Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast What's the Root Cause? by Dr Vikki Petersen

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of your body's adaptive capacity and resilience to challenge or stress. Specifically it is a sign of resilience of your autonomic nervous system - the part of your nervous system counterbalanced by the sympathetic, fight or flight nervous system. While the sympathetic nervous system gets you going, the parasympathetic is the rest, digest and relax part of your nervous system.

It is your vagus nerve, as part of your parasympathetic nervous system which slows your heartbeat and elongates the time between beat of your heart. The sympathetic nervous system does the reverse. You can think of it like your car - for an ideal driving experience you need to both accelerate and slow down as appropriate. 

HRV, when healthy is the variation of time intervals between each heartbeat. Your heart should not beat like a metronome at a steady beat, but variations between the beats are ideal. Your HRV is influenced by physical activity, breathing, emotions and hormonal change.

The higher/healthier your HRV, the lower your risk of heart disease, the greater your emotional well-being, the better your recovery from illness and injury and the more enhanced your exercise performance.

You can go online to see what your HRV range should be based on your age. There are several devices that measure your HRV: apple watch, or Fitbit or Oura ring or Whoop band. If you don't have access to any of these you can try this exercise:
Sit comfortably and the do a 60 second sprint (if this is appropriate for your health status) and then sit back down and see how fast your heartrate slows back down and you can concentrate and easily get back to work. Was this easily done or did you have a hard time either revving up or slowing down? This will pinpoint the part of your nervous system which needs support.

If your resting heart rate (HR) is greater than 70 beats per minute it indicates your sympathetic nervous system is too dominant and your vagus nerve, a major component of your parasympathetic nervous system, is not signaling correctly.

This is correctable naturally. 

Hopefully you found this information helpful. Optimizing your HRV is something we help each individual to do based on their health history and what they're experiencing. It is very worth your while to get your HRV in a good range.

If you need assistance improving your health, reach out for a consultation. Call 727-335-0400.

Is you're a woman and losing muscle tone and strength I've got some good news for you. If you've been noticing a decrease in your muscle tone along with an increase in fat gain with age, this isn't inevitable, meaning you CAN do something about it.

Muscle protein synthesis, the repair and growth of muscle which is the opposite of muscle wasting and loss of strength is dependent upon protein.

In order to start building and repairing muscle you need protein, but specifically an essential amino acid, leucine, in the quantity of 2.5 to 3 grams 2x/day. Leucine, an essential amino acid, is the specific one you need to ensure you get enough of. Now, you don't want to take only leucine, but rather ensure the protein you're consuming has a good amount of it along with the other 9 essential amino acids. The 11 non-essential ones can be gotten easily as your body makes them.

As we get older we need more protein but less calories and more intense exercise - resistance training. That's a lot to confront but I'm happy to help you figure it all out. It turns out that we are less efficient at extracting protein from the food we eat as we age. Add that to a slower metabolism and it's critical for long-term health that we understand the nuances of aging and our strength of overall body composition.

So when designing protein intake with a mindset of adequate leucine, high quality protein and moderate to low calories you need to know some specifics.

Let's talk about a few common foods and how much you need to consume of each to get adequate leucine.
Whey protein isolate is number 1 with a single scoop providing great protein and leucine balance with only 100-120 calories.
Lean ground beef comes in second with 1/4 pound providing enough leucine at about 155 calories.
Salmon, about 7 ounces has a calories account of about 300 depending on the type of salmon.
Eggs are next but it takes 5 eggs to get adequate leucine with a calories count of 368.
Soy beans are 4th with less than 1/2 cup getting the leucine in but the calories are now mounting - 443 calories.
Pumpkin seeds require 3/4 of a cup with calories of 446.
Hemp seeds need more than a cup and calories are 573.
Peanuts require over 120 peanuts and 600 calories.

As you can see, while plant protein can still provide the needed leucine and balanced amino acids, we start "paying' for it in calories, so something to consider.

I hope this provided some valuable information for you.
If you need assistance in this area, please call my office at 727-335-0400 for a consultation.

No matter your age, it's not too soon.

7 Steps:
1. Physical activity - especially resistance training to build lean muscle
2. Healthy diet - think Mediterranean diet and especially avoid highly processed foods. Ensure you don't have a gluten sensitivity.
3. Little to no alcohol - recent research has revealed there is no healthy level of alcohol. 
4. Don't smoke. Nothing more needs to be said.
5. No sugar - it's inflammatory, weakens the immune system and has no redeemable qualities.
6. Social interaction
7. Normalize sex hormones.

If you have brain fog, memory issues, dementia or Alzheimer's in your family, please reach out for a natural program that is tailored to you and works!

For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400

Ozempic, Wegovy - both are weight loss drugs who's active ingredient is semiglutide.
Fast weight loss has always been a bad idea and these drugs continue to prove the point.

