Dr. Brown's Chiropractic Neurology Blog

Denver Chiropractic Neurologist for Insomnia Speaks: What does my thyroid have to do with sleep?

browncnc — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:15:32 +0000

Thyroid Disease and sleep

Low thyroid or Hypothyroidism is usually secondary to other metabolic problems and frequently it is adrenal malfunction. Chronic adrenal stress affects the relay system between the brain and the thyroid hormones. The hypothalamus and pituitary glands direct thyroid activities. With chronic stress they will mis-communicate with the thyroid. Sometimes a low thyroid burns out the adrenals and sometimes low adrenals burn out the thyroid. In any event, the cascade of metabolic imbalances associated with an under-performing thyroid gland include blood sugar imbalances and poor gut health. The shut down in these important body systems results in abnormal circadian rhythms at night. When the body’s natural rhythms are out of sync, insomnia is a common result.

Which comes first the chicken or the egg? Insomnia is ALWAYS a problem that begins in the Neuro-Immune- Endocrine system. Sometimes it is something simple such as a stressful event such as a death of a loved one or a divorce that raises the output of the Hypothalamus/Pituitary/Adrenal (HPA)axis, and the resultant signals to the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol. In this case when the event is over and the person has grieved properly, the body returns to normal with normal sleep. However when this stress goes on and on, eventually the body loses homeostasis and the system fails. The result can be disastrous to sleep, energy, and joy de vive.

Cortisol is the steroid hormone that mobilizes you and allows you to “run from the tiger” so to speak. However, our bodies are not designed to run from tigers every day. In America,the stress levels are so high that this is exactly what happens though. Over time, with high levels of cortisol (can’t fall asleep), the adrenals burn out and produce low cortisol (can’t stay asleep) and eventually in the state of adrenal exhaustion, one may not be able to fall or stay asleep.

If you have wondered if chiropractic neurology and functional medicine can help you, see a chiropractor. Better yet, see a chiropractic neurologist such as myself, Dr. Scott Brown.

How are we different? We specialize in neurological, immunological, and endocrine rehabilitation without the use of drugs or surgery. Conditions treated include: Sleep Disorders, Cognitive Disorders, Mood Disorders, Balance Disorders (Vertigo, Dizziness, etc.), Headaches, Migraines, Peripheral Neuropathy, Movement Disorders (Tics, Tremors, Tourette’s, etc.), Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ADHD, ADD, OCD, CDD, PDD, Asperger’s, etc), Fibromyalgia, Autoimmune Disorders, Thyroid Disorders, Hormone Disorders, Adrenal Disorders, and Blood Sugar Disorders (Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Hypoglycemia).

Call us today at (303) 986-7600 for a free consultation. We proudly serve Denver, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden, Morrison, and Evergreen.

Denver/ Lakewood Chiropractor

Denver Chiropractic Neurologist for Insomnia Speaks: Prevent Alzheimer’s… Sleep!

browncnc — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:35:01 +0000

Brain degeneration and sleep

There has been an explosion in research on brain function; and, it is largely due to this rising number of Dementia and Alzheimer’s victims. New discoveries about the powerful effects of nutrients, amino acids, bio-flavinoids, and herbs are being published frequently. We now understand how bad guts, diets, adrenals, and blood sugar lead to inflammation and degeneration of the brain. Improving our diet and exercise and decreasing stress, coupled with supplementing with specific nutrients, can put the brakes on brain inflammation and degeneration. By supporting the thyroid, we also support the brain. An unsupported thyroid almost guarantees some form of brain degeneration.

When the brain degenerates, the common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, depression, and insomnia. Insomnia is associated with so many bodily breakdowns because almost all diseases lead to adrenal stress. Some insomniacs will never respond to sleep medications or natural remedies. The reason is that the root cause is not being addressed. Only by looking at a comprehensive history and examination which may include blood, saliva, and stool analysis can the right course of treatment begin.

