Tag Archive for: Health

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Health & Welllness: 5 Benefits of CBD You Didn’t Know

In recent years, CBD has been all the rage, and for good reason. It can help with a variety of health-related issues and has been providing relief for millions of people. Cannabidiol, or CBD derived from cannabis, is a natural remedy that has been proven to be highly effective. Here are 5 health-related benefits that people may not know about CBD, the active ingredient that is derived directly from the hemp plant.

1. CBD Helps to Manage Daily Pain

Millions of people have pain each day, whether it be mild joint pain due to aging, or something more severe. CBD can help with this by targeting endocannabinoid receptor activity therefore reducing inflammation as a result. It can help with issues such as fibromyalgia and even sciatic pain, making it an excellent choice for those who need relief.

2. It Can Provide Energy

So many people feel sluggish throughout the day and are looking for a safe, natural way to feel more energized and alert. CBD can help increase focus and concentration, giving anyone the added boost that they need to get through the long, busy day and be as productive as possible.

3. CBD Helps With Stress Relief

Everyone experiences stress at some point. While there is simply no way to avoid it altogether, some may need a little help with the management of daily stressful situations. CBD can help by inhibiting the release of stress hormones and balancing hormone production in order to make a person feel calmer and more in control. CBD may also influence the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, another important factor in the management of daily stress and the effects it can have on the body.

4. CBD Can Help With the Symptoms of Epilepsy

Those who suffer from epilepsy that can benefit from the use of CBD. By helping to reduce the adverse effects associated with anti-seizure medication, CBD can have a positive impact on epileptic patients. Those with rare seizure disorders can benefit most. Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex are three disorders that can be helped by the use of CBD. Patients will find that side effects such as dizziness, nausea, headache, fatigue, vertigo and blurred vision can be reduced.

5. Anxiety Can Be Treated

Anxiety is an all too common complaint among millions of people, and so many are looking for an effective way to reduce the symptoms they have. CBD can be an effective treatment for those with generalized anxiety and even physical symptoms. By interacting with the cannabinoid type 1 receptor, the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor, and other receptors in the brain that regulate fear and anxiety-induced behaviors, CBD can greatly reduce the difficult symptoms that so many people experience on a daily basis. Those with mental-health related symptoms may see significant improvement and an overall increased quality of life. Options for those with anxiety include oils, gummies, sprays, capsules, flowers and more.

By: Katherine Robinson, a writer for Redeem Therapeutics

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Storm Water Partners: Ways to Keep Our Waters Clean

Vancouver, WA — As the weather warms, it’s important to remember that small habits can have a large impact on stormwater. Car washing, cleaning up after your pets and lawn care all impact our waters in Clark County. The City of Camas is sending out reminders about proper water usage, which come from Storm Water Partners. Here are some tips:

Watering

When irrigation systems overwater or water sidewalks, driveways and streets, the runoff picks up pollutants and transports them to our streams via the storm sewer.  It’s also a waste of water and money.

Ensure your irrigation system is only watering the landscape where it can infiltrate into the soil.  

Pets and animals

When it rains, pet waste left on the ground from dogs, cats, horses, ducks, and other pets washes into storm drains and streams, polluting our water and posing health risks to children and pets.

Animal waste carries harmful bacteria, parasites and nutrients.  And with over 110,000 dogs and 30,000 horses in Clark County alone, it adds up.  In fact, E. coli is a primary pollutant in many of our local streams and lakes. 

Lawn care

Follow the manufacturer’s directions precisely for mixing and applying herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides and use them sparingly.  

NEVER apply when it’s windy or rain is expected, or over water, within 100 feet of a well, or adjacent to streams or other waterways.

Use manufacturer’s directions in applying fertilizers and sweep up spills that fall on driveways and sidewalks before they can wash off. Organic fertilizers’ slow release of nitrogen is less likely to pollute than synthetic fertilizers.

Visit www.stormwaterpartners.com to learn about ways you can minimize your impact.

One Stop
Let the cool furniture at One Stop Home Furnishings transform your home or office. 2140 SE 8th Avenue, Camas, WA 98607. 360-834-1234.
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March 8: Burgerville Fundraiser Supports Local Breast Cancer Survivors

Vancouver, WA – Local restaurant chain Burgerville is partnering with a team of local breast cancer survivors to help the team travel to New Zealand next month where they will represent the Pacific Northwest and the United States at the International Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Festival. 