Weight rebound is common, not to mention the risk of kidney failure, pancreatitis and gall bladder issues.

A recent study (remember these drugs are fairly new) showed that once people stopped the drug their rebound weight loss for 2/3 of what they had lost in the first year. Likely, as they are followed longer, the typical weight gain of more than they lost will be seen; we'll see as further studies occur.
It "sounds" great to lose weight fast, but the side effects are a very bad idea.

For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400
RootCauseMedicalClinics.com

Green drinks can be great to augment your veggie consumption, but I have a BIG warning for you if you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

The particulars are in the video, but suffice to say if your green drink contains wheat grass or barley grass, the potential for getting "glutened" is too high to chance it.

The companies who manufacture these products are doing their best, but unfortunately "grass" can become gluten in just a matter of days. I caution my patients away from these products.

For appointments, call us at 727-335-0400 or visit: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/contact/

Hiatal Hernias are interesting in that larger hernias don't necessarily cause more intense symptoms. Factually, small hernias can still cause misery with everything from shortness of breath, acid reflux, heart palpitations, panic attacks and more.

In this video I explain why a small hiatal hernia can result in miserable symptoms.
The good news is that you don't need to continue suffering.

Reach out for a consultation: www.RootCauseMedicalClinics.com or call 727-335-0400.

A sliding hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. It is the most common type of hiatal hernia. Sliding hiatal hernias may cause symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing.
 
If this sounds like you, call us at 727-335-0400.

Antacids are medications that are commonly used to neutralize stomach acid and provide relief from symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux. While antacids can be effective in relieving these symptoms, they can also have some potential drawbacks:

1 Masking underlying conditions: Antacids can temporarily relieve symptoms caused by underlying conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcers. By masking these symptoms, antacids may delay the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, which can lead to more serious health problems in the long run.

2 Acid rebound: Antacids work by neutralizing stomach acid, but this can actually trigger the body to produce more acid in response, leading to a phenomenon called “acid rebound.” This can cause a cycle of using more and more antacids to alleviate symptoms, which can lead to overuse and potential complications.

3 Nutrient deficiencies: Long-term use of antacids can interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B12. This can lead to deficiencies, which can cause a range of health problems.
 
4 Interaction with other medications: Antacids can interact with other medications, including prescription drugs and over-the-counter supplements, leading to reduced effectiveness or potential side effects.
 
5 Side effects: Antacids can cause side effects such as constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and headache, heart disease, kidney failure, and dementia.

Book your health consultation at 727-335-0400

#antacids #holistichealth #alternativemedicine #health

In this webinar by Dr. Vikki Petersen, you will get a deeper understanding on what a hiatal hernia is, how we have had success treating it and the best solution for you. 

Get lasting relief from your symptoms through treatment at Root Cause Medical Clinic - the #1 Clinic Treating Hiatal Hernia Syndrome Naturally

Call us at 727-335-0400 to schedule a consultation or visit www.RootCauseMedicalClinics.com

#hiatalhernia #acidreflux #GERD #rootcause

Sleep is incredibly important for our overall health and well-being. During sleep, our body goes through important restorative processes that help us function at our best.

Some key reasons why sleep is important are restoration, repair, physical health, Mental clarity, and performance.

Overall, getting adequate sleep is essential for our physical and mental health, and it is important to prioritize getting enough rest each night. The recommended amount of sleep varies depending on age, but most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

Book your health consultation at 727-335-0400

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a molecule that is essential for many biological processes in the body. 

Some of the key benefits of NAD+ include:

Energy production: NAD+ plays a key role in the cellular energy production process, helping to convert the food we eat into energy that our cells can use.

DNA repair: NAD+ is involved in the maintenance of DNA stability and plays a crucial role in the DNA repair process. Anti-aging: NAD+ levels decline as we age, which is thought to contribute to the aging process. 

Boosting NAD+ levels has been shown to improve cellular function, slow the aging process, and improve overall health and well-being.

Cognitive function: NAD+ is important for maintaining healthy brain function and has been shown to improve cognitive performance in aging individuals.

Metabolism: NAD+ is involved in the regulation of metabolism and has been shown to improve metabolic function and help with weight management.

To book your NAD+ Appointment call: 727-335-0400

Stool tests can provide important information about a person's digestive and overall health. Some of the key benefits of stool tests include:

Detecting gastrointestinal disorders: Stool tests can help detect conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, and infection with parasites.

Identifying nutrient deficiencies: Stool tests can reveal if a person is deficient in certain nutrients, such as iron or vitamin B12, which can impact their overall health.

Screening for colon cancer: Some stool tests can detect blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of colon cancer.

Monitoring treatment effectiveness: For people with digestive disorders, stool tests can be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and detect any potential complications.

Improving gut health: Stool tests can provide important information about the balance of bacteria in the gut, which can help identify imbalances and suggest ways to improve gut health.

