What's the Root Cause?: Recent Episodes
Root Cause Medical Clinic
'What's the Root Cause?' is brought to you by Root Cause Medical Clinic. Our team of trained functional medicine doctors with many different specialities are here to bring you cutting-edge solutions in the areas of nutrition, food, hormones, genetics, lifestyle, and more…. You don’t need to put up with feeling unhealthy or suffering from a disease or condition. The truth is that your body knows how to heal itself and it is very able to reverse most disease conditions with the right help. We're here for just that reason. Contact us directly if you'd like to ask our doctors about your personal health issues. 408-733-0400 | RootCauseMedicalClinics.com
Some hiatal hernia symptoms are easy to dismiss - and a few of them are the ones that matter most. In this video, Dr. Vikki walks through the five symptoms you should never ignore, what causes each one, and which symptom means you should call your doctor today.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/ Call or text us directly: 727-335-0400
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⏱️ What we cover
→ Chest pressure and tightness — and how to tell it apart from your heart
→ Trouble swallowing or food getting stuck
→ Waking up choking or coughing at night
→ Heart palpitations and the gut-heart connection
→ Shortness of breath and your diaphragm
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⚠️ When to seek care immediately
→ Vomiting blood, black or tarry stools, sudden severe chest pain, or inability to swallow are emergencies — seek care now.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🩺 Work with Dr Vikki's Team
We treat the root cause of hiatal hernia symptoms — not just the symptoms. Root Cause Medical Clinic offers telemedicine nationwide.
→ Schedule a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
👩⚕️ About Dr. Vikki
Dr. Vikki is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with 40 years in practice. She specializes in gut health, hiatal hernia syndrome, hormones, and GERD — finding and fixing root causes, not managing symptoms.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or a qualified health provider with any questions about your health. Views expressed are based on Dr. Petersen's clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the publication date. Individual results may vary.
HiatalHernia #HiatalHerniaSymptoms #GutHealth #FunctionalMedicine #GERD
If you've had chest pain after eating that goes away when you burp - or you can't stop burping no matter what you do - this video is for you.
Neither of these is random. Neither is psychological. Both are mechanical symptoms of the same root cause: a hiatal hernia that hasn't been properly addressed.
In this video I'm explaining exactly what's happening in both cases - and giving you practical steps you can start using today.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🔍 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
→ Why trapped gas causes chest pain that mimics a heart attack
→ How the vagus nerve turns gas pressure into heart palpitations
→ The pressure-peak-relief cycle and why it keeps repeating
→ What aerophagia is and why it causes constant uncontrollable burping
→ Supragastric belching — the reflex that gets mistaken for anxiety
→ Why diaphragmatic breathing strengthens the crura and increases LES pressure (with published research)
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🩺 WORK WITH DR. VIKKI
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Root Cause Medical Clinic sees patients nationwide via telemedicine.
→ Schedule a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
📞 727-335-0400
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📺 RELATED VIDEOS
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
→ 5 Signs Your Hiatal Hernia Is Getting Worse
→ Why Your Hiatal Hernia Is Causing Your Anxiety
→ Why Bloating Triggers Heart Palpitations
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
👩⚕️ ABOUT DR. VIKKI
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Dr. Vikki is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with 40 years in practice. She specializes in gut health, hiatal hernia syndrome, hormones, and GERD - finding and fixing root causes, not managing symptoms.
Root Cause Medical Clinic | Clearwater, FL | Telemedicine available nationwide
⚠️ This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for your individual situation.
🩺 Surgery might sound like the obvious fix - but for most hiatal hernia patients, it's not the permanent solution they were promised. Dr. Vikki Petersen breaks down exactly why, and what to do instead.
➡️ Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⏱️ In This Video
→ Which hiatal hernias actually need surgery - and which don't
→ The types of surgery and how they differ
→ Short-term success vs. the long-term reality
→ Why the repair keeps coming undone
→ The root cause almost every surgeon skips
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⚠️ Seek Emergency Care If You Experience:
Sudden severe chest or upper abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, or inability to keep food or liquid down. Don't wait.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
About Dr. Vikki Petersen, DC, FMCP
Dr. Vikki Petersen is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with 40 years of clinical experience in gut health, hiatal hernia syndrome, GERD, and digestive root cause medicine. She is the founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic - offering telemedicine consultations nationwide.
🌐 rootcausemedicalclinics.com | 📍 Clearwater, FL | 💻 Telehealth Available Nationwide
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⚕️ This video is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or a qualified health provider. Views reflect Dr. Petersen's clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of publication. Individual results may vary.
HiatalHernia #HiatalHerniaSurgery #GutHealth #FunctionalMedicine #GERD #DigestiveHealth #RootCauseMedicine #DrVikkiPetersen #HiatalHerniaTreatment
If you've been told your symptoms are "just anxiety" but treatment never fully worked, there may be a physical cause that's been missed.
In this video, Dr. Vikki explains how a hiatal hernia can irritate the vagus nerve and produce the exact symptoms we call anxiety - and the five signs that point to your hernia instead of your mind.
➡️ Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⏱️ What we cover
→ Why symptoms hit after meals, not when you're worried
→ Heart palpitations and the vagus nerve
→ Breathlessness that calming down won't fix
→ Throat and chest tightness with no stress behind it
→ Nighttime panic when you lie down
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⚠️ Important
Chest pain and palpitations should always be evaluated by a doctor. Anxiety is a real condition — this video is about a physical cause that is often overlooked, not a reason to stop any treatment.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🩺 Work with us
We treat the root cause of hiatal hernia symptoms - not just the symptoms. Root Cause Medical Clinic offers telemedicine nationwide.