The team, called Pacific Northwest Pink Lemonade, is comprised of twenty-six women – all breast cancer survivors and fighters – ranging in age from 40 to over 80-years old, who are reviving and thriving through the ancient Chinese sport of dragon boat racing. 

Survivors from the Vancouver dragon boat team Catch 22 and Portland team, Pink Phoenix are usually competitors on the water, but they have joined forces to create one team and represent the PNW at the international competition. 

One paddle at a time, this intense sport helps those who have experienced breast cancer feel empowered, build self-confidence and take back control of their lives thanks to the healing power of water, community and the unique camaraderie of connecting and competing with other survivors. 

Ways to support the team  

  • When: Join them on Wednesday, March 8, from 4 to 8 pm.
  • Where: Burgerville, 11704 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. Vancouver (Mill Plain, just east of I-205)
  • Details: Burgerville will donate20 percent of the sales from guests who mention they are there to support the team. 

Funding for these survivors to participate in the international event is made possible through sponsorships, special team fundraising efforts and the generosity of individual donors. 

You can also support the team by making a donation online. Please indicate that the donation goes to the PNW Pink Lemonade New Zealand Team. 

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Here Are Five Physical Health Conditions Caused by Anxiety

While not the direct cause, anxiety can lead to quite a few physical health problems. Here’s a list of some of the ones you should be careful of.

It should come as no surprise that extreme stress levels are not healthy for a person’s mental well-being. However, one thing you might not know is that anxiety can also affect the body physically. While it doesn’t directly cause these issues, anxiety can trigger some physical health conditions. Knowing about them will make them easier to spot if you feel overwhelmed. We’ll go over some of these conditions below.

Heart Conditions

While occasional stress isn’t a bad thing, constant anxiety can lead to heart problems. This is because your body starts pumping blood through your veins faster when you’re stressed. If it continues to operate at an elevated level on a regular basis, your heart will eventually become overworked, making you more susceptible to a heart attack or stroke.

Asthma

Rapid breathing is a common response when experiencing an anxiety attack. Regular anxiety attacks can cause breathing problems down the line, including asthma. Even though asthma isn’t a common problem for adults to develop later in life, constant anxiety will increase the likelihood.

Digestion Problems

Stress and anxiety can affect your digestive system too. Nausea is one of the more common symptoms, but stomach pain and diarrhea can also occur. If these issues persist, you can develop irritable bowel syndrome or even stomach ulcers.

Incontinence

Another system that is affected by stress is your urinary tract. Incontinence occurs when you lose control of your bladder. Under extreme stress, some people experience incontinence. To make matters worse, the psychological impact of urinary incontinence can lead to even more stress, exacerbating the issue. Once this happens, it can be difficult to regain control.

Insomnia

The final notable physical health condition that can occur from anxiety is insomnia. This issue is a bit more well-known, but not everyone knows that extreme stress is one of the biggest triggers for sleeplessness. Chronic anxiety can lead to multiple sleepless nights, which can lower your immune system and cause other health conditions.

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Health: The Factors That Are Disrupting Your Sleep Cycle

Needing more sleep is one thing all people can agree on. However, some things we do impede getting a good night’s rest. These factors that disrupt your sleep cyclemay be unavoidable for some and simple to manage for others.

Dramatic Change in Diet

Being conscious of the food you put in your body is the main cog of a healthy life. Although you will reap the long-term benefits from a change in your diet, the short-term ramifications may be frustrating. One side effect of a dramatic diet change is the lack of good sleep.

Many individuals may not notice their lack of sleep until lunchtime, realizing their eyes are feeling heavy, and it isn’t easy to keep them open. You should change your diet slowly rather than immediately cutting calories or fasting. Your body will thank you for making the slow adjustments. 

Too Much To Drink

Food isn’t the only thing you consume that can impair your sleep cycle. If you have too many alcoholic beverages or drink a caffeinated beverage before bedtime, you could have trouble falling and staying asleep. 

The best strategy is limiting yourself to the number of drinks you indulge in and cutting yourself off at a specific time. No soda or coffee after lunch, and one glass of wine at dinner should help you recalibrate your sleep cycle. 

Different Sleeping Environment

Where you sleep plays a huge factor in your sleep cycle. Even if you are off in dreamland, your body subconsciously wants the same environment every night. That includes the same temperature, noises, and darkness. Any deviation from that can confuse your circadian rhythm, preventing you from falling into a deep sleep. 

If you travel constantly for work, consider the changes in climate and time zone before departing and adjust accordingly. Otherwise, you will have a restless night of sleep ahead of you. 