Book an at 727-335-0400 at Root Cause Medical Clinic

There are a variety of symptoms that could be caused by an imbalance of your vagus nerve. Your vagus nerve is not only your longest cranial nerve, but it more parts of your body than you can imagine!

The symptoms of an imbalanced vagus nerve include:
- Heart palpitations
- Increased blood pressure
- Anxiety or Stress
- Acid reflux, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea
- Diseases of inflammation including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and autoimmune disease

Treatment of the vagus nerve is natural and gentle. No harsh drugs or surgery required.

To give you some more data about the vagus nerve, it works to balance your sympathetic, fight or flight nervous system. In fact it is the balance between the two which prevents the symptoms I list above from developing.

The sympathetic nervous system speeds up your heart; the vagus, as part of the parasympathetic nervous system, slows it down. 

You've likely heart of the gut-brain connection. When it comes to the primary pathway whereby your body is communicating to your brain, the one from your gut (microbiome) to your brain is the most prevalent one used and it passes through your vagus nerve. Your microbiome is estimated to contain 80 to 100 trillion bacteria plus parasites, viruses and fungal species. Your body, as a comparison, contains 40 to 60 trillion cells. 

The relationship between your gut and your brain is very interesting. Your microbiome contains both beneficial and hostile bacteria and 70% of your immune system is housed in your gut to prevent hostile bacteria from gaining entry intro your body's bloodstream. But enough hostile bacteria create  toxins which produce lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and they overwhelm the immune system triggering inflammation and leading to the inflammatory diseases killing most Americans. 

Here's where the vagus nerve comes in: How responsive your body is to the early triggers depends on how burdened your vagus nerve is from other sources. In other words, a healthy vagus nerve will enhance immune function and your body will be robust in its response to the bad organisms.

Further, the vagus nerve can be involved in gastroparesis or slowed digestion. If you feel like your food just "sits there" in your gut for hours, this is a symptom of slowed digestion.

The vagus nerve also influences the release of enzymes from the pancreas, crucial to digestion of all types of food. 

Your vagus supports lung function - breathing and respiration. And the vagus is involved in detoxification through your liver and kidneys.

The vagus also manages fluid and electrolyte balance affecting your blood pressure.

Finally, your vagus nerve involves emotional regulation - how you perceives the world around you and whether you react to it feeling stress, anxiety, moodiness and more. The vagus nerve is like a sixth sense, creating homeostasis when functioning normally and emotional instability when malfunctioning.

I hope you've gained a new found respect for your vagus nerve! Simple exercises such as humming, belly breathing (box breathing), gargling, and other relaxation techniques can help take the edge off an imbalanced vagus nerve. 

There is also a vagus nerve stimulator the is quite affordable that you can use at home. Contact my office for more information on it: 727-335-0400. The device is simple to use but it would be part of a coordinated program, not a "magic pill" as it were.

Vagus nerve imbalance is common yet very treatable as part of a program that addresses gut and immune and hormonal health naturally.

If you'd like assistance improving your health, we're here for you. Contact us for a consultation. 727-335-0400

The distinction between Hiatal Hernia and Hiatal Hernia Syndrome is critical to your health.If you don't have a visualized hiatal hernia on a scope, you can be told you don't have Hiatal Hernia Syndrome.

You're told you symptoms like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, panic attacks, pressure in your chest and more, are "all in your head" because they couldn't possibly be caused by a Hiatal Hernia.

Hiatal Hernia Syndrome ruins lives.
Get out of the trap of misdiagnosis.
Watch this video and please share it with others.

Sign up for your personalized consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-naturalsolution-2/

Do you struggle with PCOS? The solution is a natural one.

PCOS affects about 20% of women in child-bearing age. Symptoms of PCOS include infertility, cysts on the ovaries, hair loss (male pattern baldness), facial hair, weight gain and more.

In this video we review exciting research that truly uncovers the root cause of PCOS, excluding the use of the dangerous drugs so often prescribed.
This video is also one to share with you male friends, listen to find out why!

This is a very common situation that I find a lot of our patients in. Depending on your symptoms whether it be heart palpitations, anxiety, stomach issues, feeling out of breath - there is one root cause to all of these. That's the Hiatal Hernia Syndrome. 

Doctors tend to tell you that it's all in your head. This is not the case. Listen to the video and comment below your questions.

Book a consultation by calling: 727-335-0400 or visit our website https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-naturalsolution/

There's a reason why so many are confused about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Doctors wrongly assess their patients and you deserve better. If you are feeling symptoms after eating gluten, you are right in thinking you are sensitive. Have a listen to learn the specifics about this test and how you can make sure you're diagnosed properly. 

Learn more: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/blog/category/digestion/celiac-gluten-sensitivity/
Contact us for a consultation: 408-733-0400
info@rootcausemedical.com

Research shows that some hours of fasting (not starving!) can create great health benefits for heart disease, diabetes, obesity and degenerative brain diseases. Is it right for you? Find out from a doctor.