➡️ Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
👩⚕️ About Dr. Vikki Petersen, DC, FMCP
Dr. Vikki Petersen is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with 40 years of clinical experience in gut health, hiatal hernia syndrome, GERD, and digestive root cause medicine. She is the founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic - offering telemedicine consultations nationwide.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⚕️ This video is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or a qualified health provider. Views reflect Dr. Petersen's clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of publication. Individual results may vary.
hiatalhernia #anxiety #vagusnerve
If you have a hiatal hernia and you're still suffering despite medication and diet changes, something you're doing every single day may be making it worse. Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
These aren't unusual triggers. They're completely ordinary habits that nobody has told you are a problem - because most doctors aren't looking at this mechanically.
In this video I'm walking you through 5 everyday habits that are directly aggravating your hiatal hernia - and what to do instead.
Root Cause Medical Clinic | Clearwater, FL | Telemedicine available nationwide | https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🔍 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
→ Why grazing and snacking disrupts your gut's natural cleaning cycle (MMC)
→ What happens to your hiatal hernia every time you strain on the toilet
→ Why sparkling water may be causing more damage than you think
→ How tight clothing and sucking in your stomach restricts your diaphragm
→ How to tell if chronic stress is mechanically aggravating your hernia daily
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Root Cause Medical Clinic sees patients nationwide via telemedicine.
→ Schedule a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📺 RELATED VIDEOS
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
→ 5 Signs Your Hiatal Hernia Is Getting Worse: https://youtu.be/wER9WM9jToY
→ Hiatal Hernia ATTACK Feels Like This: https://youtu.be/zVzSVNyDLkY
→ GERD, Silent Reflux, or Hiatal Hernia - What's Actually Causing Your Symptoms?: https://youtu.be/MNA8lNkJuEI
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
👩⚕️ ABOUT DR. VIKKI
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Dr. Vikki is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with 40 years in practice. She specializes in gut health, hiatal hernia syndrome, hormones, and GERD — finding and fixing root causes, not managing symptoms.
⚠️ This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for your individual situation.
If your acid reflux is worst at night - waking up with acid coming up, chest pressure, throat burning, or palpitations - you are not imagining it.
➡️ Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Root Cause Medical Clinic | Clearwater, FL | Functional Medicine | Telehealth Available
Nighttime is mechanically the hardest time for a sliding hiatal hernia, and most patients have never had anyone explain why
In this video I'm walking you through exactly why your hiatal hernia behaves differently at night - and for each reason, a practical tip you can start using tonight.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🔍 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
→ Why lying flat eliminates the mechanical advantage you have during the day - and how to get it back
→ How eating close to bedtime compounds overnight instability
→ Which side you sleep on and why it matters more than you think
→ Why you wake up at 2–3 AM even when you were careful about dinner
→ Why the morning cortisol surge causes your worst symptoms before you've eaten anything
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🩺 WORK WITH DR. VIKKI
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Root Cause Medical Clinic sees patients nationwide via telemedicine.
→ Schedule a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📺 RELATED VIDEOS
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
→ 5 Signs Your Hiatal Hernia Is Getting Worse
→ Why Your Hiatal Hernia Is Causing Your Anxiety
→ 5 Everyday Habits That Make Your Hiatal Hernia Worse
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
👩⚕️ ABOUT DR. VIKKI
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Dr. Vikki Petersen is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with 40 years of clinical experience specializing in gut health, hiatal hernia syndrome, GERD, and the root causes of digestive symptoms. She is the founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic, offering telemedicine consultations nationwide.
🌐 Root Cause Medical Clinic | Clearwater, FL | Functional Medicine | Telehealth Available Nationwide
⚕️Medical Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or a qualified health provider with any questions about your health. Views expressed are based on Dr. Petersen's clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the publication date. Individual results may vary.
If you have a hiatal hernia and you also struggle with anxiety, unexplained unease, or panic that seems to come out of nowhere - this video is for you.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
It is not in your head. It is not a separate problem. Your gut and your brain are in constant communication through the vagus nerve, and when your hiatal hernia is disrupting that communication, anxiety is a direct neurological result.
In this video I'm walking you through exactly how your hiatal hernia is producing anxiety - the specific mechanisms - and why addressing the gut is the missing piece nobody has offered you.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🔍 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
→ How vagus nerve irritation from your hernia keeps you in fight-or-flight
→ Why chronic bloating and distension produce a direct anxiety response in the brain
→ The evolutionary reason your brain treats gut distension as a threat
→ How dysbiosis disrupts serotonin and GABA production - the chemistry of gut-caused anxiety
→ Why the anxiety-gut loop doesn't stop on its own without addressing the root cause
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🩺 WORK WITH DR. VIKKI'S TEAM
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Root Cause Medical Clinic sees patients nationwide via telemedicine.
→ Schedule a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📺 RELATED VIDEOS
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
→ 5 Signs Your Hiatal Hernia Is Getting Worse: https://youtu.be/wER9WM9jToY
→ Why Bloating Triggers Heart Palpitations: https://youtu.be/PZvcShFPy3k
→ GERD vs. Hiatal Hernia vs. Silent Reflux: https://youtu.be/MNA8lNkJuEI
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
👩⚕️ ABOUT DR. VIKKI
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Dr. Vikki is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with 40 years in practice. She specializes in gut health, hiatal hernia syndrome, hormones, and GERD — finding and fixing root causes, not managing symptoms.
