Archives for Articles & White Papers
Traumatic Brain Injury in Amateur and Professional Athletes
The idea of getting injuries seems par for the course in athletics, but our common idea of the depth of injury may be more desensitized than we think. Athletes, both amateur and professional, are subjected to a substantial amount of risk. One of the worst cases is a Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). The risk for this is very real in any rigorous athletic pursuits, but is heightened in contact sports. It is no simple matter, either, as TBI is considered a major cause of death and disability in the United States. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) notes that
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POST-COVID-19 Syndrome
A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted what some people (possibly more women than men) are experiencing after they recovered from the acute COVID-19 illness. The symptoms, which may be relapsing and remitting, are similar to dysautonomia, chronic fatigue syndrome–also called myologic encephalitis [ME], or chronic fatigue immune dysfunction [CFID]– (severe fatigue, brain fog, exercise intolerance, rapid heart rate, inflammation) and can also include recurrences of the original illness such as numbness, gastrointestinal illness, headache, breathing issues, and markedly reduced endurance. While some physicians are attributing these symptoms to anxiety or depression, we believe that is not likely, except to the
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Corona Virus – A Physician’s Perspective
My patients ask, “What should I do to prepare for the Corona Virus?” This is what I’ve shared with them, and now with you… To My Patients, The first issue is, how dangerous is this virus? In China, where the quality of health care is significantly lower than in the US, the mortality rate is about 3.4%. About 84,000 people have been identified as having the virus, and there have been 2869 deaths. In reality, many more people have had the virus, but not been identified, since the symptoms for most people are no different than a cold or mild
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The Link Between Diet, Exercise and Alzheimer’s
A new study finds that lifestyle changes can improve cognition This article published in The Wall Street Journal is a very important and welcome sign that the discussion around Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as well as many other neurodegenerative disorders is shifting. Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are not inevitable, and we do not have to wait around helplessly for the development of medication. We can take action NOW. I would amplify the measures described in this excellent article by adding an assessment of hormones, and the elimination of inflammatory factors (e.g., infections, gastrointestinal disorders, mold exposures). I would lean
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Is This Really Bipolar Disorder?
Is This Really Bipolar Disorder? 18-year-old female freshman in 2012 who presents with rapid cycling bipolar type 1, suicidal at times, insomnia, exhaustion, insomnia, memory issues, tremor, PMS. Atypical presentation: visual and auditory hallucinations/illusions, depersonalization, synthesia; responds well to benzos. Medication failure: Lithium, Lamictal, Seroquel, Xanax, BCP. Chronic sinusitis, ETOH seizures-TLE-like, cataplexy/REM Latency. Diet: High glycemic index. After treatment: 13 months free of any symptoms of bipolar disorder Graduates college without incident. Bipolar disorder triggered by immune dysregulation compromised by hormonal and nutritional factors. 2016 Mold in dorm and Lyme disease = her genetics indicate any immune system insult ➡️C1q
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Hope and Healing Research
Excellent ‘recipe’ book for how to understand how hope can heals us. Dr. Hedaya was recently interviewed by the Integrative Medicine Clinician’s Journal. He was asked about the role of hope in the healing process. This is his response: “Hope is critical in all healing. A book written by Jerome Frank Persuasion and Healing, deals with this topic very effectively. Hopelessness is one of the cardinal features of depression (as is helplessness). Hope and depression are inversely correlated. Hope assists healing and can in and of itself cause healing, but there are many situations (e.g., pernicious anemia leading to panic and depression)
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Five Herbs Plus Thiamine Reduce Pain and Improve Functional Mobility in Patients With Pain
by Robert Hedaya, MD, DLFAPA ABSTRACT Context • Five herbs—Urtica dioica (stinging nettle), Boswellia serrata, Equisetum arvense, Allium sativum, and Apium graveolens—have been demonstrated to have activity at several anti-inflammatory pathways and have analgesic properties that are effective in treating chronic musculoskeletal pain. Objectives • The study intended to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a proprietary blend of U dioica, B serrata, E arvense, A sativum, A graveolens, and thiamine (vitamin B1), or “the blend,” in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Methods • The research team performed a prospective case study. Setting • The study took place at the National
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Suicide: Overlooked Causes You Should Know
I would like to talk with you about a current but very difficult topic…suicide. Statistics show a clear rise in suicide frequency with the highest risk being in white middle-aged males. In my nearly 40-year career, I have treated countless people who have felt suicidal to varying degrees. I have been able to prevent suicide in all cases, largely because I work hard to understand the nature of their depression and anxiety, I connect intensively to my patients, I remain in close contact, I have a very high sensitivity to suicide risk factors, and I use lithium and or hospitalization
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Executive Vitality: Mind-Body Connection
We are believers in the mind-body connection. Each affects the other—no way around it. Therefore, we thought it would be useful to seek out some information from a specialist in holistic medicine. We sought advice from functional medicine doctor, Robert Hedaya, M.D., who takes a holistic physiological and psychosocial approach to health and mental health. We asked what, in his opinion, might be some controllable factors that could enhance your work performance. We thought you might be interested in what he had to say. According to Dr. Hedaya (www.wholepsychiatry.com), any or all of following action steps, if tried for two
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