Mental Struggles

When your sleep cycle gets interrupted every night, it might be because your mind refuses to shut off, dwelling on the day ahead. Anxiety and stress are a nuisance when you’re awake throughout the day, and bringing them to the bedroom isn’t helping you snooze.

The adage of not taking your work home with you is a wonderful credo to live by; otherwise, the inner struggle between your ears may be never-ending. Let your future self deal with tomorrow. For now, relax—you deserve it!

Undiagnosed Sleeping Disorder 

Sleep problems can be frustrating if you eat well, don’t drink, sleep in the same bed every night, and have a positive outlook on life. If you fall into this category, you might have an undiagnosed sleeping disorder. You don’t need a pre-existing condition for a sleep disorder to affect you. Insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy can inflict anyone, so see a specialist if you fear the worst. 

Recognizing these factors that disrupt your sleep cyclekeeps you aware of what you can do to fix your current situation. While some things are beyond your control, there are aspects you can control that better your well-being.

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Dr. Cynthia Bye: Do You Love Sugar? … So Do All Cancers

Vancouver, WA — New research has found an association between early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC) and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). EO-CRC is defined as being diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50. The Nurses’ Health Study 2, a prospective study followed roughly 95,000 female nurses between 1991-2015. The participants who consumed 2 or more SSBs per day in adulthood had a more than doubled risk of EO-CRC when compared with those who consumed less than 1 serving per week. This risk rose by 16% for each additional SSB serving per day. SSBs, which include sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks, and fruit drinks, make up almost 40% of added sugar in diets in the US and 12% of Americans consume 3 or more of these daily. A cola has about 39 grams of sugar, which is approximately 10 tsp of sugar per can. That’s a lot of sugar. 200 years ago, the average American consumed 2 pounds of sugar per year. Today the average American consumes 152 pounds of sugar annually. My goodness, that is 30 five-pound bags of sugar per year.

Consumption of added sugar has become a real problem for the United States. In 2013, the American Heart Association (AHA) published a study attributing 25,000 deaths in the United States to added sugar. In 2019, the AHA published a study that found consuming more than two sweetened drinks per day increased their risk of death by 21%. Excess sugar intake can lead to weight gain, insulin resistance, obesity, and diabetes, all of which can contribute to inflammation and cancer. Additionally, tumor cells take up more sugar (glucose) than healthy cells. In a presentation by Dr. Johannes Czernin from UCLA, he states that tumor cells take up 30 times more glucose than healthy cells. This increased glucose uptake is used diagnostically for cancer patients. For Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging, patients must fast for at least 6 hours before their imaging and no carbs/s. for at least 24 hours to starve the cancer cells. Then they are injected with a sugar that has a radioactive tracer tagged onto it.  The PET scan tracks the uptake of sugar/radioactive tracer throughout the body and identifies the areas with the highest consumption. These areas with high consumption of high sugar/tracer, show up as hot spots on imaging indicate the presence of cancer because cancer loves sugar.

Not only is the cancer being fed with the sugar, but the sugar also increases insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).  As the name suggests, growth factors make cancer grow. Insulin also increases inflammation. At the end of the day, it all comes down to inflammation. We tell our patients that inflammation is the cause of all disease and it is a common thread we see in our cancer patients. Short-term inflammation can be beneficial for things like wound healing or your body fighting off an infection like influenza. But chronic inflammation is the villain here. Symptoms of inflammation can be vague like joint pain, allergies, fatigue, or poor digestion. These symptoms are like your car’s check engine light and they’re telling you that something isn’t right. When your check engine light is on, you take your car to the mechanic so they can diagnose the problem. The same should be true for your body; you should be working with a Naturopathic physician who can connect the dots to determine why your body’s check engine light is on.

Dr. Cynthia Bye, ND, FABNO, is a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO), the only FABNO located in southwest Washington, she did a residency at Cancer Treatment Centers of American, and she has been working in cancer care for 20 years. There are less than 150 Naturopathic doctors in the United States and Canada that have been board certified as FABNO. She works with you to figure out why your check engine light is on.  Through a full review of the system, head to toe she connects the dots as to why it’s on. She works with you to teach you how to take care of yourself. To create lasting lifestyle changes and turn off the “check engine light”.