Root Cause Medical Clinic | Clearwater, FL | Telemedicine available nationwide
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or a qualified health provider with any questions about your health. Views expressed are based on Dr. Petersen's clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the publication date. Individual results may vary.
Most people with a hiatal hernia are told to manage symptoms. But a hiatal hernia can get worse - and it doesn't have to be getting larger. Functional worsening can happen even when your scan looks the same.
➡️ Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Root Cause Medical Clinic | Clearwater, FL | Functional Medicine | Telehealth Available
In this video, I'm walking you through 5 specific signs that your sliding hiatal hernia is progressing functionally, not just flaring. If you recognize three or more of these, it's time to address the root cause.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🔍 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
→ Why symptoms moving to your throat or voice is a warning sign
→ What difficulty swallowing actually means at the tissue level
→ Why position-dependent symptoms signal functional instability
→ Why your medication working less is a structural signal, not a dosing problem
→ What it means when symptoms happen without eating at all
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📺 RELATED VIDEOS
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
▶️ Hiatal Hernia Attack Feels Like This: https://youtu.be/zVzSVNyDLkY
▶️ Why Bloating Triggers Heart Palpitations: https://youtu.be/PZvcShFPy3k
▶️ GERD, Silent Reflux, or Hiatal Hernia - What's Actually Causing Your Symptoms?: https://youtu.be/MNA8lNkJuEI
👩⚕️ About Dr. Vikki Petersen:
Dr. Vikki Petersen is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with 40 years of clinical experience specializing in gut health, hiatal hernia syndrome, GERD, and the root causes of digestive symptoms. She is the founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic, offering telemedicine consultations nationwide.
🌐 Root Cause Medical Clinic | Clearwater, FL | Functional Medicine | Telehealth Available Nationwide
⚕️Medical Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or a qualified health provider with any questions about your health. Views expressed are based on Dr. Petersen's clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the publication date. Individual results may vary.
hiatalhernia #gerd #acidreflux #functionalmedicine
Struggling with hiatal hernia and not getting real answers? Book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/ Root Cause Medical Clinic | Clearwater, FL | Functional Medicine | Telehealth Available
If you've been told surgery is your only option — or that you'll be on PPIs forever — there are some things you need to know first.
In this video, Dr. Vikki Petersen breaks down 5 of the most common hiatal hernia myths and sets the record straight with research-backed facts.
THE 5 HIATAL HERNIA MYTHS:
❌ MYTH #1: Surgery is a permanent fix Nearly 1 in 4 patients require PPI medication again within a few years. Up to 50% experience complications including difficulty swallowing, bloating, and inability to burp or vomit.
❌ MYTH #2: PPIs are safe to take long-term PPIs are only approved for 2 weeks at a time. Long-term use is linked to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, osteoporosis, dementia, stomach cancer, and a weakened microbiome.
❌ MYTH #3: Acid reflux always causes heartburn 50% of reflux is completely silent. It may show up as chronic cough, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing — and some reflux is caused by too little acid or bile, making PPIs completely ineffective.
❌ MYTH #4: Endoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosis Endoscopy misses the most common type of hiatal hernia nearly 48% of the time. Manometry and impedance pH monitoring are far more accurate — but rarely used.
❌ MYTH #5: You have to be overweight to have hiatal hernia Weight alone isn't the issue — visceral fat is. A person can be a normal weight and still have dangerous levels of visceral fat driving abdominal pressure and symptoms.
ABOUT DR. VIKKI:
Dr. Vikki Petersen is a functional medicine doctor and founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic. She specializes in gut health, digestive disorders, and identifying the root cause of chronic symptoms rather than managing them indefinitely with medication.
─────────────────────────────────────────
Disclaimer: Educational content reviewed by licensed medical staff. This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or heard here. The information shared reflects clinical experience and current scientific research at the time of publication. Individual results may vary, and no guarantees of specific outcomes are made. This content does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.
HiatalHernia #HiatalHerniaMyths #PPIRisks #AcidReflux #FunctionalMedicine #RootCauseMedical #DrVikkiPetersen #GutHealth #RefluxRelief #DigestiveHealth #HiatalHerniaSyndrome #SilentReflux
Struggling with acid reflux, bloating, or unexplained symptoms?
Book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Root Cause Medical Clinic | Clearwater, FL | Functional Medicine | Telehealth Available
If you’re dealing with multiple symptoms like heartburn, shortness of breath, or palpitations and not getting clear answers, you’re not alone. These issues are often treated separately—but may actually share the same root cause.
In this episode, Dr. Vikki Petersen explains the 4 major symptoms of hiatal hernia syndrome and why they occur.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
- The 4 key symptoms of hiatal hernia and how they’re connected
- How mechanical changes in the diaphragm and stomach lead to reflux and bloating
- The role of the vagus nerve in symptoms like palpitations and shortness of breath
- How inflammation and gut imbalances contribute to worsening symptoms
- Practical ways to begin addressing the root cause through diet, lifestyle, and testing
ABOUT DR. VIKKI:
Dr. Vikki Petersen is a functional medicine doctor and founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic. She specializes in gut health, autoimmune conditions, and identifying the root cause of chronic symptoms.
Disclaimer: Educational content reviewed by licensed medical staff. This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or heard here. The information shared reflects clinical experience and current scientific research at the time of publication. Individual results may vary, and no guarantees of specific outcomes are made. This content does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.