If you have wondered if chiropractic neurology and functional medicine can help you, see a chiropractor. Better yet, see a chiropractic neurologist such as myself, Dr. Scott Brown.

Call us today at (303) 986-7600 for a free consultation. We proudly serve Denver, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden, Morrison, and Evergreen.

Denver/ Lakewood Chiropractor

Denver Chiropractic Neurologist for Insomnia Speaks: Quality vs. Quantity of sleep

browncnc — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:28:45 +0000

Some insomniacs KNOW that they have trouble sleeping. Others don’t. For instance, many of you wake up tired even after 8 or more hours of sleep. Some of you are refreshed and rested after as little as 5 to 6 hours of sleep. There are many possible reasons for the former. Among them is that the sleep you are getting is fragmented and the normal sleep cycles are not occurring. For instance, you may be in rapid eye movement (REM) or dream sleep all night with no deep sleep.

Another reason that may keep you from waking up rested is Sleep Apnea or Sleep Hypopnea. In Sleep Apnea, one will actually stop breathing. In Sleep Hypopnea, one will have lower levels of Oxygen saturation at night but not actually stop breathing. Either way, without oxygen it is hard to rejuvenate at night without proper oxygen.

Research indicates that as we age, the HPA axis of the brain is altered by high cortisol levels. Cortisol (a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland) has an impact on both REM and deep sleep patterns. Stressful American lifestyles are the major contributor to adrenal dysfunction and sleep disorders.

If you have wondered if chiropractic neurology and functional medicine can help you, see a chiropractor. Better yet, see a chiropractic neurologist such as myself, Dr. Scott Brown.

How are we different? We specialize in neurological, immunological, and endocrine rehabilitation without the use of drugs or surgery. Conditions treated include: Sleep Disorders, Cognitive Disorders,Mood Disorders, Balance Disorders (Vertigo, Dizziness, etc.), Headaches, Migraines, Peripheral Neuropathy, Movement Disorders (Tics, Tremors, Tourette’s, etc.), Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ADHD, ADD, OCD, CDD, PDD, Asperger’s, etc), Fibromyalgia, Autoimmune Disorders, Thyroid Disorders, Hormone Disorders, Adrenal Disorders, and Blood Sugar Disorders (Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Hypoglycemia).

Call us today at (303) 986-7600 for a free consultation. We proudly serve Denver, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden, Morrison, and Evergreen.

Denver/ Lakewood Chiropractor

Denver Chiropractic Neurologist for Insomnia Speaks: Why can’t I sleep? Because you’re stressed out!

browncnc — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:00:01 +0000

For those who can’t fall asleep…
People with high stress lives run the risk of over active adrenals or adrenal hyper-function. Since this describes the lives of most Americans, most readers at some point during their life, have periods where they can’t fall asleep. When one has ANY kind of stress whether it is mental, emotional, chemical, toxic, food sensitivities, or organ disease and malfunction the body will need extra cortisol to pay for the increased metabolic needs caused by the stress; often, many of these factors exist simultaneously. Typically, they have higher than optimal cortisol levels when bedtime arrives, due to the excitatory relationship between cortisol and the central nervous system. High cortisol levels at bedtime are a prescription for insomnia. The reason for high cortisol levels is simply because the body is being put in a stress response state which fires up the adrenals to compensate. This over compensation means that you don’t sleep. Pretty simple… Or so it seems. Since cortisol stabilizes blood sugar during the day, it is normally released between meals to balance blood sugar. When blood sugar or glucose levels drop, the Hypothalamus/Pituitary/Adrenal Axis (HPA) causes the release of cortisol to maintain glucose levels. Normally, cortisol levels should be high in the morning and low at night, dropping gradually throughout the day. In abnormal circadian cycles, the cortisol levels usually stay high all day to balance blood sugar levels.

If high stress and high cortisol levels exist long enough, the individual may progress from Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) to Insulin Resistance and later to Diabetes. During this progression, they may suffer from the symptoms of high blood sugar, where the body becomes flooded with insulin. In this phase, people begin to crash after a meal feeling sleepy and fatigued, especially when eating a high carbohydrate meal. They also have intense cravings for sweets after meals.