Each person and each cancer are different, and Dr. Bye utilizes individualized therapies based on your needs. The goal is to work with cancer patients to identify causative factors that cause inflammation. Many things cause inflammation. Dr. Bye supports cancer patients as they go through their treatments with well-researched protocols to reduce side effects without interfering with the treatment, tie up circulating tumor cells to reduce the risk of metastasis, and help cancer patients recover from their treatments. Once treatment is finished, she works with patients to help them recover from radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery using protocols to decrease recurrence risk if they no longer have evidence of disease. For patients with residual disease after treatment, we support their recovery, improve their quality of life, and work to slow down the cancer process. 

Even though signs of chronic inflammation are like a check engine light, your body is not like a car. If your car breaks down, you buy a new one….. You only get one body, and it is the vehicle through which you experience your life. When your “light” comes on, being proactive by changing your lifestyle, and taking charge of your health is the best investment you can make. An easy way to start is by taking the sugar out of your life.  Dr. Bye, works with cancer patients, family members of cancer patients, and individuals looking to reduce their risk of cancer.

To learn more, visit www.cynthiabye.com

Hur J, Otegbeye E, Joh H, et al. Sugar-sweetened beverage intake in adulthood and adolescence and risk of early-onset colorectal cancer among women. Gut. Published Online First: 06 May 2021. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-323450

Malik, V. S., Li, Y., Pan, A., De Koning, L., Schernhammer, E., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2019). Long-Term consumption of Sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages and risk of mortality in us adults. Circulation,139(18), 2113-2125. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.118.037401

PET/CT Cancer Imaging: Cancers Eat a lot of Sugar [Video file]. (2013, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.simmsmanncenter.ucla.edu/center_events/petct-cancer-imaging-cancers-eat-a-lot-of-sugar/

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Health: Clover Podiatry Opens Its Doors In Downtown Camas

Camas, WA — Clover Podiatry, owned and operated by Dr. Tek Fish, a foot and ankle surgeon, recently opened it doors in downtown Camas. 

A foot and ankle surgeon, as well as a foot and general physician, Dr. Fish treats any issues and ailments from the knee down, which includes skin, muscles, bones, and tendons. 

“We’re happy to be here,” said Dr. Fish. “Clover Podiatry treats ingrown toenails, warts, heel pain, plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, and diabetic foot care.”

He said heel pain is the same as plantar fasciitis — it’s an overuse injury of the heel, usually from tight calf muscles. 

“It happens when you puts too much stress on the tissue on the bottom of your foot,” he said. “It comes from being on your feet too much and not having the right support. Orthotics and stretching are some of the best ways to prevent it. Shockwave therapy is one way to treat it.” 

His clinic also treat ailments that require surgery, such as ankle fractures, bunions, hammer toes, wound care, and trauma. Hammer toes is an imbalance in your foot muscles and results in your toes curling up. People with diabetes get it, too, and it’s corrected through surgery. 

“It’s a fairly simple surgery,” he said “Almost all surgeries I perform are at PeaceHealth.”

He also treats sports injuries like turf toe or ankle sprains, fractures, and shin splints, “which we try to manage with conservative care.”

Most of the time Clover Podiatry doesn’t require referrals. The clinic accepts most insurances: Medicare, Medicaid, Premera Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Regence, United Health Care, Lifewise, Molina Healthcare, etc.

Dr. Fish also encourages patients to wear medical grade orthotics, which are pre-fabricated and available at his practice for 1/3 of the price. 

The move back to the Pacific Northwest in July with is wife Kimberly Fish, a Physician’s Assistant, and his toddler daughter, Devri, was a homecoming for Fish, who grew up in Hockinson.

“We moved back to the Pacific Northwest in July, bought the building on September 1 and spent a couple months renovating it. I grew up in Hockinson, went to Heritage High School, attended BYU (competed on their track team and studied landscape management), then I went to podiatry school at Kent State U, College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated in 2017.”

Dr. Fish stayed in Cleveland for three years of surgical training, and then decided plant roots once again in the Pacific Northwest.

“We plan to be active in the community, and we’re just really happy to be here,” he said.

He also has his own blog, which you can read at his website: www.cloverpodiatry.com

Fish
Clover Podiatry offers high quality orthotics at 1/3 the price.
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Rep. Herrera Beutler to Host Telephone Town Hall w/ Health Director Feb 8

Event will cover testing, vaccines, federal relief, local COVID updates; Jaime will take resident questions about all topics

VANCOUVER, WA  – Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler will be hosting a live telephone town hall on Monday, February 8 at 5:25 pm Pacific Standard Time. This telephone town hall with feature Clark County Public Health Officer, Dr. Alan Melnick to provide an update on resources and information related to COVID-19. As usual, she will also answer questions and hear feedback from residents about whatever is on their mind.