FunctionalMedicine #RootCauseMedical #DrVikkiPetersen #GutHealth #HiatalHernia #AcidReflux #Bloating
What is the most important step you can take for gut health and preventing disease? It costs you nothing additional to fill this gap in your diet.
In the episode, Dr Vikki Petersen explains a critical missing element in the American diet which is setting us up for weight gain, diabetes, cancer risk and depression.
We're talking about short chain fatty acids (SCFA) - a type of fat produced in your colon from microbes. They are named: butyrate, propionate and acetate.
Benefits?
Stabilizes blood sugar
Supports your metabolism
Strengthens your immune system
Balances brain health
Practical examples:
Study of young men with diabetes - improved the microbes (bacteria) in their gut and they instantly had better blood sugar control.
People with cancer who “failed” immunotherapy - a treatment that requires your immune system to be strong enough to arm a defense against the cancer cells. Once their microbes were restored to a healthy level they successfully responded to the immunotherapy. Interesting melanoma research in the references below.
Did you know - people born in 1990s are 4x more likely to develop rectal cancer and 2x more likely to develop colon cancer in their lifetime as compared to their parents who were born in the 1950s?
People with depression - “gave” their microbes (via fecal transplant) to mice and the mice got depressed. Those humans with anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, Alzheimer’s - do NOT have healthy microbiomes.
How it works:
Your gut is “outside” your body - mouth to your anus is closed system.
On the other side of the gut lining is 70% of your immune system
The microbes IN your gut maintain the gut lining.
When you eat fiber it's untouched until it reaches your colon
Why? We don’t have the enzymes to break it down - only microbes do.
What are we talking about?
Soluble fiber - remains intact until it gets into the colon and then a feeding frenzy ensues by your microbes because soluble fiber is their preferred fuel.
NOW the magic happens! The microbes eat the fiber and they release a fat called SCFA.
SCFAs then enter your bloodstream and within seconds are circulating everywhere with healing effects to your metabolism, insulin levels, decreasing inflammation and protecting your brain
SCFAs have multiple mechanisms by which they can destroy tumor cells - they do this by empowering your immune system.
Now the problem:
These amazing SCFAs are produced by eating fiber and most Americans (95%) don’t get even the bare minimum. 38gm in men, 25 gm in women.
Soluble fiber found in ALL plants - fruit, vegetable, nut, seed and bean.
How to get the healthiest microbiome?
Fiber? YES
Diversity is key - different plants' fiber feed different microbes.
Eat 30 plants per week = healthiest guts.
Note on Carnivore: they say you don’t need fiber but there are no human studies to support robust SFFA production and microbial diversity without fiber.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this episode is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it. The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
Our licensed medical team at Root Cause Medical Clinic can help you identify the root cause.
➡ Learn more or book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
📞 Call us: (727) 335-0400
Struggling with bloating and heart palpitations? ➡️ Book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Root Cause Medical Clinic | Clearwater, FL | Functional Medicine | Telehealth Available
If you've been told your heart is fine but you're still dealing with palpitations, irregular rhythm, or chest tightness after meals — your heart may not be the problem. Bloating and hiatal hernia can trigger real cardiac symptoms through a connection most doctors never check.
In this video, Dr. Vikki Petersen explains why bloating triggers heart palpitations, the role of the gastrocardiac reflex, and how hiatal hernia creates mechanical pressure on the heart through the diaphragm.
- Why a bloated or distended stomach can directly trigger heart palpitations and irregular rhythm — including AFib
- The gastrocardiac reflex: how your gut and your heart communicate through the vagus nerve
- The anatomical reason even a small hiatal hernia can irritate the heart's outer layer (without anything being structurally wrong with your heart)
- Why treating the gut alone — or the vagus nerve alone — is rarely enough for lasting relief
- How shallow breathing caused by bloating creates a cycle that worsens both digestion and cardiac symptoms
- The root cause approach to resolving these symptoms rather than managing them indefinitely
Watch my vagal AFib and hiatal hernia video here: https://youtu.be/vx2x00uCcf8
Watch my Gas and Bloating are NOT Normal video here: https://youtu.be/uhz0rVli53Y
Dr. Vikki Petersen is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with 40 years of clinical experience specializing in gut health, hiatal hernia syndrome, and the root causes of digestive and cardiac symptoms. She is the founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic, offering telemedicine consultations nationwide.
This video is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or a qualified health provider with questions about your health or treatment options. Views expressed are based on Dr. Petersen's clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the publication date. Individual results may vary.
FunctionalMedicine #RootCauseMedical #DrVikkiPetersen #GutHealth #HiatalHernia #HeartPalpitations #GastrocardiacReflex #VagusNerve #Bloating #AFib
Have you rushed to the ER convinced you were having a heart attack? You had heart palpitations, shortness of breath and anxiety out the roof? You also suffer with acid reflux, bloat, gas, and/or constipation.
Every test comes back normal, but your heart still races, the shortness of breath impacts your day to day life and your gut is a mess.
Your cardiologist assures you there's nothing wrong, yet you feel "off" and keep suffering.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains what the 3 missing "pieces" of Hiatal Hernia Syndrome are and why they need to be evaluated in order to achieve successful relief.
We utilize a patient-tailored approach - Personalized medicine, because there isn't a "one size fits all" solution.
