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Dr. Andrew Kong & Associates
Women's Health Issues You deserve to be at your optimum health, no matter your age or the challenges that every woman experiences unique to their life style. Today couldn’t be a better time to take charge of your health. Women have more options (and opportunities) than ever before when it comes to their healthcare. You don’t have to sit back and just accept that with hormone imbalance, adrenal fatigue, and other chronic conditions, come issues that you will just have to live with, because you don’t. Whether hormonal changes and imbalances are causing abnormal menstruation, PMS, weight gain, loss of libido, infertility, menopause, breast disease, or other symptoms, now is the time to look to an alternative approach to finding answers. Our doctors and staff can help you address and prevent these issues using natural medicine, without the limitations or side effects often associated with conventional medicine. Holistic care finds the root cause, focuses on comprehensive care, and helps educate you so that you will find the greatest benefit and long lasting results by following your unique treatment plan. Bio-Identical Hormones As we get older, health declines, aging begins, and hormone levels fluctuate. Correcting hormone imbalance is a hot topic, especially considering 80% of women deal with some form of it daily. A good analogy would be comparing hormones to water for drought resistant plants. Plants may ‘survive’ for years without much water, but only when given an optimal amount of water will they truly thrive. Balancing hormones is a science, requiring careful interpretation of symptoms and specialty lab testing. We not only address the hormone imbalance itself, but locate the root cause so that we can remove the source(s) of the imbalance. Often the underlying cause is due to poor dietary habits, environmental toxins, oral contraceptive use, or various combinations of these factors and more. By assessing the results of various testing, we create a customized list of herbs and supplements to naturally balance your hormones based on your specific needs. We also include a tailored treatment plan that may include Hormone Kits, Adrenal support, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, or other therapies that have been proven effective in balancing hormones. Cancer Cancer is the #2 killer in America. While all the research done towards finding a cure over the years has not brought us much closer, there are alternatives out there that could help “prevent” chances of developing cancer. Survival rates are coming back up thanks to improvements in cancer screening and cancer treatment, including alternative care. Alternative medicine uses an integrative approach to dealing with cancer, encompassing a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches and therapies. Alternative methods to dealing with cancer are not just complimentary to modern medical treatment, sometimes they are all that is needed if the cancer is found soon enough. Our doctors utilize a specific blood panel designed to help us better understand the level of cancer you may be dealing with, these markers are area specific and provide a great background for our doctors to bulid treatment on. Where chemotherapy, surgery and radiation kill cancer cells, they also kill healthy cells, damaging the immune system and the ability of the digestive tract to process nutrients – they do not target cancer cells. Alternative treatments are far more effective because they target cancer cells and do not damage your healthy cells.
Adrenal Fatigue The adrenal glands are what control your body’s “fight or flight” mode. They produce hormones such as Cortisol (which is essential for helping our bodies cope with stress and fight infection), but when fatigued our entire body is affected. Balance is crucial as Cortisol sustains life and affects every tissue, organ, and gland in the body. The body will work to get by, but not without consequences, and other chronic conditions are usually preceded by Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome. IPM can help balance your adrenal system and get the hormones back in to balance, naturally. There are some symptoms you may be experiencing some times for years, assuming they are natural or just from being run down. They may include: fatigue/lethargy (tired when you finally climb out of bed; tired between 3 - 5 pm; tired between 9 -10 pm, but resist going to bed), unexplained hair loss (pulling what seem like small yeti’s from the shower drain is not normal), cravings of salty or sugary foods, lowered blood pressure and blood sugar, brain fog, decreased sex drive, weight gain and inability to lose weight (especially around the waist), and more.
PMS Symptoms appear in the second half of the menstrual cycle such as mood swings, cramps, bloating, breast tenderness, and possibly depression. Much of PMS is caused by hormonal imbalance, unhealthy eating, and stress. While some women can alleviate these symptoms by exercising regularly, reducing intake of certain products (alcohol, caffeine, sugar, refined carbohydrates), and managing stress effectively, others have more severe symptoms that require treatment. We offer relief and a way to be PMS free, without drugs. Hormone Kits The Female Hormone Panels screen for: • Hormone imbalances that may contribute to PMS and migraines • Contributing factors to infertility such as luteal phase deficit, anovulation, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) • Inadvertent or excessive hormone exposures that may cause irregular menses • Underlying hormone abnormalities associated with painful or heavy menses • Early indicators of perimenopause The Expanded Female Hormone Panel Can Be Helpful In Determining The Underlying Cause Of: • Irregular or Painful Periods • Infertility or Miscarriage • Premenstrual Syndrome (Mood Changes, Breast Tenderness, Water Retention, Pelvic Cramping) • Low Libido • Facial Hair Growth • Acne • Migraine The test kit is comprised of 11 salvia samples, meaning it is a painless yet effectively method of understanding your hormone levels throughout the full month, instead of a blood sample comprised of only information on that day. These Eleven Saliva Samples Are Used To Examine The Following Hormones: • Estradiol – Produced by the ovaries, this is the most active form of estrogen prior to menopause. Proper levels are necessary for healthy menstrual cycles and fertility. • Progesterone – As the word indicates, progesterone is “pro-gestational”. This hormone prepares the endometrium (internal uterine lining) for implantation of the fertilized ovum. Abnormal levels can play a significant role in infertility and recurrent miscarriage. • DHEA – A hormone produced in the adrenal glands, which is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone. Too much or too little DHEA can lead to abnormal levels of these hormones. • Testosterone – Usually considered a “male hormone”, testosterone plays an important role in maintaining muscle mass, bone density, metabolism, energy and libido in women as well. Elevated levels are associated with symptoms such as acne and facial hair growth, and may indicate PCOS. • Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) - A hormone that regulates the production of estradiol by the ovaries. FSH is released from the pituitary gland in the brain. • Luteinizing hormone (LH) - Another pituitary hormone, which regulates progesterone production and is necessary for ovulation. Through the careful evaluation of these hormones, we can help a wide variety of patients with many hormone related ailments including painful periods, missed cycles, PMS, and infertility. Because we have not listed everything that we can assist you with does not mean you are limited in the care you will receive at our office. Our physicians are well trained and educated to assist with most chronic ailments including (but not limited to) diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, and stress induced ailments. Again, our goal is to help prevent or reverse health conditions ailing you, and to help you restore and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Let us know what you are experiencing so that we can assist you in achieving your goals of a healthier you!