Contact us for a FREE consultation: www.RootCauseMedicalClinic.com
Give us a call to schedule directly: 408-733-0400

What we put in our mouths affects our mood.

Certainly, many have experienced this if they have over-indulged in sugary foods. Case in point: kids who've had too much sugar tend to get really hyperactive and cranky at the same time. 

What are the foods that are good for your mood? Watch the full episode to find out!

Contact us at 408-733-0400
Visit us at: www.RootCauseMedicalClinics.com

Migraine is a genetic neurological condition that causes some brain cells to fatigue much easier than they are supposed to. When brain cells fatigue they can no longer appropriately do their job, which leads to symptoms. The most common migraine symptom is headache, but some never experience migraine-type headaches. Some migraine sufferers may only experience dizziness, nausea/vomiting, visual disturbances, numbness, weakness, light/sound/smell sensitivity, or fatigue. Oftentimes a migraine patient may experience a combination of these symptoms.

While migraine is a neurological issue, there are 4 primary triggers that will fatigue your brain and increase the likelihood of having a migraine. These triggers are nutritional stress, hormonal stress, musculoskeletal stress, and psychological stress.

We aim to identify which brain cells are dysfunctional and carefully rehabilitate them so that they can get stronger. We also work to identify and treat any triggers that are contributing to your migraines. We accomplish this through consultation and assessment, teaching you at-home therapies, managing your nutrition/hormone balance, and guiding you to additional practitioners and services near your home that may also be beneficial for you, if necessary. Our primary goal is to help you live your ideal life, without symptoms!

Visit our website to learn more: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.c...
Schedule a consultation by calling: 408-733-0400

Suffering from mysterious symptoms and your primary care physician just can't seem to figure out why?  Find out what Dr. Vikki has to say about Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and see if this autoimmune condition can be reversed!

Want to learn more? Give us a call to schedule your free consultation directly: 408-733-0400

Visit our website at: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com

We've learned a lot about the importance of balancing our vitamin D3 and K2 levels. Find out  the best form of vitamin K2, what foods contain it naturally, the difference between vitamins K1 and K2 and why taking D3 without K2 can create dangerous health conditions.

Want to boost your Vitamins D3 and K2? One day left in our immune mega-boost supplement sale! Shop now at  https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/store

Give us a call to schedule directly: 408-733-0400

The term "Menopause" simply means a "pause" to a woman's menstrual cycle: and that's what it should just be!

Just because a woman is in this stage of her life, it doesn't mean that it's inevitable for her to experience the symptoms that come along with menopause.

This is something that Root Cause Medical Clinics has a lot of experience on. Watch the full video to discover how we help our patients overcome this much-dreaded stage in a woman's life.

Change your health by contacting us for a consultation. 
Contact us at: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/our-unique-clinic/
408-733-0400

Your Shortness of Breath IS a stomach issue!

If you've suffered from labored breathing, air hunger, breathlessness and the like, you know how concerning it can be.  You may have difficulty getting a deep breath and find yourself breathing shallowly from your chest instead of nice belly breaths.

If the symptom has occurred concurrently with heart palpitations or a panic attach, you've likely ended up in the ER or Urgent Care, worried for your life. Once tests have been done and you're told your heart and lungs are fine, you were likely sent home with the diagnosis of a panic attack. 

You know yourself;  if you're not an anxious person, this diagnosis just doesn't make sense. You are now in the dilemma of knowing something is wrong but you're not getting any corroboration from your doctors.

Perhaps you've sought out a pulmonologist (lung doctor), only to be told that your lungs are normal.

What is it? The answer lies in your stomach. It sounds odd but your shortness of breath is coming from a spasm of your diaphragm which doesn't allow for normal air flow. The reason your diaphragm is spasmed is due to your stomach pushing up on it. And the reason your stomach is elevated and spasmed has to do with digestive imbalance that you may or not be aware of.

Let's face it. Not being able to breathe normally is stressful. Add in some heart palpitations and/or a panic attack and it's down right frightening.

You don't need to continue suffering. There's an answer and the treatment is natural - no drugs or surgery.

Consider contacting us for a consultation and we can discover the true root cause of your breathing issues. Call 727-335-0400. We treat patients across the country and internationally.

Book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/

We are experiencing more and more patients coming in with symptoms of hiatal hernia syndrome who have a history of trauma or injury. Injury to the diaphragm, such as trauma from a fall or traffic accident, can lead to a hiatal hernia. 

Many healthcare providers get all caught up with taking a look at the internal factors, when in fact a thorough dissection of a patient's health history might just be the key in getting into the root cause of their hiatal hernia.

Are you wondering if you have a Hiatal Hernia? Visit our website at: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-naturalsolution/ 

Give us a call to schedule directly: 408-733-0400

In this episode, Dr. Vikki reviews the 3 types of hiatal hernias she sees in the clinic and the protocol she uses to fully handle it.