Diet, posture, breathing - why “one size doesn’t fit all”
Symptoms influenced by: diet, digestion efficiency, motility within the gut, microbiome health, diaphragmatic breathing, and vagal nerve tone
-
DIET Recent work highlights that diet composition—not just acid suppression—matters for reflux and hiatal hernia symptom burden. Interventions focusing on reduced overall sugar intake, increased fiber, and mindful eating patterns
SMOKING & WEIGHT Risk factor data indicate abdominal pressure, physical workload, smoking, and central adiposity are risk factors. -
MOTILITY & MICROBIOME Current GERD/hiatal hernia literature recognizes the influence of gut motility and possibly microbiome interactions on reflux patterns.
PPIs, given for reflux, can make it worse - can’t be the only treatment. You can’t feel the reflux but it’s still there.
It doesn’t correct motility or pressure issues -
STRESS Stress reduction and vagal nerve influence
TIPS
Eat smaller meals
Stop eating 3–4 hours before bed
Avoid tight clothing
Chew thoroughly
Avoid large mixed meals late at night
Pay attention to early fullness, bloating, or nausea
Walk after meals
Stay upright for at least 20–30 minutes after eating.
Belly breathing - before meals and practiced during the day
Diaphragm part of anti-reflux barrier so needs to be exercised
Address constipation and gas - increases pressure
hiatalhernia #acidreflux #guthealth #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
Many viewers ask what to do next if symptoms persist.
Our licensed medical team at Root Cause Medical Clinic can help you identify the root cause.
➡ Learn more or book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
📞 Call us directly: (727) 335-0400
About this channel: Dr. Vikki Petersen, DC, CFMP, is founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic.
Our multidisciplinary team of licensed APRNs and clinicians provides functional medicine care focusing on gut, hormone, and metabolic health.
Educational videos are reviewed by licensed medical staff and based on current scientific research.
🔥 Still dealing with acid reflux after cutting out all the "bad" foods? Book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/ | Clearwater, FL | Telehealth Available
You eliminated coffee, wine, and spicy food - and your reflux is still there. If standard dietary advice hasn't worked, these three foods are likely why, and most doctors never think to check them.
In this video, Dr. Vikki Petersen breaks down three commonly overlooked foods that silently drive acid reflux through inflammation, delayed gastric emptying, and a weakened lower esophageal sphincter - not excess acid.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🧠 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
→ Why gluten triggers acid reflux even without a celiac diagnosis
→ The dairy connection most doctors miss and how it affects your esophageal valve
→ Why a popular "digestive aid" is actually making your reflux worse
→ How these foods drive reflux through gut inflammation - not acid overproduction
→ Why finding the root cause of reflux means looking beyond antacids and standard elimination diets
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🔎 WANT TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE?
Our licensed medical team at Root Cause Medical Clinic can help identify what's truly driving your digestive symptoms.
➡️ Learn more or book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
📞 Call us: (727) 335-0400
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
👩⚕️ ABOUT DR. VIKKI PETERSEN
Dr. Vikki Petersen, DC, CFMP, is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with 40 years of clinical experience, specializing in gut health, acid reflux, GERD, and chronic digestive conditions conventional medicine often misses. She is the founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic, where a multidisciplinary team of licensed APRNs and clinicians provides functional medicine care focused on gut, hormone, and metabolic health.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
This video is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or a qualified health provider with questions about your health or treatment options. Views expressed are based on Dr. Petersen's clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the publication date. Individual results may vary.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
AcidReflux #GERD #FunctionalMedicine #RootCauseMedical #DrVikkiPetersen #GutHealth #AcidRefluxRelief #DigestiveHealth
Fatty liver prevalence is 40% and most people don’t know they have it. It's closely tied to diabetes, heart disease, and long-term liver damage.
In this episode, Dr Vikki Petersen explains the association between PPI medication and fatty liver.
Secret #1 Observational studies have found that people taking proton pump inhibitors have a higher prevalence of Fatty Liver
Risk -dose and duration dependent (1–2 years)
The mechanism: gut microbiome disruption
PPIs reduce stomach acid → that changes what survives the upper GI tract.
leads to: Increased bacterial overgrowth - SIBO link - PPIs are strongly linked with SIBO - creates gas, pressure and reflux.
Toxin-producing bacteria - lead to liver fat accumulation
PPI → SIBO → pressure + endotoxins → reflux + fatty liver
PPIs change the gut in a way that makes the body send more fat to the liver.
Secret #2: Your gut talks to your liver
Almost everything absorbed from your intestines travels straight to the liver first.
1. The wrong bacteria start to grow when stomach acid is suppressed. You start getting more bacteria that create irritating byproducts.
2. Those bacteria produce toxins
3. The gut lining gets irritated and more permeable
4. Those toxins slip into the bloodstream
5. They go straight to the liver. Blood from the intestines goes directly to the liver through the portal vein.
6. The liver reacts like it’s under attack and activates an inflammatory response.
7. Changes how the liver handles fat- burning is less efficient and the fat export system gets impaired - the result is fat accumulating inside liver cells.
8. Fat plus inflammation is where the real problem starts
That combination is what can drive progression from simple fatty liver toward a more damaged, inflamed liver.
Secret #3 - fix the gut signal coming into your liver - the focus isn’t on the liver but what’s being sent to it.
Restore stomach acid or stop suppressing it. It’s how you prevent bacterial overgrowth.
