Conditions Addressed (Click to view description)

• Obesity, Overweight
  Obesity, Overweight
  

  Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.
  
  For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the body mass index' (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat. An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. It is important to remember that BMI does not directly measure body fat. As a result, some people, such as athletes, may have a BMI that identifies them as overweight even though they do not have excess body fat.
  
  Other methods of estimating body fat and body fat distribution include measurements of skinfold thickness and waist circumference, calculation of waist-to-hip circumference ratios, and techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  For children and teens, BMI ranges above a normal weight have different labels (at risk of overweight and overweight). Additionally, BMI ranges for children and teens are defined so that they take into account normal differences in body fat between boys and girls and differences in body fat at various ages.
  
  BMI is just one indicator of potential health risks associated with being overweight or obese. For assessing someone's likelihood of developing overweight- or obesity-related diseases, take a look at two other predictors: 1) Waist circumference (because abdominal fat is a predictor of risk for obesity-related diseases) and 2) Other risk factors the individual has for diseases and conditions associated with obesity (for example, high blood pressure or physical inactivity).
  
  Obesity increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions. These include; Hypertension (high blood pressure), Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint), Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides), Type 2 diabetes, Coronary heart disease, Stroke, Gallbladder disease, Sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon).
• Aging
  Aging
  

  Given the increased number of Baby Boomers in the US society, more and more of the population is concerned with Aging. Based on a survey conducted in 1999, it was estimated that at least 40 percent of older Americans used some form of herbal or specialty supplement during that year. Reasons for their use include maintenance of overall health, increase of energy, improving memory, preventing or treating illness, and slowing the aging process.
  
  The average age of the world's population is increasing at an unprecedented rate. The number of people worldwide age 65 and older is estimated at 506 million as of midyear 2008; by 2040, that number will hit 1.3 billion. Thus, in just over 30 years, the proportion of older people will double from 7 percent to 14 percent of the total world population, according to a new report, "An Aging World: 2008."
  
  The report examines the demographic and socioeconomic trends accompanying this phenomenon. It was commissioned by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, and produced by the U.S. Census Bureau.
  
  "An Aging World: 2008" examines nine international population trends identified in 2007 by the NIA and the U.S. Department of State ("Why Population Aging Matters: A Global Perspective"). "An Aging World: 2008" contains detailed information on life expectancy, health, disability, gender balance, marital status, living arrangements, education and literacy, labor force participation and retirement, and pensions among older people around the world.
  
  "Aging is affecting every country in every part of the world," said Richard Suzman, Ph.D., director of NIA's Division of Behavioral and Social Research. "While there are important differences between developed and developing countries, global aging is changing the social and economic nature of the planet and presenting difficult challenges. The fact that, within 10 years, for the first time in human history there will be more people aged 65 and older than children under 5 in the world underlines the extent of this change."
  
  Highlights of the report include:
  
  * While developed nations have relatively high proportions of people aged 65 and older, the most rapid increases in the older population are in the developing world. The current rate of growth of the older population in developing countries is more than double that in developed countries, and is also double that of the total world population.
  
  * As of 2008, 62 percent (313 million) of the world's people aged 65 and older lived in developing countries. By 2040, today's developing countries are likely to be home to more than 1 billion people aged 65 and over, 76 percent of the projected world total.
  
  * The oldest old, people aged 80 and older, are the fastest growing portion of the total population in many countries. Globally, the oldest old population is projected to increase 233 percent between 2008 and 2040, compared with 160 percent for the population aged 65 and over and 33 percent for the total population of all ages.
  
  * The 65-and-older population in China and India alone numbered 166 million in 2008, nearly one-third of the world's total. Issues related to population aging in the world's two most populous nations will be accentuated in the coming decades as the absolute number climbs to 551 million in 2040 (329 million in China and 222 million in India).
  
  * Childlessness among European and U.S. women aged 65 in 2005 ranged from less than 8 percent in the Czech Republic to 15 percent in Austria and Italy. Twenty percent of women aged 40-44 in the United States in 2006 had no biologic children. These data raise questions about the provision of care when this cohort reaches advanced ages.
  
  * Older people provide support to as well as receive support from their children. In countries with well-established pension and social security programs, many older adults provide shelter and financial assistance to their adult children and grandchildren. Older people in developing countries, although less likely to provide financial help to children, make substantial contributions to family well-being through such activities as household maintenance and grandchild care.
• Candidiasis
  Candidiasis
  

  Candidiasis is a fungal infection that occurs when there is overgrowth of fungus called Candida. Candida is normally found on the skin or mucous membranes. Depending on which part of the body is involved, the overgrowth has different names and different symptoms.
  
  Most cases of Candida infection are caused by the person's own Candida organisms. Candida yeasts usually live in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, and vagina without causing symptoms. Symptoms develop only when Candida becomes overgrown in these sites. Rarely, Candida can be passed from person to person, such as through sexual intercourse.
  
  Candidiasis of the mouth and throat is also known as a 'thrush' or oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC). It can affect normal newborns, persons with dentures, and people who use inhaled corticosteroids. It occurs more frequently and more severely in people with weakened immune systems, particularly in persons with AIDS and people undergoing treatment for cancer.
  
