Posts about physical exam | Dr. Emina Jasarevic, Naturopath Kelowna

Heart Health & Cholesterol – What women (and men) NEED to Know.

February 16, 2024

The Gender Gap Cardiovascular disease (CVD) or Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the…

Insulin

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas to move glucose from your blood stream (after a meal) into your cells. If your life is stressful, especially with a diet high in refined carbohydrates and without regular vigorous exercise, high blood sugar and insulin elevation can create problems over time. The cells in the body become more resistant to insulin to avoid the toxicity of excess glucose. This can leave too much glucose in your blood and too little in your cells. To maintain balance, your body converts and stores the excess blood sugar as fat – usually around your abdomen. Paradoxically, less glucose into your cells means increased hunger and carbohydrate cravings. Adrenal dysfunction is often implicated here too.

What are Adrenal Glands?

The adrenal glands are tiny hats, one each, that sit atop your kidneys and secrete hormones to help you deal with and manage stress. The outer part of the glands, called the cortex, releases cortisol, for our stress response and metabolism control, as well as aldosterone to regulate blood pressure. The inner part of the glands are the medulla where adrenaline is released, another part of the stress response.

When your central nervous system perceives stress, it stimulates the adrenal glands to release their hormones as a part of the “fight or flight” response. This can happen several times throughout the day and can vary depending on your lifestyle. For example, an alarm clock startling you out of sleep will trigger this response, as will less sudden stressors like feeling overwhelmed by your overflowing email at work or worrying about finances or family members. In the early stages of stress, this response is actually beneficial. It can improve mental clarity, focus and energy. But over time, the benefits start to fade, and the consequences of chronic stress take over.

How do I know if I have allergies or just a cold?

There are several symptoms to consider to ensure that you have allergies and not a cold:

You are sneezing in rapid, repeated sequences
Your nose, ears and throat (especially the roof of your mouth) are itchy
You do not have a fever or achy muscles
Your mucosal secretions are clear and runny
Your symptoms are lasting longer than 10 days

If you’re still not convinced, naturopathic physicians – commonly referred to as naturopaths – can perform skin or blood tests to confirm whether you are allergic to something.

Why do I have allergies?

Seasonal allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to normally harmless airborne particles. An allergy is an abnormal hypersensitivity to these airborne particles or environmental antigens called allergens. An allergen can include pollen from trees, grasses, weeds, and ragweed, as well as cat or dog dander, dust and moulds. Exposure to an allergen leads to overactive B cells that in turn produce excess Immunoglobulin E (IgE). IgE then triggers the allergic symptoms by activating mast cells (cells that line the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and throat) that produce histamine. Common symptoms include: runny nose, sinus congestion, headache, fatigue and itchy eyes.

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. ”
– William Shakespeare

“Begin with little things daily and one day you will be doing things that months back you would have thought impossible.”
– Swami Satchidananda

A fit body, a calm mind, a house full of love. These things cannot be bought – they must be earned.”
– Naval Ravikant

“I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you.”
– Joyce Meyer

“I don’t count my sit-ups; I only start counting when it starts hurting because they are the only ones that count.”
– Muhammed Ali

“There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophies.”
– Friedrich Nietzsche

“The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician.Therefore the physician must start from nature, with an open mind”
– Paracelsus

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
– Paulo Coelho

Dr. Emina jasarevic, nd | Naturopathic physician

physical exam

Heart Health & Cholesterol – What women (and men) NEED to Know.

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Insulin

What are Adrenal Glands?

How do I know if I have allergies or just a cold?

Why do I have allergies?

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