If you have wondered if functional medicine can help you, see a chiropractor. Better yet, see a chiropractic neurologist such as myself, Dr. Scott Brown.

Call us today at (303) 986-7600 for a free consultation. We proudly serve Denver, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden, Morrison, and Evergreen.

Denver/ Lakewood Chiropractor

DenverThyroid Chiropractic Neurologist Speaks: Did you know that your thyroid conditions affect your baby??

browncnc — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:00:28 +0000

Why do so many thyroid problems begin after pregnancy?

(1) Pregnancy decreases pituitary function. Located at the base of the brain, the pituitary is the guiding system for hormones. Pregnant women can have existing, blood sugar, adrenal, hormone, food tolerance, and gut problems that depress the pituitary without even knowing it. Consequently, the pituitary fails to release enough thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to stimulate the thyroid. So the thyroid can’t work if the pituitary doesn’t send the signals. For most women who fall into this category, it results in hypothyroidism (low thyroid) and postpartum depression.

(2) Pregnancy lowers immune function and can trigger autoimmune conditions including Hashimoto’s Disease (autoimmune low thyroid). Research indicates that Hashimoto’s is more prevalent in women due to the complexity of the hormonal systems.

(3) The newborn child can also be affected by those moms with leaky gut, adrenal, blood sugar and immune dysfunction. Not only does research indicate that brain development in the child may be impaired, but in those with a genetic predisposition to Autoimmune Disease, Hashimoto’s may be triggered in the child. Research also indicates that the root cause of many cases of Autism is a compromised immune system from leaky gut.

If you have wondered if chiropractic neurology and functional medicine can help you, see a chiropractor. Better yet, see a chiropractic neurologist such as myself, Dr. Scott Brown, DC DABCN FACFN.

How are we different? We specialize in neurological, immunological, and endocrine rehabilitation without the use of drugs or surgery. Conditions treated include: sleep disorders, cognitive disorders, mood disorders, balance disorders (Vertigo, Dizziness, etc.), Headaches, Migraines, Peripheral Neuropathy, movement disorders (Tics, Tremors, Tourette’s, etc.), Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ADHD, ADD, OCD, CDD, PDD, Asperger’s, etc), Fibromyalgia, autoimmune disorders, thyroid disorders, hormone disorders, adrenal disorders, and blood sugar disorders (Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Hypoglycemia).

Call us today at (303) 986-7600 for a free consultation. We proudly serve Denver, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden, Morrison, and Evergreen.

Denver Chiropractic Neurologist for Insomnia Speaks: Why can’t I sleep? Part 2

browncnc — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:09:29 +0000

Adrenal Hypo-function – people who can’t stay asleep

People who skip meals or eat low protein/high carbohydrate breakfasts, eat & drink sugar laden foods and beverages, and live at the coffee shop drinking caffeine and latte drinks are the perfect candidate to become hypoglycemic. They become shaky, irritable, head-achy, and light headed if they miss meals. This puts tremendous stress on the adrenal glands to keep blood sugar stable (especially during sleep). When the body is asleep, it requires a continuous supply of glucose, which is depleted 60% during an overnight fast. People with blood sugar problems will not be able to tolerate an overnight fast creating a stress response on the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands must now secrete adrenaline to compensate for the lack of cortisol and the low blood sugar. This causes the person to wake up in the middle of the night. The body can’t rest when it is being pumped full of adrenaline. In other words, you can’t run from the tiger and sleep at the same time.

If you have wondered if chiropractic neurology and functional medicine can help you, see a chiropractor or chiropractors. Better yet, do both and see a chiropractic neurologist such as myself, Dr. Scott Brown.

Call us today at (303) 986-7600 for a free consultation. We proudly serve Denver, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden, Morrison, and Evergreen.

