  • Sweating
    
  • Abnormal eye movements
  
  
• The duration of symptoms can be from minutes to hours, and symptoms can be constant or episodic. The onset may be due to a movement or change in position. It is important to tell the doctor about any recent head trauma or whiplash injury as well as any new medications the patient is taking.
  
• The patient may have hearing loss and a ringing sensation in the ears.
  
• The patient might have visual disturbances, weakness, difficulty speaking, decreased level of consciousness, and difficulty walking.