Any Southwest Washington resident can call in to join the live telephone town hall at any point during the event by calling 1-877-229-8493 and using the passcode 116365.

Those residents unable to participate in this event can send comments and questions to Jaime at JHB.house.gov/contact and can also find a variety of COVID-related resources by visiting JHB.house.gov/coronavirus.

Event:Jaime Herrera Beutler telephone town hall with special guest, Clark County Public Health Officer, Dr. Alan Melnick.
Date & Time:Monday, February 8, 2021 @ 5:25 – 6:25pm PST
How to participate:Residents can join the telephone town hall by calling 1-877-229-8493 and using the passcode 116365 at any point during the event
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Clark County Public Health Provides Update on New State Reopening Metrics

Vancouver, WA — Under Governor Inslee’s Healthy Washington reopening plan the state is divided into eight regions. Clark County, which is joined by Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties forms the new Southwest Region.

Based on the latest Washington Department of Health (DOH) data, the Southwest Region is in COVID-19 Phase 1 and is meeting two of the four metrics necessary for moving to Phase 2. The state will update the data again this Friday.

According to Clark County Public Health, the Southwest Region is meeting the metrics for decreasing trend in COVID-19 case rate and ICU occupancy. And in a statement on Friday, the health department said: “We are not meeting the metrics for decreasing trend in COVID-19 hospital admissions or percentage of COVID tests coming back positive.”

The table below for shows Clark County’s current metrics. The data is also posted on this COVID-19 data page: https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/covid-19-data

COVID-19
Southwest Washington Region.

The complete state report for Jan. 8 is available on the Washington State Department of Health website: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/data-tables/421-006-RoadmapToRecovery1-8-2021.pdf 

You may also visit the governor’s website for more information about the reopening plan: https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-announces-healthy-washington-roadmap-to-recovery-229b880a6859

COVID-19
www.acreativetwistcorp.com
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How Trauma Impacts Your Health — by Dr. Cynthia Bye

As practitioners of naturopathic oncology, we know that the vast majority of cancer diagnoses occur within 5 years of a major trauma. These include the death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job, to name a few. However, even early childhood trauma can have negative health outcomes many years after the fact. ACEs, or “Adverse Childhood Experiences” are recognized by the CDC as contributing to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, depression, and cancer. When I did my residency at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, all patients had the option of seeing a Psychoneuroimmunologist (PNI). Big word, but basically their job was to ferret out the traumas that impacted the patient’s psychology that impacted the nervous system which ultimately impacted the immune system. 

The underlying issue is “toxic stress.”  This is a prolonged period of stress in which the body is responding physiologically without ever being given a chance to recover. This leads to immune suppression, increased blood sugar, and changes in brain chemistry that predispose people toward anxiety and depression. As many know, toxic stress can lead to stress eating and poor nutritional choices. Ironically, sugar and carbs can increase serotonin transiently which makes you feel better short term until the blood sugar drops and that is another stressor. Stress also tends to reduce our exercise and can lead many times to substance use like alcohol, marijuana, and other recreational drugs. The consequence of these stress behaviors results in increased blood sugar, insulin, obesity, insomnia. All of which increases inflammation and reduce immune function and thus increasing the probability of major disease such as cancer.

As naturopathic physicians who specialize in oncology, we take a detailed look at all aspects of every patient’s health. This includes mental and emotional health. Everyone experiences stressors in their lives. Some people have more trauma than others. What matters is how each person copes with these major stressors. Naturopathic medicine emphasizes lifestyle and nutritional medicine as a first-line approach to health and healing. For example, studies show the simple act of meditating for 15 minutes daily can make an enormous difference in brain function and levels of stress hormones in the body. Making sure to eat whole foods instead of processed “frankenfoods” gives the body what it needs to heal and remain healthy. We also have other tools to address toxic stress such as botanical medicine, targeted supplementation, and homeopathy. When appropriate we will refer our patients for additional counseling. 

If you have experienced a major trauma and are struggling with your health, call our office today to make an appointment.  We take a whole-person, patient-centered approach to health and healing.  No stone will be left unturned.  

Yours in health,

Cynthia Bye, ND, FABNO

Board certified in Naturopathic Medicine

360-695-8800

www.cynthiabye.com

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