Reduce overgrowth and fermentation
TIPS:
Stop snacking
Space meals 4 hours apart - MMC cleans house
Chew thoroughly
Walk after meals
Strengthen gut barrier
Eat whole foods - add polyphenols (berries, broccoli, tea, cacao,nuts and seeds)
Fiber
Get adequate high quality protein
Remove triggers - ultra-processed foods, alcohol, sugar
Lower the fat coming into your liver
Reduce insulin spikes w/ less frequent eating
Reduce excess sugar/fructose intake
Improve insulin sensitivity w/ movement after meals and exercise - aerobic and resistance training helps manage blood sugar levels for 24 to 72 hours.
If you’ve tried the basics and aren’t improving, it usually means something deeper is driving it—and that’s where a more comprehensive evaluation makes the difference.That’s exactly what we focus on—identifying and addressing the root causes behind these patterns, not just managing the surface symptoms
evaluation of:
SIBO / dysbiosis
Gut barrier function
Inflammation markers
Insulin resistance / metabolic markers
Liver function beyond basic labs
References:
1. Pyo JH et al. Proton pump inhibitors use and the risk of fatty liver disease 2021, Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
2. Yu H et al. Proton pump inhibitor use is associated with increased hepatic steatosis in US adults 2024, Biomedical Reports
3. Huang H et al. Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors is associated with increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
2024, Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology
4. Fossmark R et al. Changes in the gastrointestinal microbiota induced by proton pump inhibitors 2024, Microorganisms
guthealth #acidreflux #fattyliver
Disclaimer: The information provided in this episode is intended for educational p
Have you noticed an increase in acid reflux with age?
Some studies cite the increased risk at ~47% in women during perimenopause and menopause.
Women using hormone replacement have an increased risk of reflux of 40 to 70% as compared to women not using hormones.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains why women tend to experience more reflux as they approach perimenopause and menopause.
This has prompted the question of whether those on hormones had to be put on a PPI to handle their reflux OR stop their hormones to settle the heartburn?
You don’t need to make that decision.
You can enjoy the benefits of HRT on your heart, your bones, your brain and your urinary tract without having to put up with the dangerous side effects of PPIs - on your heart, your bones, your brain and your kidneys! Isn’t that interesting - The negative side effects on your organs mirror the benefits of HRT on the same organs!
The good news is that the deeper causes of heartburn and reflux can be addressed without losing the benefits of hormones.
Studies show women in perimenopause/menopause are several times more likely to experience reflux than younger women, with some surveys finding ~40–47% reporting symptoms in midlife.
Large pooled studies have shown that women using systemic hormone therapy have higher odds of reporting GERD symptoms compared with women who haven’t used it — roughly 29–66% higher in various analyses.
Is this associative or causal?
Perimenopausal/menopausal women report more reflux even without hormone therapy, likely due to shifting estrogen and progesterone levels, slower gut motility, weight distribution changes, and other age-related factors.
Most women do experience an increase in heartburn with age, especially around perimenopause and menopause.
Some women notice a change in reflux when starting hormone therapy — and studies show a higher prevalence of reported reflux in hormone users — but this doesn’t prove HRT is a direct cause in every case.
The mechanisms likely involve both hormone-related smooth muscle effects AND other underlying factors (pressure, motility, hernia mechanics, weight patterns), which is why the “full story” is more complex than just hormones alone.
Progesterone does relax smooth muscle affecting the lower esophageal sphincter. So yes — in some women, HRT can lead to reflux.
But here’s what matters.
If your diaphragm is strong, abdominal pressure normal, stomach empties properly, and thee's no hiatal hernia — the small hormonal shift usually won’t cause symptoms.
Reflux isn’t caused by acid alone. And it’s rarely caused by hormones alone.
Solutions
If a woman needs HRT for: hot flashes, bone protection, brain or mood support, genitourinary (bladder) syndrome
The answer is not: “Stop HRT and start a PPI.”, but evaluate:
✔ Diaphragm function
✔ Constipation
✔ Abdominal pressure causes
✔ Weight distribution
✔ Stomach motility
In other words: fix the gut.
References:
1. Jacobson BC et al. (2008) Postmenopausal hormone use and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, Archives of Internal Medicine
2. Aldhaleei WA et al. (2023) The association between menopausal hormone therapy and gastroesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Menopause
3. Close H et al. (2012) Hormone replacement therapy is associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a retrospective cohort study, BMC Gastroenterology
4. Saleh S et al. (2022/2023) Effect of Hormonal Replacement Therapy on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and its Complications in Post-Menopausal Women, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
acidreflux #guthealth #rootcausemedicine #menopause
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice,
3 Root Causes of Burning Stomach
- Pressure
- Poor digestion and resulting fermentation
- Irritated stomach lining
In this episode, Dr Vikki Petersen explains 3 reasons why an acidic stomach develops and what you can do to dramatically improve your symptoms.
Most “acid stomach” symptoms are driven by pressure pushing contents upward, not acid being overproduced.
Key drivers:
Increased intra-abdominal pressure
Hiatal hernia
Constipation
Central weight gain
Tight diaphragm / poor breathing mechanics
When pressure rises, acid moves where it shouldn’t.
If pressure inside the abdomen rises, acid gets pushed upward. That’s when it burns.
What actually lowers pressure:
Stop overeating (smaller meals)
Eat slower
Fix constipation
Reduce bloating triggers
Practice diaphragmatic breathing
Don’t lie down within 2–3 hours of eating
This alone has the potential to resolve symptoms for many people.
