How Do Neurotransmitters Affect Mental and Physical Functioning?

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that control communication between neurons (nerve cells).  When neurotransmitter levels are out of balance, such communication can be altered and a wide variety of clinical symptoms can result.  These effects can be both physical, emotional.  Mood, mental performance, and energy level can all be affected.  Resulting symptoms can include:  anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, inability to concentrate, and appetite changes.

Dr. Anne Hermann is a holistic internal medicine physician who offers a wide array of specialty laboratory testing to her patients.  Offices are maintained in Tampa and Saint Petersburg Beach, Florida.  Please call the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Tetanus, Diphtheria aand Pertussis Vaccine – Tdap

These three diseases are caused by bacteria.  Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person and tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound.  Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful muscle spasms, and can lead to death if not treated.  Diphtheria causes a thick covering in the back of the throat, untreated it can lead to heart failure or paralysis.  Pertussis (whooping cough) causes severe coughing and vomiting.  Pertussis that is not treated may lead to pneumonia.

The Tdap was licensed in 2005.  It is the first vaccine for adolescents and adults that protects against all three diseases.  It can be used as a catch-up vaccine for individuals who did not receive all their doses when they were children, as a booster dose every 10 years, and for protection against tetanus infection after a wound.  Mild reactions after the vaccine can include pain or redness at the injection site, nausea, headache or low-grade fever.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician located in Tampa, Florida offers this vaccine to her patients.  Self-pay pricing is competitive with the national pharmacy chains.  However, insurance and Medicare will often cover all or a portion of the vaccine cost.  Please contact the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Pneumonia (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide) Vaccine

Pneumococcal disease is caused by a type of bacteria.  Untreated, pneumococcal disease can lead to pneumonia, meningitis and blood infections (bacteremia).  Individuals at greater risk for developing pneumococcal disease include the very young, people over age 65, smokers and people with weakened immune systems or certain health problems including:  heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. Usually only one dose of PPSV is needed.  However, a second dose is recommended for people 65 and older who received their first dose prior to age 65, and for individuals who are younger than 65 but have weakened immune systems.  If necessary, the second dose is repeated 5 years after the first dose.  Mild side effects such as fever, or pain and redness at the injection site may occur after the vaccination.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician located in Tampa, Florida provides this vaccine to her patients.  Self – pay pricing is competitive with the national pharmacy chains.  However, insurance or Medicare will often cover all or a portion of the cost.  Please contact the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Which Vitamins and Minerals Can Help Depressive Symptoms

Depression affects how you feel, think and behave.  It is a medical illness that causes a persistent feeling of sadness.  Other symptoms include:  irritability, insomnia or excessive sleeping, appetite changes, restlessness, trouble concentrating, crying spells and unexplained physical problems.  The exact cause of depression is not known.  However, it is thought that a variety of factors including:  biological differences in the brain, neurotransmitters, inherited traits, and hormones may play a role in the development of depressive symptoms.  Your physician can help you determine the right treatment to help with your depression.  They may recommend medication and/or counseling.  It is important that you share all of your concerns with your healthcare provider as untreated depression may result in emotional, health and behavioral problems that affect daily life.

How can vitamins and minerals help depressive symptoms?  Magnesium helps regulate mood.  Zinc and serine both regulate neurotransmitter function.  Antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E, Co Q10, and lipoic acid) help protect neurotransmitter functions from oxidative stress.  Deficiencies of the B complex vitamins (biotin, B2, B6, and B12) have been linked to depression.  Vitamin D acts as a hormone precursor – and thus may improve symptoms of depression.  Finally, chromium elevates serotonin levels    with in the brain (serotonin is our feel good hormone).  Chromium also affects blood sugar regulation, and thus may alleviate the depressive symptom of carbohydrate craving.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, maintains offices in Tampa and Saint Petersburg Beach, Florida.  Dr. Hermann is also board certified in in nutrition.  Please contact the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Why Am I So Fatigued?

 

Fatigue is a commonly mentioned symptom of many diseases and illnesses.  Persistent fatigue can be debilitating,  and has a negative effect on one’s quality of life.  Fatigue may be an early warning sign of food intolerance or sensitivity.  Usually, the fatigue is worse in the early morning, and will occur with other symptoms such as migraines, eczema or irritable bowel syndrome.

Researchers have theorized that sensitivities to foods may produce fatigue as part of a generalized immune reaction.   The chronic inflammatory response or immune reaction overburdens our bodies.  This leads to oxidative stress, which in turn affects the mitochondria or energy –producing parts of our cells.  Thus, excessive fatigue ensues.  Once the offending foods are eliminated, most patients experience immediate improvement in their energy level.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, offers food sensitivity testing to her patients.  Dr. Hermann maintains offices in Tampa and St. Pete Beach, Florida.  Please call the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

What is a Detoxification Diet?