There is a great deal of confusion in the medical community regarding hiatal hernia and the result is that patients are suffering needlessly.

If you've been diagnosed with acid reflux, GERD, panic attacks, heart palpitations and more, you'll learn a lot in this video.

Should you know someone with these symptoms please share this episode with them. There truly is hope to remedy this problem without drugs or surgery.

Contact us for a free consultation.
(408) 733-0400

Check out more information on Hiatal Hernia Syndrome and our free e-book here: 
https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-naturalsolution/

Inflammation is natural and protective against infection. There are two sides to inflammation; it has a dark side when it gets over-vigilant.

While "in control" inflammation is required to maintain health, chronic inflammation weakens your body and puts you more at risk for infection, particularly to viruses and autoimmune diseases.

I review both types of immunity in this video, plus how to lower your risk of repeated infections and poor vaccine response.

Give a listen to learn more.

As we know the Coronavirus is one that attacks your lungs. When faced with a virus for which there is no treatment, you must rely on your immune system.

In this video, I review an exciting historical study that decreased deaths by 80% for those hospitalized with respiratory disease. And the dose used was quite minimal.

There's a lot more in this video about vitamin C, Zinc, and taking back the health of your immune system.

Give a listen to learn more.

In this podcast, I review some very interesting data about your sleep quality and brain health.
We discuss the link between deep sleep and memory, plus the connection between deep sleep and Alzheimer's disease.

How can your sleep quality affect your brain's ability to "cleanse" itself, ridding itself of toxins? I'll tell you.

Plus, if you suffer from poor sleep quality, what you can do about it.

To learn more click here.

In this podcast, I review fascinating research of how optimizing your vitamin D will inhibit the ability of viruses to activate damage within your cells.

Many studies, over 25, reveal vitamin D's protective response of lung tissue, but this research shows that specifically with corona viruses, D is able to suppress the negative effects the virus can cause on your lungs.

Further, I review how obese individuals are compromised over 50% in their ability to absorb vitamin D and make it bio-available.

Give a listen to learn more. https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/

New information regarding the lung inflammation associated with COVID-19 brings us some pro-active steps you can take right now to lower your inflammatory potential.

The "cytokine storm" that leads to the destructive damage associated with the virus is specifically linked to inflammation that can be controlled via a pathway in your body. It's called NRF2 (yes, pronounced like a "NERF" ball).

This pathway quells the inflammation and can be supported and empowered with some specific dietary choices.

I review them in this video.

I hope you find this helpful. Please let me know.

Contact us at: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/contact/
https://youtu.be/0phH1hTvavM

The internet is littered with opinions on sourdough bread and whether or not it's safe for those avoiding gluten.

In this video I clear up the confusion and let you know where the false data likely arose from.

If you or a love one need to avoid gluten, please listen to this video.
Eating gluten when you shouldn't is very dangerous.

Too often doctors only measure Vitamin D3 in your blood and neglect Vitamin K2.

The rate of deficiency of both vitamins is extremely high.

Even more important is the risk of taking vitamin D3 without vitamin K2. You could be putting yourself at risk for heart disease, not to mention brittle bones.

Unless you're on a blood thinner, vitamin K2 is something you should know about and not miss as a part of your daily nutritional routine.

Listen to learn more.

Do you have a picky eater at home? Have you heard "greens are gross" or other such complaints?

If you've heard that it doesn't matter what your child eats as long as they're not overweight or get a lot of activity, please watch this video.

Learn the importance of certain key nutrients and how food can shape your child's health future.

Call 408-733-0400 for a consultation and a meeting with our Registered Dietitian.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of your body's adaptive capacity and resilience to challenge or stress. Specifically it is a sign of resilience of your autonomic nervous system - the part of your nervous system counterbalanced by the sympathetic, fight or flight nervous system. While the sympathetic nervous system gets you going, the parasympathetic is the rest, digest and relax part of your nervous system.

It is your vagus nerve, as part of your parasympathetic nervous system which slows your heartbeat and elongates the time between beat of your heart. The sympathetic nervous system does the reverse. You can think of it like your car - for an ideal driving experience you need to both accelerate and slow down as appropriate. 

HRV, when healthy is the variation of time intervals between each heartbeat. Your heart should not beat like a metronome at a steady beat, but variations between the beats are ideal. Your HRV is influenced by physical activity, breathing, emotions and hormonal change.

The higher/healthier your HRV, the lower your risk of heart disease, the greater your emotional well-being, the better your recovery from illness and injury and the more enhanced your exercise performance.