Improve Digestion so Food doesn’t Sit and Ferment
If food sits too long:
It ferments
Gas forms
Pressure rises
Reflux follows
What can fix this:
Chew thoroughly
Avoid constant snacking
Space meals 4–5 hours apart
Support motility (walking after meals)
Identify food triggers
Acid suppression does not fix fermentation.
Calm the Irritated Lining
Sometimes the acid is normal — the lining is just sensitive.
Common irritants:
NSAIDs
Alcohol
Ultra-processed foods
High sugar diet
Chronic stress
H. pylori infection (bacteria in stomach)
What helps:
Remove irritants
Short-term targeted support (not lifelong suppression) - e.g. antacid
Improve sleep
Lower stress
Restore gut barrier function
If you feel like your stomach has too much acid, here’s the truth — most of the time it’s not too much acid.
It’s pressure.
It’s poor digestion creating gas.
Or it’s an irritated lining that’s become sensitive.
Lower the pressure.
Improve digestion.
Calm the inflammation.
That fixes the cause — not just the symptom.
References:
1. Pandolfino et al., 2006 "High-resolution manometry of the EGJ: evidence of a pressure gradient driving reflux" Gastroenterology
2. Kahrilas et al., 2012 "The acid pocket and its role in GERD", American Journal of Gastroenterology
3. Penagini et al., 1998 "Mechanisms of postprandial gastroesophageal reflux in humans", Gastroenterology
4. Wu et al., 2004 "Overeating and GERD symptoms" American Journal of Gastroenterology
5. Parkman et al., 2004 "Delayed gastric emptying in GERD" American Journal of Gastroenterology
6. Piche et al., 2003 "Colonic fermentation influences LES relaxation" Gastroenterology
7. Freedberg et al., 2015 "The impact of PPIs on the gut microbiome", Gastroenterology
8. Imhann et al., 2016 "Proton pump inhibitors affect gut microbiome", Gut
9. Vanuytsel et al., 2014 "Psychological stress and intestinal barrier function" Gut
10. Fass et al., 2001 "Functional heartburn: acid is not always the cause" Gastroenterology
acidreflux #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
Many viewers ask what to do next if symptoms persist.
Our licensed medical team at Root Cause Medical Clinic can help you identify the root cause.&
Constipation isn’t just about what you eat — it’s about whether your gut is getting the right signals to move.
In the episode, Dr Vikki Petersen explains why you may be suffering from constipation.
3 secrets:
1.Your Gut Runs on Nerve Signals
Your gut runs on nerve signals -which are highly energy dependent.
Vitamin B1 is required to convert glucose → energy
With lower B1 → weaker nerve signaling - the gut isn’t getting strong, signals and the result is constipation.
Research- thiamine deficiency rates from about 20% to 90% depending on the population studied. Obese people - deficiency of 15% to 29%. Diabetics - B1 75% lower in the blood.
High carbohydrate diet puts you at risk because glucose in blood requires more B1 to break down the carbs thereby creating a higher demand
2.Your Gut Muscles Have to Respond
The nerves send the signal, but the muscles have to respond to the signal.
muscles need to contract and relax in sequence
Research -magnesium intake is commonly inadequate.
~60% of American adults do not meet the recommended magnesium intake. ~45% of Americans may be magnesium deficient.
When magnesium levels low, those signals weaken and slow the gut.
Constipation, reflux, and bloating often occur together -they are all motility disorders.
stomach emptying slows → reflux
small intestine motility slows → fermentation of bacteria leading to infection, bloat, gas, SIBO, leaky gut, increased IAP. Leads to hiatal hernia.
colon motility slows → constipation
It’s all one issue: with constipation you cannot have a healthy gut.
Why?
Refined grains remove minerals- whole grains contain magnesium, refined don't.
Ultra-processed food diets
Certain medications - like PPIs, antibiotics, diuretics
Magnesium dense foods: pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds (also B1), almonds, legumes (also have B1), dark leafy greens. Dark Chocolate and avocado.
- How Modern Diets Slow Your Gut - SAD (standard American diet) works against motility
Ultra-processed foods, sugar can:
disrupt the gut microbiome - more bad bacteria
reduce beneficial bacterial byproducts that stimulate motility
increase inflammation - fatigue, feeling “off” and mood changes
Causes B1 and magnesium depletion.
People are missing good compounds:
Polyphenols -plants, berries, tea, and herbs. Support beneficial bacteria and motility.
Fiber -start low and slow: Insoluble fiber feeds microbes that produce short-chain fatty acids.
with bad bacteria the fiber can eat that too - so you feel worse.
SCFA - produced when good gut bacteria ferment fiber. They cause production of serotonin and brain makes “happy” mood hormones.
The Simple Foundations Still Matter
Basics still support motility:
Hydration
Movement -activity stimulates intestinal contractions
Polyphenol-rich foods
Reducing ultra-processed foods and - deplete B1
B1 is high in pork, beef and fish
TIPS
If hard stool → magnesium citrate or oxide - 200 - 400 mg/day
If stress, or motility → magnesium glycinate ~300 -400 mg/day.
References:
1. Camilleri M. Gastrointestinal complications of diabetes.
2007, New England Journal of Medicine
2. Bharucha AE, et al. American Gastroenterological Association technical review on constipation. 2013, Gastroenterology
3. Mori H et al. Magnesium oxide in constipation. 2021, Nutrients
4. DiNicolantonio JJ et al. Subclinical magnesium deficiency: a principal driver of cardiovascular disease and a public health crisis. 2018, Open Heart
5. Lonsdale D. A review of the biochemistry, metabolism and clinical benefits of thiamin(e). 2006, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
6. Makki K et al. The impact of dietary fiber on gut microbiota in host health and disease. 2018, Cel
Reflux that keeps coming back is usually not just an acid problem — it’s a pressure and mechanics problem.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains why getting "relief" from an antacid is not addressing the core of the problem. In fact, it's perpetuating it.