 

An anti-inflammatory diet, or detox diet, has been shown to be beneficial for a number of chronic and acute health conditions.  Toxins may be introduced into our bodies in a variety of ways, including pollution or pesticides from our food sources.  Our detox organs are the liver and kidneys.  Improper digestion and metabolic by-products put undue stress on these organs and on the digestive system.  This may lead to an overgrowth of bacteria, which can increase inflammation.

Symptoms that have been shown to improve from a detox diet include:  general malaise, skin rashes and irritation, headaches, joint pain and poor concentration.  The detox diet lessens the acidity of the body, which in turn decreases inflammation.  Weight loss resistance has also been shown to improve during the diet.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, offers the detox diet as a treatment option to her patients for certain health conditions.   Dr. Hermann maintains offices in Tampa and St. Pete Beach, Florida.  Please call the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

How Can Vitamin and Nutritional Testing Help Me?

 

Our society perpetuates unhealthy eating habits due to our busy culture.  Often, we are not obtaining the proper type or amount of vitamins, minerals or amino acids.  Our bodies are bombarded daily with pollution and toxins which may leave the immune system vulnerable.  Nutritional imbalances can affect your body in many ways, some of which are outlined below.

Amino and fatty acids affect our emotional and cognitive well-being; early detection of imbalances may help prevent chronic illnesses from developing.  Dietary minerals help regulate many of our body’s processes and also serve as “building blocks”.  Minerals such as magnesium and manganese have been proven to be beneficial in alleviating joint pain and anxiety.   Antioxidants help protect our body from oxidative stress or free radicals.  Oxidative stress has been linked to neurological diseases and premature aging.  Testing can also be performed for heavy metal  ( such as  lead and mercury) toxicity.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, is pleased to offer vitamin and nutritional testing to her patients.  Dr. Hermann maintains offices in Tampa and St. Pete Beach, Florida.  Please call the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy from Tampa and St Petersburg’s Own Expert!

Posted by Anne Hermann on Wed, Apr 11, 2012 @ 04:10 PM

Anne Hermann, MD

What You Need to Know about Bioidentical Hormone Therapy from Tampa and St Petersburg’s Own Expert!

This article focuses on female hormone therapy.  On my blog, I also post articles focused on male hormone therapy.  As an author of nationally recognized research on bioidentical hormone therapy, I have been treating men and women for 9 years in Tampa Bay.  I recommend hormone replacement therapy when non-hormonal and natural therapies do not work in treatment of menopausal symptoms including:

  • hot flashes
  • weight gain
  • sleep disturbance
  • “brain fog”
  • poor libido
  • vaginal dryness
  • skin changes

The medical community is learning that some forms of hormone replacement, called bioidentical hormones, have less side effects and less danger than standard hormones.  Less risk does not mean no risk, and I always discuss these pros and cons with my patients.

Hormone therapy is not recommended for women with the following:

  • · Current or past history of breast cancer (standard hormone therapy increase risk of breast cancer)
  • · Coronary heart disease especially if older than 60 or went through menopause more than 10 years ago
  • · A previous blood clot, heart attack, or stroke (standard therapy increase risk of blood clots and stroke)
  • · Women at high risk for these complications

Benefits:

  • Reduces the risk of bone fracture caused by osteoporosis.
  • Lowers risk of colon cancer
  • Make women with menopausal symptoms feel better

The North American Menopause Society, the Endocrine Society, the International Menopause Society, and guidelines from the European Menopause and Andropause Society for the management of menopausal women all favor the use of bioidentical forms of hormone replacement in women with high risk of blood clots.  Unlike standard estrogen treatment, bioidentical estradiol does not increase risk of blood clots or stroke (doses ≤ 50 μg).  Bioidentical progesterone also has less risk of blood clots and breast cancer than standard therapy. Based on these data, which are now included in the guidelines, the use of transdermal estradiol and micronized progesterone could reduce the excess risk of blood clots, stroke, and possibly even breast cancer associated with hormone use.  Simon JA. What’s new in hormone replacement therapy: focus on transdermal estradiol and micronized progesterone. Climacteric. 2012 Apr;15 Suppl 1:3-10.

I was the first author in the study that demonstrated that the bioidentical form of progesterone cream is absorbed as well as progesterone pillsOver-the-counter progesterone cream produces significant drug exposure compared to a food and drug administration-approved oral progesterone product.  Hermann AC, Nafziger AN, Victory J, Kulawy R, Rocci ML Jr, Bertino JS Jr.J Clin Pharmacol. 2005 Jun;45(6):614-9.  Look out for my blog on this topic in the future.

Anne Hermann, MD is double board certified in Internal Medicine and as a Physician Nutrition Specialist. To schedule your consult, please call (813) 902-9559.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.