You can go online to see what your HRV range should be based on your age. There are several devices that measure your HRV: apple watch, or Fitbit or Oura ring or Whoop band. If you don't have access to any of these you can try this exercise:
Sit comfortably and the do a 60 second sprint (if this is appropriate for your health status) and then sit back down and see how fast your heartrate slows back down and you can concentrate and easily get back to work. Was this easily done or did you have a hard time either revving up or slowing down? This will pinpoint the part of your nervous system which needs support.

If your resting heart rate (HR) is greater than 70 beats per minute it indicates your sympathetic nervous system is too dominant and your vagus nerve, a major component of your parasympathetic nervous system, is not signaling correctly.

This is correctable naturally. 

Hopefully you found this information helpful. Optimizing your HRV is something we help each individual to do based on their health history and what they're experiencing. It is very worth your while to get your HRV in a good range.

If you need assistance improving your health, reach out for a consultation. Call 727-335-0400.

Regret is unfortunate. While I believe it's never too late to get healthy, patients regularly tell me they wish they had gotten healthier sooner.

The human body is capable of healing to some degree no matter what your age, which is great news.

The bad news is that the things in life you missed because your health wouldn't allow you to fully participate or enjoy them, cannot be gotten back.

The promotion you didn't get, your child's sports event or play you missed or couldn't enjoy, a night out dancing; none of that can be retrieved.

We won't regret yesterday, that's fruitless, but let's make a change in your health today so tomorrow is more enjoyable. Give a listen.

Contact us for a free consultation:
(408) 733-0400
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Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, IS found in rat poison. But does that mean humans shouldn't take vitamin D?

Learn the facts in this short video with Dr Vikki Petersen.

Contact me for a free consultation:

(408) 733-0400
https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/

Do you wonder if gluten is bothering you?
There is a lot of confusion as to how best to test for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
The good news is that we can clear up the confusion for good and answer your questions.
Give a listen.

Website: http://www.rootcausemedicalclinic.com
Contact Page: http://rootcausemedicalclinic.com/com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvikkipetersen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootcausemedical
Twitter: twitter.com/rootcausemedical

"Carb" - it's a 4-letter word. Or is it? Turns out there's good and bad associated with carbs and while the "bad" ones are very bad, the "good" ones are absolutely mandatory if you're going to enjoy good health.  Do you have carb confusion? Is so, you're in good company, but this podcast will resolve the confusion easily and your body will thank you!

The ketogenic diet is truly popular and a current fad in nutrition.
Are you following it? Are you "doing" a ketogenic diet correctly?

I agree with Dr David Perlmutter who warns against avoiding carbohydrates, eating a lot of animal based protein, and eating a lot of red meat and eggs. He also urges everyone to eat certain types of carbs.

www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com

Dr. Vikki on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/drvikkipetersen

Root Cause Medical Instagram:
www.instagram.com/rootcausemedicalclinic

Have you ever felt that Functional Medicine was financially difficult for yourself or your friends?

Has personalized medicine seemed out of reach because it was too expensive?

How does about $7 per day sound? Affordable? We think so too!

Root Cause Medical is happy to announce Membership Programs

 Affordable, personalized care

 Year-long models to ensure you achieve full correction

 Separate plans for functional medicine, chiropractic and physical therapy care

 Programs are tailored to your unique health needs

 Membership perks including discount on supplements and more

Root Cause Medical Clinic

(408) 733-0400

20398 Blauer Dr.

Saratoga, CA 95070

rootcausemedicalclinic.com

It can be tempting to give boxes of candy and fudge for the Holidays. Such temptations are everywhere and easy to send to friends and family. 

In this podcast I want to give you some suggestions of other gift ideas that are healthier and ultimately your friends and family will find more enjoyable.

I focus on the fact that what we really want for ourselves and our friends and family is health and happiness. 

Let's truly enjoy the Holiday season with good health and energy to enjoy all the fun and joy this time of the year can bring.

In this second podcast I tell the story of how Root Cause Medicine came to exist. The concept began while I was still in college but my love of healthcare and the reason I chose to dedicate my life to it began even earlier. I hope you enjoy my story and continue to join me as we explore the best of healthcare and how you can enjoy your best health ever.

Website: www.RootCauseMedicalClincs.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootcausemedicalclinic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootcausemedicalclinic/
Contact: 20398 Blauer Dr. Saratoga, CA 95070 
408-733-0400

Welcome to The Dr. Vikki Podcast! I'm a Doctor of Chiropractic, Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and am co-founder of the renowned Root Cause Medical Clinic in Saratoga, California. 

I'm passionate about bringing you cutting-edge information on health, wellness and how to get to the Root Cause of your symptoms. I wanted to bring you another resource for getting information you can trust. I talk all things health from women's hormones, celiac disease and much more. Please let me know any topic you want me to talk about. 

I hope you enjoy! 

YouTube: @DrVikkiPetersen

Instagram: @DrVikkiPetersen

Facebook: @RootCauseMedicalClinic

Website: www.RootCauseMedicalClincs.com

Phone: 408-733-0400

If you have acid reflux or GERD and also suffer from heart palpitations, this data is for you.

