The Roots of Poor Health and Early Aging
This is the first in a series of articles on the root problems of most of our chronic illness – diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic fatigue, Parkinson’s disease and early aging. Over the next few months, I will share with you how oxidative stress, inflammation, hormone imbalance, and toxins cause chronic illness and what you can do to prevent early aging and chronic illness.
Do you suffer from night sweats? Is stress keeping you from getting a restful night’s sleep? We are here to help with the latest, cutting-edge information on the critical role hormones play in our lives. [Read more...]
Alexandria Times, February 10, 2011
If you’re one of the millions of people who often feels tired, don’t assume you just have to endure. Fatigue has many different causes and in many cases can be treated with a variety of therapies, including herbal remedies, adjustments to diet or other simple changes.
By Dr. Marie Steinmetz, Dr. Jeanne Shiffman, and Dr. Jennifer Lee
On November 30, 2010, the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board released a 999-page document entitled “Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D.” This document was primarily focused on bone health; the committee used a blood vitamin D level of greater than or equal to 20 nanograms per mL as being adequate for this purpose. In the document’s summary it stated, “The committee emphasizes that, with a few exceptions, all North Americans are receiving enough calcium and vitamin D. Higher levels have not been shown to confer greater benefits, and in fact, they have been linked to other health problems, challenging the concept that “more is better.” [Read more...]
By Marie Steinmetz, M.D.
By now you’ve probably heard about the benefits of Vitamin D. It’s always been in fortified milk, but lately it’s become a craze.
Unlike some fads, though, there’s real science at work here. Vitamin D is crucial for good health, and most people would benefit from supplementation. It increases absorption of calcium and phosphorus to build our bones. It improves muscle strength and improves the immune system. If your blood levels are too low, you are at increased risk of colon, prostate and breast cancer. Vitamin D deficiency is also associated with congestive heart failure. [Read more...]
By Jeanne Shiffman, M.D.
I recently returned from a conference hosted by the Institute for Functional Medicine, a medical discipline that seeks to treat the whole person, not just a specific disease. I learned a great deal about hormone disorders and about tests that many doctors don’t normally perform.
The thyroid gland in particular seems to often be given short shrift. Many doctors who suspect a patient has a thyroid problem will test for the level of thyroid stimulating hormone, and sometimes the hormone T4 and, if they are low, prescribe Synthroid, which is synthetic T4. [Read more...]
By Jeanne Shiffman, M.D.
I recently returned from a conference hosted by the Institute for Functional Medicine, a medical discipline that seeks to treat the whole person, not just a specific disease.
I was surprised to learn how pervasive toxic chemicals and other environmental hazards are. Doctors can test a patient’s urine and hair (yes, hair) for exposure to arsenic and mercury, for example.
By Jeanne Shiffman, M.D.
I recently returned from a conference hosted by the Institute for Functional Medicine, an organization devoted to approaching healing as a patient-centered holistic practice. One core principle they emphasized there was the importance of the gastrointestinal tract for overall health.
By Dr. Marie Steinmetz
Alexandria Times, October 21, 2010
Sleep is important for your mind and body. During sleep, your body’s systems regenerate and your mind rests and resets to ready itself for a new day. Most people need seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep a night to get the maximum benefit.
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Since 1997, Steinmetz Medical has been providing family medical care focused on prevention and healing. In addition to conventional prescriptions, our physicians use a variety of healing modalities, including special nutritional supplements and herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture and osteopathic manipulation, which make our practice stand out from conventional practices. We strive to create a partnership with our patients to better understand the complex interactions between their mind, body and spirit and their unique internal and external environment. Our physicians look at all aspects of a patient's lifestyle and use "integrative medicine", a combination of both conventional and complementary therapies to facilitate their healing response. We are proud to offer our unique integrative services to the Washington DC area.