Denver/ Lakewood Chiropractor

Denver Chiropractic Neurologist for Osteoporosis Speaks: Does Calcium Supplements Really Help Build Strong Bones?

browncnc — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:51:45 +0000

According to research published in 2011 in the British Medical Journal, there is a 30% increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) in those who take 500 mg or more of calcium per day. WOW! But we’ve always heard that calcium builds strong bones. Well, the thinking has changed and its not just from this one study. There are many more.

Why aren’t you hearing about these studies?

(Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2010) – this study concludes that there is a total lack of support or research supporting the contention that calcium supplements reduces the risk of fracture.

(Am J Clin Nutr 2007) – this study says calcium from dietary sources has more favorable effects on bone health than those from supplements.

(BMJ 2010) – this study shows calcium supplements without co-administered Vitamin D are associated with increased risk for heart attack

These a just a few of the studies involving the heart and bone dangers of calcium supplementation. This calcium supplement mistake can also negatively affect prostate health and longevity in men. Don’t get me wrong, calcium from whole food can extend your lifespan. It is however, not true for calcium supplements. Be informed and read the literature. Tune in later this week for a follow up blog.

If you have wondered if chiropractic neurology and functional medicine can help you, see a chiropractor. Better yet, see a chiropractic neurologist such as myself, Dr. Scott Brown, DC DABCN FACFN.

Call us today at (303) 986-7600 for a free consultation. We proudly serve Denver, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden, Morrison, and Evergreen.

Denver/ Lakewood Chiropractor

Denver Chiropractic Neurologist for Insomnia Speaks: Why can’t I sleep? Part 1

browncnc — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:19:40 +0000

In a stressed out America, many people have trouble falling or staying asleep. The standard medical model of treatment involves pharmaceutical intervention. Quite frankly, not only are these medications poorly tolerated by the individual; but also, drugs are a short term masking of the problem which must eventually be addressed at its origin.

The shocking truth is that law enforcement agencies are confirming what research has also indicated – sleep deprivation is responsible for more vehicular injuries and deaths than drunk driving. What’s going on?

Sometimes insomnia is directly related to Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), Insulin Resistance (high blood sugar), or full blown Diabetes. Almost always when blood sugar imbalances exist, there is stress on the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are two pea sized glands located above kidneys which produce hormones that will stabilize blood sugar. When the adrenals secrete cortisol in higher than normal amounts at bedtime, the pattern is called adrenal hyper-function (overactive adrenals) resulting in the inability to fall asleep. Adrenal hypo-function is just the opposite in that patients can fall asleep but not stay asleep. Obviously, both conditions will impact sleep.

Testing for adrenal function involves a test called the Adrenal Salivary Index (ASI). The individual will take 4 saliva samples during the day and send it to the lab for analysis. The lab can see the circadian cycles of cortisol throughout the day to determine what stage of adrenal stress the person is in. The test is accurate and reasonably priced.

If you have wondered if chiropractic neurology and functional medicine can help you, see a chiropractor or chiropractors. Better yet, see a chiropractic neurologist such as myself, Dr. Scott Brown.

Call us today at (303) 986-7600 for a free consultation. We proudly serve Denver, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden, Morrison, and Evergreen.

Denver/ Lakewood Chiropractor

Denver/Lakewood Chiropractic Neurologist Speaks: Autism and nutrition

browncnc — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:00:09 +0000

Most parents today are oblivious to the detrimental effects of the standard American diet (SAD) on the developing brain. This is bad enough for those with normal immune systems. For those with Functional Disconnection Syndrome or Autistic Spectrum children, the consequences can be life changing and not in a good way. Gross and find motor skills, behavior, cognition, socialization skills, immunity, GI function, and academics are victims of poor nutrition. Dietary composition has changed drastically from organic and pesticide free to packaged and chemically preserved in just two generations. Needless to say, this is a change for the worse. Depleted soils, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and contaminated gluten are brain toxic. Livestock are no longer grass fed but pumped full of hormones, antibiotics, and poor quality feed. In the last two generations, our diets have increased exponentially in sugar and sugar substitutes, artificial flavors and colorings, bad (trans) fats, and preservatives. Fast food restaurants with their clever marketing attracting kids to fun and inexpensive food powerfully influence our eating behaviors.