Back in the early 1900s, Ludwig von Roemheld coined the Roemheld Syndrome where he described a cluster of cardiovascular symptoms (think heart palpitations, tachycardia, dizziness, vertigo and elevated blood pressure) that were stimulated by gastrointestinal (gut) changes. The gut symptoms included gas, bloating, constipation, hiatal hernia and more.

Roemheld explained how gut imbalance compresses the vagus nerve (your longest cranial nerve) slowing your heart. The slowed heart then stimulates the "fight or flight" part of your nervous system in order to prevent your heart rate from diminishing too much. The result is heart palpitations, sometimes elevated blood pressure and/or tachycardia.

The patient's heart is fine. You may have experienced this after an ER visit where you have worried you were having a heart attack. But the heart is not diseased.

It is worth noting that Roemheld lived in the early 1900s and today his Syndrome is considered obsolete, which is why your doctors give no credence to the association between gut imbalance and heart symptoms.

Even more annoying is the direction to doctors stating that once the heart tests normal, the next step for the patient is a psych evaluation. If you've ever been told it's "all in your head", you now know why.

Call 727-335-0400 to book a consultation. Check out the website here: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/

We know that being hydrated is a good idea, but where did the recommendation for 8 glasses of water come from?
How much water do we really need and does it affect your weight?

Drinking water causes your to burn more calories for about an hour. We can be strategic and us this data, but let's look at some more research first.

A study had individuals drink 2 glasses (1/2 litre) of water before a meal and they burned 24% more calories despite being completely inactive during the time evaluated. Participants lost 2-5 pounds per month over the several months they were observed.

Another study had participants either drink 1 glass of water before a meal or no water. Those who drank the water ate 24% less calories at their meal and were completely satisfied as compared to the control group who ate more.

A very exciting study out of Germany published in April 2023 in the Journal Children evaluated what happened when some secondary schools had water fountains installed. In addition to the presence of the fountains, the children were educated as to the importance of drinking water. The control group consisted of several other secondary schools that didn't have the fountains installed and similarly received no pro-water education.

The results were rather outstanding. The children, followed for a year, drank, on average an extra 1.1 glasses of water AND their obesity risk dropped 31%! 

It turns out the 8 glasses of water recommendation stems from a 1945 dietary paper that included not only how many water an individual drank but also the fact that food contains water. Watermelon is  more than 90% water. Many fruits and vegetables also contain high percentages of water and even animal protein contains some. Therefore, the recommendations were misunderstood to mean ONLY water consumption as a beverage instead of including food sources

Where does that leave us? The sweet spot seems to be about 5 1/2 glasses of water with the rest coming from a healthy diet.

Those who need more water include the following:
If you suffer from UTIs (urinary tract infections)
Constipation
Kidney stones or cysts - these individuals are often recommended to consume up to 12 glasses.
A pregnant or nursing woman
Diarrhea.

If you're having trouble losing weight, feel free to reach out for a consultation.
For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400

Can you really "cure" type 2 diabetes? Can you keep your blood sugar stable and "wake up" your pancreas even if you've had the disease for a decade?

The answer is "yes" per Dr Roy Taylor who wrote a book on it. 
The mechanism of how he reversed type 2 diabetes is what is so interesting. 

If you have type 2 diabetes, have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or have had gestational diabetes, this data is for you.

Here's some data:
Your liver helps to maintain your blood glucose levels in response to pancreatic hormones.
When you eat a meal with glucose it enters the liver and your blood glucose rises. Excess glucose is dealt with by converting it into glycogen which is stored in the liver.

Dr Taylor realized that most people with type 2 diabetes have a fatty liver, and pancreas for that matter.

He postulated that is was the fat buildup that was causing the type 2 diabetes.
When he put people on a very low calorie diet (I don't think you have to go this route - more on this later) their liver fat normalized in just one week! The fat in the liver is "eaten" preferentially first when the body is on limited calories. The pancreas also lost its fat, albeit more slowly. 
What was very exciting was the pancreas' insulin producing cells "woke up" and started producing insulin again - the mark of reversal of the disease.

The key was found in an individuals personalized fat threshold. Interestingly, this is different in each person, but it's a level that once you go above it you start developing fat infiltration of your liver and pancreas.

Here's what you can do to make this exciting change:
Eliminate or limit drastically any refined sugar intake.
Also eliminate or limit drastically alcohol consumption.
Say "no" to ultra-processed foods and junk foods.
Say "no" to processed meats.
Limit your saturated fat intake to about 7% or less of your total calories.
Say "yes" to fruits and veggies.
Say "yes" to beans and legumes and whole grains (think quinoa, gluten-free oats)
Say "yes" to good fats - mono and polyunsaturated fats.

I recommend you exercise but avoid falling prey to "compensatory eating" where you burn calories exercising and decide you can then eat more calories.

