Hormone Health in the Childbearing Years-Article By Dr. Gina Published in LA Parent

April 30, 2014

happy_babyFor National Infertility Week this blog seems most appropriate. We have a great fertility program at HealthBridge Medical Center that helps couples to conceive naturally (when IVF fails or is just not an option for the couple), with the use of bio-identical hormones, detoxification and diet. It is truly amazing what can happen when you give the body what it needs. It heals itself…and if it was possible and meant to be, creates an optimal environment for a child to be born into. The result is a healthier mom, dad and baby.
In health,
Dr. Gina

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Check out the latest article by Dr. Gina, on hormone health in the childbearing years, published in LA Parent magazine.

Click here to access the La Parent article.

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Leave a Comment » | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Latest Nutritional Research, Pregnancy, Toxins and Detoxification, Women's Health | Tagged: , | Permalink
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American Association of University Women to Feature Dr. Gina in Laguna Beach this Thursday 4/24/14

April 23, 2014

A quick note to let you know that Dr. Gina was selected as one of four panelists and will be presenting at the Laguna Beach chapter of the American Association of University Women’s conference this Thursday April 24th from 7-9PM at the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club, 286 St. Ann’s Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. The topic is “Holistic Approaches to Women’s Health.”  Click here for more information!

In health,

HealthBridge Medical Center

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Banned Pesticide Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease

February 13, 2014

DementiaWomanI was discussing the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s disease with a colleague today, while at RoxSpa Newport Beach, and came across this article, also posted today, making the association between the pesticide DDT and the production of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s patients.  Though DDT was banned from use in the US in 1972, other countries continue to use it and consequently the chemical still finds its way into our cells. I’ve taught physicians about the association between DDT and breast cancer in  continuing medical education lectures through the American College for Advancement in Medicine and the American Nutraceutical Association over the years but this is the first reference I’ve seen  making a possible connection to this pesticide’s detrimental effects on the brain.  Read more here.

In health,

Dr. Gina

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Posted by Dr. Gina Nick

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease On the Rise

February 3, 2014

Thyroid_systemAutoimmune reactions to the thyroid gland go largely undetected and cause many deleterious health effects including unexplained fatigue, weight gain, infertility and depression. There are an estimated 13 million Americans each year that have this treatable condition that go undiagnosed and needlessly suffer.  And I predict that this number will rise dramatically, as we are exposed to more radiation and environmental toxins then ever before. Click here for a recent article on this topic published in the Journal of the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine.  I have given lectures for thousands of physicians over the years on ways to properly diagnose and treat this condition, and hopefully their patients are benefiting from the training.  Our patients experience “miraculous” health benefits from proper treatment using prescription natural thyroid medication and simple diet and lifestyle changes. Their depression lifts, weight is no longer an issue, and energy levels rise.

Here’s to a healthy new you in the new year!

–Dr. Gina

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Posted by Dr. Gina Nick

Thyroid and Infertility

January 6, 2014

happy_babyMillions of people worldwide suffer with infertility and recurrent miscarriage and in thousands of unexplained cases, hypothyroidism may be the underlying cause. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has warned that 1 in 10 Americans suffer from thyroid disease. Despite this staggering statistic, half of patients remain undiagnosed. Many of these people will be in their childbearing years.  Click here to read more about a news release on this topic.

What most doctors do not know is that the timing of when you test for and treat thyroid in pregnancy is crucial in preventing miscarriage.  The type of thyroid treatment is also essential to a healthy outcome.

I will be giving a talk in our medical practice on Wed January 29th at 6:30PM on integrative medical options for  fertility, and how to test for, and treat, thyroid imabalances throughout pregnancy.

In health,

Dr. Gina

2 Comments | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Pregnancy, Thyroid Health, Women's Health | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
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Omega 3 Fatty Acids Cross the Blood Brain Barrier

December 5, 2013

human brainNew research from Karolinska Institute in Sweden shows that omega-3 fatty acids in dietary supplements can cross the blood brain barrier in people with Alzheimer’s disease, affecting known markers for both the disease itself and inflammation. The findings are presented in theJournal of Internal Medicine, and strengthen the evidence that omega-3 may benefit certain forms of this seriously debilitating disease. Click here to read more.