  People with OPC infection usually have painless, white patches in the mouth. Others may have redness and soreness of the inside of the mouth. Cracking at the corners of the mouth, known as angular cheilitis, may occur. Symptoms of Candida esophagitis may include pain and difficulty swallowing. Symptoms, which may be uncomfortable, may persist. In rare cases, invasive candidiasis may occur. Other conditions can cause similar symptoms, so it is important to see your health care practitioner.
  
  Overgrowth of Candidia in the vagina is also known as a 'yeast infection' or VVC. Candida can multiply when an imbalance occurs, such as when the normal acidity of the vagina changes or when hormonal balance changes. When that happens, symptoms of candidiasis appear.
  
  Women with VVC usually experience genital itching or burning, with or without a 'cottage cheese-like' vaginal discharge. Males with genital candidiasis may experience an itchy rash on the penis.
  
  Nearly 75% of all adult women have had at least one genital 'yeast infection' in their lifetime. On rare occasions, men may also experience genital candidiasis. VVC occurs more frequently and more severely in people with weakened immune systems. Some conditions that may put a woman at risk for genital candidiasis are: pregnancy, Diabetes Mellitus, use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and use of corticosteroid medications.
  
  There are many different treatments for Candidiasis available whether from mainstream medicine, or complementary, alternative, and/or integrative practitioners. Make sure to look at all your options and chose the best one for you.
  
  Because VVC and urinary tract infections share similar symptoms, such as a burning sensation when urinating, it is important to see a health care practitioner and obtain laboratory testing to determine the cause of the symptoms and to treat effectively.
  
  Invasive candidiasis is a fungal infection that occurs when Candida species enter the blood, causing bloodstream infection and then spreading throughout the body.
  
  One form of invasive candidiasis is called Candidemia, which is a bloodstream infection with Candida. Persons at high risk for Candidemia include very-low-birth-weight babies, surgical patients, hospitalized patients or patients with a central venous catheter, and those whose immune systems are weakened.
  
  The symptoms of invasive candidiasis are not specific. Fever and chills that do not improve after antibiotic therapy are the most common symptoms. If the infection spreads to deep organs such as kidneys, liver, bones, muscles, joints, spleen, or eyes, additional specific symptoms may develop, which vary depending on the site of infection. If the infection does not respond to treatment, the patient's organs may fail and cause death.
  
  Invasive candidiasis is extremely rare in persons without risk factors. In persons at risk, invasive candidiasis may result when a person's own Candida organisms, normally found in the digestive tract, enter the bloodstream. On rare occasions, it can also occur when medical equipment or devices become contaminated with Candida. In either case, the infection may spread throughout the body.
• Cholesterol
  Cholesterol
  

  Hypercholesterolemia, Hyperlipidemia, Hyperlipoproteinemia, HDL, LDL
  
  Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them.
  
  High levels of cholesterol in the blood, Hypercholesterolemia/Hyperlipidemia, can increase your risk of heart disease. Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high blood cholesterol, but it can be detected with a blood test. You are likely to have high cholesterol if members of your family have it, if you are overweight or if you eat a lot of fatty foods.
• Diabetes
  Diabetes
  

  Diabetes is a chronic condition affecting millions of Americans. There are 3 main types of Diabetes, Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases and occurs more frequently in older people. Type 1 diabetes, which accounts for 5 to 10 percent of cases, usually strikes children and young adults. A third form, gestational diabetes, develops in some women during pregnancy.
  
  In all forms of diabetes, the body's ability to convert food into energy is impaired. After a meal, the body breaks down most food into glucose (a kind of sugar), the main source of fuel for cells. In people with diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin (a hormone that helps glucose enter cells) or the cells do not respond to insulin properly. Often, both insulin production and insulin action are impaired. Without treatment, glucose builds up in the blood instead of moving into the cells, where it can be converted into energy. Over time, the high blood glucose levels caused by diabetes can damage many parts of the body, including the heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves, feet, and skin. Such complications can be prevented or delayed by controlling blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
  
  Type 2 diabetes most often is associated with older age (although it is increasingly being diagnosed in children), obesity (about 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight), a family history of diabetes, and lack of physical activity. Certain minority population groups are at greater risk, as are women who have had gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in which cells do not use insulin properly. Symptoms develop gradually and may include fatigue, frequent urination, excessive thirst and hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds or sores. However, it is possible to have type 2 diabetes without experiencing any symptoms.
• GERD, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
  GERD, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
  

  Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly.

  Since the esophagus is like a hose that connects your mouth and your stomach, if the end connected to your stomach is left slightly open and leaking you will have symptoms of acid indigestion. These can include typical feelings of "heartburn" like burning in the chest or throat, or tasting stomach fluid in your mouth. GERD is considered a possible diagnosis if you have these symptoms greater than two times in a week. GERD can occur in people of all ages. Sometimes babies, toddlers, and children experience it too.