Don't starve yourself but try the above formula and see how you do.
Let me know!

For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400

Is your stomach causing your heart palpitations? Probably yes. Finally a cardiologist confirms the association between hiatal hernia and heart palpitations. Watch Dr. Vikki new video on the topic.

*Summary of the video*
*Stomach-related palpitations can be caused by a hiatal hernia or inflammation of the gut, and can be treated through natural modalities to address root causes without drugs or surgery.*

00:00
If you've experienced heart palpitations, pressure in your chest, and visited the ER only to be told your heart is fine, it may be related to hiatal hernia syndrome.

01:23
Stomach bloating and inflammation can cause the diaphragm to pinch the heart, leading to palpitations, a condition called gastric cardio syndrome.Expand 

03:32
The vagus nerve, which goes to both the heart and stomach, can cause palpitations if overly stimulated or irritated, but is also responsible for slowing the heart and needs to function in a balanced way.

04:37
The natural pacemaker in the heart keeps the pace right, but if the vagus nerve is irritated and heart rate goes too low, other parts of the heart will stimulate and cause heart palpitations or ectopic beats.

05:39
The program deals with anatomical changes, inflammation of the gut, positioning of the diaphragm, and normalization of vagus nerve function through natural modalities to treat stomach-related palpitations without drugs or surgery.

06:55
Aspirin can cause inflammation in the gut and proton pump inhibitors can prevent absorption of key minerals and vitamins important for regular heart rhythm, so it's important to consider alternatives and address root causes.

08:36
The root cause of stomach-related palpitations is often a hiatal hernia or hiatal hernia syndrome, which can cause pinching on the heart and change its location.

09:34
People with stomach issues may experience palpitations that are often misdiagnosed as anxiety and treated with psychiatric medication, when in reality there is an easy solution.

For a hiatal hernia consultation, contact our doctors at the clinic at 727-335-0400.
You can also visit: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-naturalsolution/

Hiatal Hernia Syndrome can be composed of a variety of symptoms that are severe and can result in visits to the ER. Most often patients I meet have had one or more ER visits because they were convinced they were having a heart attack. 

Once that's ruled out, patients are often then diagnosed with anxiety and put on dangerous medications.

Almost standardly the patient is minimally given an acid blocker like omeprazole, which unfortunately can be the exact wrong treatment since their problem isn't due to true excess acid.

Some of the symptoms found in Hiatal Hernia Syndrome are as follows:
Acid reflux or GERD
Bloating, Gas
Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Heart palpitations and chest pain
Pressure in chest
Fatigue
Insomnia
Constipation or Diarrhea
Shortness of breath
Trouble swallowing or a sore throat
Tingling in hands or feet
Burping
Symptoms worsen when bending over
and more...

What's important is to get to the true root cause of the problem and with that accomplished the problem can be fully remedied.

For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400

An interesting study evaluated quantity of sleep and bedtime and found interesting risk associations with not only type 2 diabetes but also cardiovascular disease.

Specifically sleep deprivation (less than 7 to 9 hours per night) caused the beta cells of your pancreas (the cells that produce insulin) to become less responsive. The results in blood sugar levels remaining elevated after a meal which then leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Another aspect of insufficient sleep was the alteration of your hunger hormones: more ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and less leptin (the satiety hormone). The result was more hunger and less satiation, which leads to weight gain, insulin resistance and a host of  diseases which I will mention below.

Chronic sleep loss raises HgA1c levels - the blood value measured to determine if you have type 2 diabetes. However, this not only coincides the risk for type 2 diabetes but also heart disease because the elevated HgA1c levels siffen blood vessels. A link to cardiovascular disease and elevated blood pressure.

In addition to inadequate hours of sleep, the study also found that a bedtime later than midnight came with the same set of issues even if the number of hours slept was adequate.

In other words the risk we've been discussing correlated to inadequate number of hours AND bedtime.

If bedtime was after midnight AND the hours were insufficient that was double jeopardy, yielding even worse health outcomes.

Insulin resistance which is created by either of these sleep issues is associated with several degenerative diseases including: type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, PCOS, fatty liver, certain cancers (including breast and colon), and metabolic syndrome (defined as elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, low HDL, high triglycerides, and abdominal adiposity).

Prioritizing sleep quantity and bedtime is a valuable step to take to move away from the ill health caused by metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance which is literally plaguing Americans.

Here are some sleep tips to get you started:
1. Get bright morning light when you wake up. Go outside and enjoy a little sun.
2 In the evening use blue light blocking glasses to help your brain get ready to rest.
3. Sleep in a cool, dark room.
4. Eat no food 3 hours before exercise.
5. Prioritize exercise 4 to 5 days per week, especially resistance training.
6. Limit caffeine to a cup in the morning only.

If you need help with you sleep we'd be happy to help you.
Give us a call for a consultation: call 727-335-0400.