This is yet another published study that demonstrates how proper fatty acid balance in the blood stream can prevent and treat diseases with an inflammatory component.  The research to date points to benefit of the essential fatty acids in the following conditions:

Cardiovascular Health

  • Endocrine influence
  • Glucose maintenance
  • Lipids and triglycerides
  • Metabolic parameters
  • Primary prevention
  • Secondary prevention

Children’s Health and Development

  • Adolescent and teen health
  • ASD – Autism spectrum disorders
  • Attention, learning, and behavior
  • Disease prevention
  • Neurological development
  • Intelligence
  • Vision

Female Health and Reproduction

  • Peri-and post-menopause
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding
  • Puberty and menstrual years

Immune Health

  • Acute infections
  • Allergies
  • Chronic immune deficiencies

Joint and Tissue Inflammation

  • Intestinal health
  • Joint flexibility & mobility

Lifestyle and Healthy Living

  • Alcohol and tobacco use
  • Body fat/weight
  • Fitness
  • Healthful living
  • Stress

Mental/Neurological Health

  • CNS Developement
  • Cognitive function/agent
  • Depression and mood
  • Mental balance

In our concierge medical practice we test the blood for over 30 fatty acids to identify what specifically is out of balance and needs treatment. In some patients, too many of the omega 3 fatty acids can suppress important components of immune function and can promote tumor growth.  In some patients their level of trans fatty acids (hydrogenated fats) are the culprit in blocking cell to cell communication.  Other patients  may only need DHA but not GLA.  And so forth. This is why testing, and getting an individualized report on what your body needs, will lead to a more positive outcome in terms of managing your long term health.

In health,

Dr. Gina

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Pesticides and Endometriosis

November 5, 2013

FishJumpingoutofBowlToxicWhy some women and not others get endometriosis — the growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus that can cause pain and infertility — is not known, but researchers have come up with one possible contributing factor: pesticide poisoning.

Scientists studied 248 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis and 538 healthy controls. They measured blood levels of two pesticides, mirex and beta HCH, which persist in some fish and dairy products even though their use in the United States has been banned for decades. The study appears online in Environmental Health Perspectives.

The researchers found that women with the highest exposure to mirex had a 50 percent increased risk for endometriosis, and those exposed to high levels of beta HCH a 30 to 70 percent increased risk.

Read more here.

This study points to the importance of thinking about the long-term impact that pesticides and other environmental pollutants have on our health.  This particular pesticide, Mirex, has been banned for twenty plus years, yet it is increasing the risk of endometriosis and associated infertility today. The effects of these chemicals linger and get stored in the food supply, the soil, our cells.

The good news is that the more information is released like this, and the more aware we are,  the more we, as scientists, healthcare professionals, farmers, and consumers, will focus (hopefully) on less toxic means of managing pests in our environment.

In health,

Dr. Gina

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Posted by Dr. Gina Nick

How to Avoid the 12 Known Chemicals that Cause Hormone Imbalance

November 2, 2013

pesticideThe Environmental Working Group has published an excellent article detailing the 12 most common chemicals in our environment that cause hormone disruption leading to everything from cancer to infertility to shrunken testicles…and actions you can take today to help protect yourself and your family from harm.

The first step is to remove the source of the chemicals if you can. Read here to learn more.

The second step is to support the body’s natural detoxification processes daily, and seasonally, through medically supervised detoxification programs that are customized to your specific situation, your lab test results and your metabolism.

No one can afford to ignore this issue. Chemicals in our environment can cause irreversible harm to our health, if we allow it.

In health,

Dr. Gina

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BPA and the Risk of Miscarriage

October 16, 2013

New research suggests that high levels of BPA, a chemical in many plastics and canned food linings, might raise the risk of miscarriage in women prone to that problem or having trouble getting pregnant.

The work is not nearly enough to prove a link, but it adds to “the biological plausibility” that BPA might affect fertility and other aspects of health, said Dr. Linda Giudice, a California biochemist who is president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The study was to be presented Monday at the group’s annual conference in Boston. Last month, ASRM and an obstetricians group urged more attention to environmental chemicals and their potential hazards for pregnant women.

BPA, short for bisphenol-A, and certain other environmental chemicals can have very weak, hormone-like effects. Tests show BPA in nearly everyone’s urine, though the chemical has been removed from baby bottles and many reusable drink containers in recent years. The federal Food and Drug Administration says BPA is safe as used now in other food containers. Read more by clicking here.

When treating infertility one arm of treatment involves detoxification and removing exposure to chemicals such as BPA (there are many more) that alter hormone balance and affect fertility.

In health,

Dr. GinaImage

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ADHD Linked to Allergies and Asthma in Boys

September 25, 2013

autismBoys diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are more likely also to have asthma, allergies and skin infections than youngsters without ADHD, a new study finds, suggesting a possible link between these conditions. Of those in the study, boys newly diagnosed with ADHD were 40 percent more likely to have asthma, 50 percent more likely to have needed a prescription for allergy medicine and 50 percent more likely to have had a bacterial skin infection than other boys. “Our study provides additional evidence to support the hypothesis that atopic disorders, such as asthma and food allergies increase the risk of developing ADHD,” the authors wrote, adding that further research is necessary to determine just how these conditions might be connected. Their results were published in the August issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Read more here.

Naturopathic Medical Doctors have seen this connection for a long time. Inflammatory conditions such as asthma and allergies trigger behavioral disorders.  To successfully treat ADHD we must address allergies, and additional underlying factors that cause inflammation.

In health,

Dr. Gina

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