This will begin some of our case studies, just how we use lifestyle changes and nutritional supplements for common health issues that conventional doctors treat first with a prescription med, often a second medication added to deal with side effects from the first.
Phyllis B. was a long time patient of mine, whose medical problems, generally minor, were long under control and who came in only for annual check-ups. As I’d just seen her last month, today’s visit obviously meant some new problem had emerged.
“I’m here for Kirk,” she began.
I’d only met her husband Kirk once, years earlier. An accountant, as I remembered. The phrase, “Kirk never goes to doctors”, had stuck in my mind. Apparently, he’d recently been going to a doctor.
“At Kirk’s office, they did one of the blood pressure screening things …”
I was going to interrupt, “I know, I know, they found high blood pressure and you’re worried,” because doctors always interrupt their patients, finish their sentences, and so forth. We can’t help it. We the ultimate ‘know-alls’. But I’m working on this bad habit and kept my mouth shut.
“They found high blood pressure. I’m worried about him because he was sent to the doctor near the office who convinced him to start some pills. Now his blood pressure is down, but he’s not the same man.”
“Meaning?”
“For one thing, they also found high cholesterol and now he’s depressed at the prospect of taking a bunch of pills for the rest of his life. For another, I can see he’s not as energetic, he’s become absent minded and now he says his muscles hurt.”
I said, “Well, that and the absent mindedness could be side effects from the cholesterol med. Will he come in to see me? For someone who doesn’t like doctors, two physicians in his life might be a culture shock.”
“No, he’ll come. He liked how you helped me without any prescription drugs.”
Kirk did try to look cheerful when he arrived but it had been years since I’d seen him and barely recognized him because of all the weight he’d put on. I guessed he was now also prediabetic and this was confirmed on the lab tests he handed me. I couldn’t think of any accountant jokes to cheer him up so we went right down to business.
He showed me the numbers from the office Health Fair where his high blood pressure was first found. They really weren’t all that bad, and I told him so immediately.
“What’s wrong with this,” I asked.
“The doctor said it was pretty bad. The cholesterol, I mean. He wants to start me on some medicine for it.”
Like his blood pressure, his cholesterol levels were mildly elevated. I thought his doctor must be a ‘cup-half-empty’ sort of person. Me, I’m more optimistic.
I did want to be tactful, however.
“Listen, Kirk, I agree with your other doctor that if left alone, as-is and untreated, your blood pressure and your cholesterol could potentially knock ten years off your life. Another test on this list, called Hemoglobin A-1-c shows that you’re just on the risk of being diabetic. Those are the statistics, pure and simple. You’re not smoking anymore, are you?”
“How did you know I used to smoke?”
You wrote, “Quit 15 years ago”, on your intake form.
He laughed embarrassedly.
How about cannabis?
“Even longer ago.”
I pointed out that recent research has shown that if you smoke or eat cannabis on a daily basis (for non medical reasons) you will significantly increase your risk for a stroke or a heart attack.
So Phyllis, Kirk and I plotted out a lifestyle program that I knew would improve his numbers if Kirk followed our instructions.
“Look”, I began. “I’ll make this pure and simple. You’ve got what we term ‘lifestyle’ diseases. Your lifestyle basically stinks. You have no business eating Philadelphia Cheese Steaks for lunch. You never exercise, and walking around your office does not count. And now your body is sending messages that it’s very disappointed in you.
“So here’s what you can do. First, go from here to a pharmacy and purchase your own blood pressure unit. Take it to work, place it next to your computer screen and at least once a day, record your blood pressure. Get a notebook for this and bring it along on every visit to me.
“Since I don’t want to offend your other doctor, just come in here for some sessions with our nutritionist, Olivia Darrow.”
Kirk interrupted me. “I only saw him once, and that couldn’t have been for more than ten minutes. I’ll be coming here if that’s okay.”
I continued, “I assume Phyllis does the cooking and you the eating, so ask her to attend a few of these nutrition sessions. You’re going to live by something called the DASH diet which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.
Then, one more thing, and this is that hard part. I would like you to go over to the health club near your office and hire a personal fitness trainer. It’s an out of pocket expense but you can probably finagle a tax deduction out of it for health related purposes. You need cardio, core and muscle strength training. The health club guy will know what to do. I’ll start you on some supplements and herbs that will protect your heart and lower your cholesterol a little but you may not need them at all in a few weeks. When your blood pressure is nice and low, I’ll trim away the prescription meds.”
Kirk moaned, “This is a lot to do.”
Phyllis (gently) punched his arm, “Just this morning you were wondering if you’d live long enough to see your grandchildren graduate high school. Don’t complain!”
From me, “It only seems that way because you’re starting from zero, doing nothing at all for your health to actually taking some positive steps. You’d be surprised how many of your accountant buddies pay attention to what they eat or stop at a health club three or four times a week. All this will soon be second nature to you, especially when you start seeing the pounds come off and your numbers improve.”
And of course, Kirk DID do well. I knew he would. First, he had Phyllis as his wife and she wanted her old Kirk back. She became an extraordinary cook, not only reducing the salt and fat in his diet but inventing new ways to get Kirk his five servings of fruit and veggies each day. His packed portion controlled lunches were the envy of his office. His personal fitness trainer toned up muscles Kirk hadn’t used since college and his clothing salesmen prospered as Kirk shrank from a 42 to a 36 waist.
When Phyllis came in a few months later for her annual physical, she brought a copy of Kirk’s at-home blood pressure readings, his weight, and his cholesterol levels. “These are with no medications at all. My husband, the health nut!”
Supplements for blood pressure:
- Carditone (an herbal blend) one, twice a day
- Omegagenics EPA/DHA (Fish Oil) twice a day
Supplements for cholesterol:
Supplement for prediabetes:
- CinnDromex twice a day
NOTE: If you eat an oily fish like salmon, once or twice a week, you do not need to take fish oil supplements.
NOTE: (again) Recent research has shown that if you smoke or eat cannabis on a daily basis (for non medical reasons) you will significantly increase your risk for a stroke or a heart attack.
Make green tea your beverage of choice as it helps both blood pressure and cholesterol.
Also available as Green Tea Extract, one capsule, twice a day.
Be well,
David Edelberg, MD