  If GERD is suspected, you should seek care because having this condition for extended periods of time can lead to other more serious conditions. There are many options for people with GERD that seek out a practitioner of complementary, alternative, integrative, or conventional medicine for assistance and care.
• Hypoglycemia, Low blood sugar
  Hypoglycemia, Low blood sugar
  

  When the amount of glucose in your blood is low and the body is not able to release more from the muscles and liver, a condition of Hypoglycemia, Low blood sugar, exists. You may feel hungry, light headed, confused and your hands may shake. Glucose is a very important form of sugar that your body uses to make energy. You get glucose from the foods you eat, as well as the body's' ability to release stored glucose from your muscles and liver.
  
  People of all different ages and backgrounds can have Hypoglycemia. It is common in insulin dependent diabetics because sometimes the dose of insulin given is too high and it takes too much of the glucose out of the blood. This is a serious problem and needs doctor attention immediately. Not all people with Hypoglycemia are Diabetic; you can have either one without the other.
• Insomnia
  Insomnia
  

  Insomnia is characterized by an inability to initiate or maintain sleep. It can also present as early morning awakening where a person awakens several hours early and is unable to go back to sleep. Difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep may often present itself as excessive daytime sleepiness, which commonly results in functional impairment throughout the day. Before being diagnosed with primary insomnia, other potential causes need to be ruled out, such as other sleep disorders, side effects of medications, substance abuse, depression, or other previously undetected illness. Chronic psychophysiological insomnia (or "learned" or "conditioned" insomnia) may result from a stressor combined with fear of being unable to sleep. People affected with this condition may sleep better when not in their own beds.
• Menopause, Change of Life
  Menopause, Change of Life
  

  Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her period stops and she can no longer become pregnant. It is a normal change in a woman's body. Menopause can occur naturally or be caused by surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. A woman is said to have completed natural menopause when she has not had a period for 12 consecutive months (and there are no other causes, such as pregnancy or illness, for this change). This typically happens after age 45. Menopause occurs immediately if the uterus or both ovaries are surgically removed, or if the ovaries are damaged in cancer treatment with radiation therapy or certain drugs.
  
  Menopause is sometimes called,'the change of life.' In the years leading up to menopause, a woman's ovaries slowly make less and less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. You might not be aware of the changes happening in your body. Or, you might have symptoms as you near menopause. Many women wonder if these symptoms are normal, and many are confused about how to treat their symptoms.
  
  Menopause affects every woman differently. Your only symptom may be your period stopping. You may have other symptoms, too. Some symptoms that women experience are related to menopause and decreased activity of the ovaries. Others may be related to aging in general.
  
  Scientific evidence of a link to menopause is strongest for the following symptoms; hot flashes and night sweats, sleep difficulties, and vaginal dryness, which can lead to painful intercourse and other sexual problems.
  
  It is not certain whether the following symptoms are due to menopause, other factors that can come with aging or a combination of menopause and these factors; problems in thinking or in remembering things, urinary incontinence, physical complaints, such as tiredness and stiff or painful joints, and changes in mood, such as depression, anxiety, and/or irritability.
  
  After menopause, bone loss speeds up for several years as estrogen levels rapidly decrease. Bone loss can cause bones to weaken. Weak bones can break more easily. When bones weaken a lot, the condition is called osteoporosis.
• Stress
  Stress
  

  Stress is a condition that develops when the demands on an individual begin to outweigh the capabilities and resources available to that individual. In other words; what is expected of you is putting too much pressure on you because you don't feel you have the "tools" to perform the task. A few examples of these "tools" are emotions, energy, physical strength, and mental ability. Stress can be related to things both inside and outside the body. Some examples of things outside the body that cause stress can be related to a job, home life, and interactions with others. Things inside the body that affect a person's stress level can include the availability of proper nutrients, the proper functioning of the parts of the body, the emotional state of being, and the abundance or lack of sleep per night.
  
  The most common view of stress is a negative one; however, there are positive biological reasons for a "stress state" that help us handle stressful situations. A problem arises when there are too many of these situations occurring and the mind becomes emotionally over whelmed, the body becomes biologically overly stimulated and the person is in a general state of over reacting.
  
  If a person remains in this over reactive state medical conditions can develop. Every person is different from another and displays stress differently; however, there are some common symptoms of negative stress such as sleep disturbances, muscle tension, headache, gastrointestinal disturbances, and fatigue. Emotional and behavioral symptoms that can accompany excess stress include nervousness, anxiety, changes in eating habits including overeating, loss of enthusiasm or energy, and mood changes.
  
  If a person in an over reactive, negative stress state does not get help when these symptoms appear, more severe problems and disease states can occur. These can be psychological disorders (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder), maladaptive behaviors (aggression, substance abuse), cognitive impairment, and physical disorders (cardiovascular, thyroid disease).
  
  Anyone in any age group can experience negative stress. Some common groups of people that experience increased negative stress due to life transitions are children, teens, working parents, and seniors. If you feel that you or someone you know is in an over reactive, negative stress state, please seek care. There are many different healthcare workers that are available to help you.

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Financial Information

Average Cost per Initial Visit: $1 - $50
Average Cost per Session: $76 - $100
Credit Cards Accepted? yes
Insurance Accepted? no