This situation calls for wary parents committed to the hard work of designing nutrition for the children

If you have wondered if chiropractic neurology and functional medicine can help you, see a chiropractor. Better yet, see a chiropractic neurologist such as myself, Dr. Scott Brown.

How are we different? We specialize in neurological, immunological, and endocrine rehabilitation without the use of drugs or surgery. Conditions treated include: Sleep Disorders, Cognitive Disorders,Mood Disorders, Balance Disorders (Vertigo, Dizziness, etc.), Headaches, Migraines, Peripheral Neuropathy, Movement Disorders (Tics, Tremors, Tourette’s, etc.), Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ADHD, ADD, OCD, CDD, PDD, Asperger’s, etc), Fibromyalgia, Autoimmune Disorders, Thyroid Disorders, Hormone Disorders, Adrenal Disorders, and Blood Sugar Disorders (Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Hypoglycemia).

Call us today at (303) 986-7600 for a free consultation. We proudly serve Denver, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden, Morrison, and Evergreen.

Denver/ Lakewood Chiropractor

Denver/Lakewood Vertigo/Insomnia Chiropractor Speaks: HASHIMOTO’S DISEASE – why standard medicine has completely failed

browncnc — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:25:46 +0000

Like a country with geographical barriers to invasion, the human body has barriers to bacteria, viruses, and other bad guys breaking and entering. When the army fails to protect the country, foreign invaders can overwhelm to country. The same thing happens with the human body. What is the body’s army? Look at the borders of your body as the skin, the lining in your intestines, brain, etc.. When these barriers leak, antigens (undigested food, parasites, chemical toxins, molds, and bacteria) invade and cause an immune response. Soldiers (macrophages) envelope the invader and call for help. If the help just right, the body destroys the invader and the army is sent back to the barracks. If the army over reacts, then innocent civilians are killed or to put it another way, the body mistakes its own healthy tissue as a foreign invader and targets it for elimination. On the other hand, if the army is not strong enough, the invaders win. In autoimmune thyroid Hashimoto’s Disease, either the army over reacts or the invaders win. Either way healthy tissue is tagged as a bad guy and the immune system designed to protect you slowly eats away at healthy tissue. Ironically, the thyroid gland has a similar molecular structure to GLUTEN. In Hashimoto’s, the individual is gluten intolerant and when gluten enters the body the autoimmune response not only targets gluten for elimination but the thyroid as well because it can’t tell the difference.

IMPORTANT: If the thyroid is being destroyed by the immune system, why is the standard medical treatment targeted treating a healthy thyroid when the problem is not thyroid but an immune attack on the thyroid. All thyroid and endocrine societies in the U.S. agree that more than 50% of all thyroid conditions are autoimmune Hashimoto’s Disease. So why are most people with thyroid conditions not tested for autoimmunity? The reason is because the only medical treatment available (steroids) is worse than the effects of the disease itself. So the only thing standard medicine is left with is to treat the thyroid symptomatically as the thyroid continues to be destroyed by the autoimmune reaction. The medication dosage continues to increase as the thyroid is ultimately completely destroyed and the person them must remain on thyroid medications for life.

THERE IS ANOTHER WAY! Don’t wait until it’s too late. The key is to clean up the leaky barriers, especially the gut, and then to support the immune system thus slowing down the immune response and subsequent thyroid tissue destruction.

If you have wondered if chiropractic nutritional approaches can help you, see your chiropractor. Better yet, see a chiropractic neurologist such as myself, Dr. Scott Brown.

Call us today (303) 986-7600 at Brown Chiropractic Neurology for a free consultation! Proudly serving Denver, Lakewood, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, and Evergreen, Colorado.

Denver/Lakewood Chiropractor