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

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!

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.

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: Quality vs. Quantity of sleep

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!

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.

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? Part 2

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.

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? Part 1

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.

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: Get those Vitamin D levels up!

Take 35 IU’s per pound of your body weight in Vitamin D3 per day for optimum immune health. Vitamin D3 is the most essential vitamin for immune function, and most Americans are deficient. Of all the blood lab panels I do on patients who come to see me, 80+ % are deficient in Vitamin D. If you want to be able to resist all the bad viruses and bacteria out there, make sure you are flush on this critical supplement (actually it’s a steroid hormone mislabeled vitamin).

We measure Vitamin D levels on our standard blood panels for patients. Autoimmune patients need to have higher levels of Vitamin D than those with normal immune systems. Our office specializes in neurological, immunological, and metabolic problems.

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 for Weight loss/Thyroid speaks: Are you willing to risk your life to lose weight?

Unless you are willing to risk your life to lose weight, please don’t take weight loss drugs. Remember Phen-phen? Taken off the market due to fatal pulmonary effects. Topamax (still on the market) side effects include: headaches, nausea, nervousness, anxiety, numbness and tingling in the skin, insomnia, and WEIGHT LOSS. At least this one doesn’t kill you. But is it worth it? Now we have the most recent recall of Abbot’s weight loss product Meridia which is now being taken off the market due to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Of course, all these drugs were originally approved by the FDA as “safe”. As always though, we are the lab rats and it is only after often tragic results that the drugs are taken off only to be replaced by a new drug, whose real dangers have not been discovered before rushing it to market. When will we  learn?
As in all aspects of health and life, discipline equals freedom. There is no substitute and no short cuts. One cannot eat poorly, not exercise, stress out and expect to have a trim and fit body – at least not in mid-life and beyond. Women especially succumb to smoking which is the cheaters way to burn calories without discipline. But the price is paid with premature face and skin aging, increased pain, and of course the life threatening cancers and heart conditions.

At Brown Chiropractic Neurology, there is no cheating. We look at blood, saliva, and stool analysis to see what your body needs and to design exercise, diet, and supplement regimens to stabilize your metabolism. For your part, you must accept that you have to work at this and that no magic pill will give you that youthful face and figure regardless of what the advertisers seduce you to believe.

If you have wondered if chiropractic nutritional approaches can help you, see a chiropractor or chiropractors. 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, Morrison, and Evergreen Colorado (CO).

Denver/Lakewood Chiropractor

 

Denver/ Lakewood Chiropractor for Dizziness/Insomnia speaks: ANTI-AGING BREAKTHROUGH!!! – Protandim has arrived at Brown CNC

Research has now left no doubt about the cause of aging, and it is something called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen and the body’s ability to detoxify and repair the resulting damage that was caused by free radicals. Free radicals, at the cellular level, are the cause of aging and contribute to dozens if not hundreds of known conditions.

Imagine that you can “turn back the clock” to the cellular age of a 20 year old. Well, I have studied the product called Protandim developed and clinically proven with the guidance of prominent Neurologist David Perlmutter MD. I’m convinced that this is a breakthrough. I have added it to my own regimen of nutritional support and am recommending it to my patients. I will keep you posted after my own clinical trial of myself and some of my patients. According to Dr. Perlmutter, it takes 4 months for the FULL benefits to occur.

Protandim is composed of : (1) Bacopa which increases Super Oxide Dismutase (an important anti-oxidant and de-toxifier) production (2) Green Tea which increases metabolism and burns fat (3) Ashwagandha which is an ancient panacea for multiple conditions (4) Tumeric which minimizes the effects of inflammation and (5) Milt Thistle which supports liver health. Now these ingredients can be found in other products but the key is in Protandim’s research on HOW they are put together for the greatest effectiveness.

40 years of research on Protandim lead to features on PBS, ABC, NBC, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s book, ” Chasing Life”. Protandim has been clinically proven to reduce oxidative stress by 40%. If the claim that it will reduce my oxidative stess to the level of a 20 year old in 30 days are true, and I believe they are, then I’ll be practicing chiropractic neurology and enjoying life longer than most of my peers.

Call us today, or speak with me on your next appointment, about Protandim!

If you have wondered if chiropractic nutritional approaches can help you, see a chiropractor or chiropractors. 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, Morrison, and Evergreen Colorado (CO).

Denver/Lakewood Chiropractor

 

Denver/ Lakewood Chiropractor for Depression/Insomnia Speaks: Dr. Brown’s Fine Health Tips to “Spring Clean” your body

(1) Drink 8 full glasses of purified, non fluoridated water per day. Buy a high quality water purifier and shower purifier.

(2) Use a mini-trampoline (rebounder) 10-20 minutes per day depending on your level of fitness. This is the single most powerful way to stimulate every cell in your body with out stress on joints. Benefits are increased brain function/memory, increased muscle tone, increased immune function, and stimulation of the para- sympathetic autonomic nervous system giving benefits to all the major organs of the body.

(3) Do deep breathing exercises (slow and complete inhale through the nose and exhale out through to mouth) while your hands are raised straight above your head. This brings in oxygen and increases metabolic function as well as stimulates right brain function (decreases anxiety) and immune function. It also is a fabulous stress reliever.

(4) Get regular chiropractic adjustments. The greatest input into brain function and consequently overall human health is through proprioception (the sensory stimulation that travels through joints and muscles surrounding the spine and extremities). This is why the benefits of adjustments far transcend mere relief of pain. Benefits include: improved memory, digestion, memory, immune function, respiration, muscle tone, strength, balance and coordination, blood pressure, and sleep quality – just to name a few.

(5) Get a full body massages. Benefits: improves oxygen to cells, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and anxiety, promotes proper muscle tone

(6) Prevent toxins from building up in your body: (1) Do not eat food produced by a large publicly traded corporation (whenever possible). (2) Don’t smoke (that’s news!) (3) Eat as much organic food grown locally as possible (4) Don’t eat at fast food restaurants (5) avoid MSG and Aspartame (Nutrasweet) (6) avoid artificial sweetners including Splenda (7) avoid saturated fats (hydrogenated fats) (8) Absolutely, positively avoid high fructose corn syrup (HIFS). (9) Use only fluoride free toothpaste (10) Always avoid farm raised fish (11) Don’t eat processed sugar (12) Avoid antiperspirants altogether and use aluminum free deodorants (Toms’ is good)  (13) Eat nothing that says “fat free, carb free, or sugar free” on the label because the chemicals the food industry substitutes for fats, carbs, and sugars are far more dangerous (14) Please, no diet sodas. (15) Get blood work and other testing from you functional medicine doctors (such as myself) to determine deficiencies you may have before you have problems.

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

At Brown Chiropractic Neurology, and in functional medicine, we look at your cholesterol (lipid) panels thoroughly (not just total cholesterol) to determine the best diet and supplement regimen for you. Call us today at (303) 986-7600.

We proudly serve Denver, Lakewood, Arvada, Golden, Morrison, Evergreen, Wheat Ridge Colorado (CO).

Denver/ Lakewood Chiropractor