We are proud to announce the start of our therapeutic lifestyle change program called First Line Therapy to address the most important problem in our health care delivery system today – the lack of medically proven preventive programs for the most common chronic diseases in the U.S.

How many people do you know have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, borderline diabetes, and extra inches around the waist? The combination of these indicators is called The Metabolic Syndrome. All of these factors have a common cause – elevated insulin levels in the blood, which comes from a diet high in refined carbohydrates and bad fats and low in protein, fiber, vegetables and fruits, i.e. the Standard American Diet or SAD.

About 65 million Americans are now either overweight or obese many of who have the Metabolic Syndrome, which can progress to adult diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other ailments. Instead of treating the separate elements with cholesterol medicines, blood pressure and blood sugar medicines medicines, it makes much more sense to treat the root of the problem through dietary and lifestyle changes. In fact this is recommended by many organizations including:

National Institutes of Health
Am. Heart, Blood & Lung Institute
Am. Diabetes Association
Am. Heart Association
Am. Association Clinical Endocrinologists
Arthritis Foundation
North American Menopause Society

The American Journal of Cardiology said in 2004:“

…The findings clearly show that many patients who have conventional risk factors for coronary heart disease can achieve goal levels without medications within 12 weeks of initiating therapeutic lifestyle changes…”

“Moreover, therapeutic lifestyle changes can generally be implemented less expensively than most medications and, unlike single drug therapy, favorably impacts multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors.”

Other conditions shown to be improved by therapeutic lifestyle changes include:

Fatigue
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
Menopausal symptoms
Back pain and widespread pain
Improved memory and cognition

The program consists of an initial medical evaluation with Hunter Yost M.D. to assess the primary health concerns and document basic information including blood work, waist and hip measurements, blood pressure, weight and eventually body composition. Then regular visits are scheduled with Casey Wilson LE (Certified Lifestyle Educator), who helps to design an individualized food and lifestyle plan to decrease multiple risk factors. Blood work and other data will be rechecked at regular intervals.

The program places great emphasis on health body composition rather than just weight loss. Muscle mass is one of the most important biomarkers of aging. Improving and maintaining muscle mass is essential for improved health and longevity.

The visits with the doctor and the Lifestyle Educator can be covered through many insurance companies. Even without insurance, the cost is well below many commercially advertised “weight loss” programs and certainly a worthwhile investment for your good health.

Our therapeutic lifestyles program, First Line Therapy, is an example of personalized medicine which is the new medical paradigm of the 21st century. It is the only medically based preventative program of its kind in Tucson. It does not replace your relationship with your primary care physician.

Tucson, Arizona

We are available to give presentations to your organization, group, or company about First Line Therapy. Please contact Casey @ 520-219-5060 to make arrangements.

This program is all about improving the quality of your life! Please tell your family and friends.

Please visit our Therapeutic Lifestyles page

Medical Studies Say Lifestyle Changes Before Drugs

Have you ever heard a TV commercial say, “Ask your doctor if lifestyle changes are right for you”? Probably not, since they can’t be patented and sold. However, according to the National Cholesterol Program of National Institute of Health in 2001, called the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), study authors concluded, ”Everyone with elevated LDL cholesterol should be treated with lifestyle changes that are effective in lowering LDL. Lifestyle changes are the most cost effective means for reducing risk for cardiovascular heart disease. This approach is designated therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC)”. The ATP III guidelines recommended that physicians should begin to incorporate “medical nutrition therapy” in patients in need of lowering LDL before medications.

The American Journal of Cardiology in 2004 said “many patients with conventional risk factors for cardiovascular heart disease can experience lowered risk without medications within 12 weeks of starting a therapeutic lifestyle program, refuting the notion that lifestyle modification is not worth the effort.” These recommendations apply to high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, elevated triglycerides and low HDL (the “good cholesterol”). Many people with one or more of these factors also have elevated waist circumferences. Above 40 inches in men and 33 inches in women is considered to be a major risk factor for heart disease and diabetes.

In the 2008 Journal of the American College of Cardiology researchers found that eating a common American meal (e.g. steak, baked potato with sour cream or butter and flan for desert) would significantly elevate triglycerides and blood sugar, damaging free radicals and a stress response in the body consisting of unnecessary stress chemicals triggering immediate plaque deposition in arteries. However a Mediterranean diet consisting of fish or poultry, vegetables, nuts and seeds, fruits and legumes has the opposite effect in the body. They called the Mediterranean diet an anti-inflammatory diet and should be considered for the primary (1st heart attack) and secondary (2nd heart attack) prevention of heart disease and diabetes.

Tucson, Arizona

Visit our Therapeutic Lifestyles page

The causes of low energy can fill a medical textbook. Almost every chronic illness is associated with low energy. There are some easily fixable causes such as anemia and low thyroid. Severe fatigue not related to a diagnosable illness may be an illness in itself called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the U.S. or Myalgic Encephalomylitis in England, Canada and Australia. There may be deficiencies of vitamins, minerals and amino acids which can be assessed through blood and urine tests. Correcting these deficiences can improve energy for many people. There may be impairments of the immune system from viruses, bacteria or toxic metals or chemicals which can be evaluated and treated. The course of recovery is highly individual and is based on many environmental and genetic factors. The CDC has recently established the validity of Chronic Fatigue as a specific illness through extensive genetic studies.

Functional Medicine is a branch of medical science based on a biological systems approach to healthcare especially chronic complex illness. There are special functional medicine tests which evaluate how the body works as opposed to just what is grossly wrong. The Functional Medicine web or matrix includes gastrointestional and liver functioning, mediators of inflammation and the immune system, insulin and glucose regulation, cellular and mitochondrial functioning including oxidative stress, hormones, structural issues, the nervous system and neurodegenerative disorders and emotional health. All areas need to be addressed in conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic wideapread pain.

Studies show a large overlap between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Fibromyalgia. A major finding is a connection involving overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine producing gases like hydrogen and methane. These gasses cause intestinal bloating and widespread pain in the body by lowering the pain threshold. A simple breath test is used to diagnose this problem by drinking a solution of lactulose (a non-digestible sugar). The treatment involves a course of a special non-absorbable antibiotic for severe cases and always dietary changes to eliminate starches and sugars. Small intestinal bacteria ferment carbohydrates into gas. Functional Medicine Pain Mangement Clinic in Tucson Arizona. Hunter Yost M.D.

Please visit our Fibromyalgia page

Fibromyalgia is also called “chronic widespread pain” in recent medical articles. It is defined by “tender points” on physical examination in soft tissues above and below the waist. Fibromyalgia is not considered to be a disease of the joints. It is reported more often in women than men. It is not an autoimmune disease and does not turn into Lupus or any other autoimmune condition but may co-exist with them. Currently there are no blood tests for Fibromyalgia. There are genetic, cellular, hormonal, nutritional and brain factors involved. There frequently is a history of physical trauma and prior injuries predisposing a person to Fibromyalgia. Commonly there is a sleep disturbance, persistent or chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome and depression. Fibromyalgia can begin in childhood or later in life. Narcotic medicines are not recommended for Fibromyalgia and have not been shown to be helpful. Some prescription, non-narcotic medicines can sometimes be helpful. A Functional Medicine evaluation looking at gastrointestinal, liver and detoxification, hormonal and nutritional factors through specialized testing is important. Since there is more than one cause, treatments need to be individualized.

For questions regarding appointments contact:
520-219-5060 or dryost@hunteryostmd.com

Visit our website: www.hunteryostmd.com