Acid blockers (PPIs and H2 blockers) reduce stomach acid and can decrease the burning sensation. That can be appropriate short-term, especially with esophagitis. But these medications do not address the root cause of reflux - it isn't too much acid.
It's actually a pressure problem. When pressure within your abdomen increases, stomach emptying slows, or a hiatal hernia develops, stomach contents can move upward regardless of acid level. Lowering acid may reduce symptoms, but it does not correct the mechanical dysfunction being caused by the pressure.
Why stomach acid matters. Why do you need acid in your stomach?
• Protein digestion begins in the stomach
• It's a detergent/disinfectant that kills bad organisms.
• Absorption of minerals only occurs due to the presence of acid: e.g. calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc
• Release and absorption of vitamin B12 and folate
Potential risks associated with long-term acid suppression
Long-term PPI use has been associated in the literature with:
• Increased risk of nutrient deficiencies (B12, magnesium, iron)
• Higher rates of C. difficile infection - a bacterial infection that can be life-threatening
• Altered gut microbiome - more bad bacteria present in the gut than good bacteria leading to inflammation, mood disorders, and more.
• Increased fracture risk - osteoporosis due to lack of calcium absorption
• Kidney injury (acute and chronic)
• Increased risk of respiratory infections, e.g. pneumonia
These associations do not mean every patient will experience harm, but they highlight that acid suppression can have negative health impacts across many organs and systems.
Addressing the root contributors
Long-term improvement often requires evaluating:
• Intra-abdominal pressure (belly fat, chronic straining due to constipation)
• Diaphragm function and breathing mechanics
• Hiatal hernia alignment
• Delayed stomach emptying
• Dysbiosis or SIBO
• Food triggers and inflammatory load
The goal should not simply be eliminating the burn.
The goal is restoring function and integrity.
References
1. Lam JR, et al. Proton pump inhibitor and histamine-2 receptor antagonist use and vitamin B12 deficiency. JAMA. 2013
2.Hess MW, et al. Systematic review: hypomagnesaemia induced by PPIs. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2012.
3. Yang YX, et al. Long-term PPI therapy and risk of hip fracture.
JAMA. 2006.
4. Xie Y, et al. Long-term kidney outcomes among PPI users without intervening acute kidney injury. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017
5. Janarthanan S, et al. Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea and PPI therapy: meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2012
6. Kahrilas PJ, et al. Approaches to the diagnosis and grading of hiatal hernia. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2008.
acidreflux #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
Many viewers ask what to do next if symptoms persist.
Our licensed medical team at Root Cause Medical Clinic can help you identify t
Did you know a single course of antibiotics is linked to a 25% higher risk of anxiety and depression?
Because antibiotics don’t just target the infection, the bad bacteria — they can disrupt the good gut bacteria that help regulate your brain.
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains why there's an increased risk of anxiety and depression after taking antibiotics.
Antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria alike. Fewer beneficial bacteria means less control over inflammation.
Inflammation can disrupt serotonin, dopamine, and the circuits that determine whether your brain feels calm or anxious.
If you already deal with reflux, bloating, or constipation — common in hiatal hernia — the impact can be bigger and recovery slower.
The increased risk shows up mainly in the months after treatment and can persist for up to about a year or longer. Many species rebound in weeks to a few months.
Some do not fully return, especially after repeated exposure of antibiotics.
Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced as a result of an abundance and variety of good bacteria. They strengthen the gut barrier - preventing leaky gut. With less leak, fewer inflammatory signals reach circulation resulting in less stimulation of brain immune cells.
Too much activation of brain immune cells is associated with anxiety, depression, cognitive changes, and neurodegeneration.
How does Hiatal Hernia fit in?
Many people with hiatal hernia already have motility issues and microbial imbalance.
That environment makes infections more likely.
More infections often mean more antibiotics. And each round can deepen the imbalance.
Hiatal hernia commonly overlaps with:
impaired gastric emptying
altered pressure gradients
reflux of stomach and small intestinal contents
changes in motility
frequent acid suppression.
All of those influence which organisms survive and where they grow.
When movement and clearance are off, microbes accumulate in places they shouldn’t.
TIPS
Fermented foods - think of them as reseeding the garden after the antibiotic has wiped out the pretty flowers, not just the bad weeds. Variety is key with fiber - gradual increase.
Insoluble fiber - feeds the good bacteria and inc SCFA production. E.g. nuts, seeds, legumes, dark green leafies, psyllium, chia, flax, raspberries.
Sleep - repair time
Movement - Regular moderate activity is linked with: greater diversity, better SCFA production, improved motility.
Hydration supports stool transit, motility and mucosal health
Stress regulation: A stressed brain sends stressed signals to the gut.
Probiotics: They can help in certain situations, but they are not magic. After antibiotics, recovery isn’t about replacing one bug. It’s about rebuilding an environment where healthy microbes can grow again
References:
1. Lurie I, et al. Antibiotic exposure and the risk for depression, anxiety, or psychosis. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2015.
2. Palleja A, et al. Recovery of gut microbiota of healthy adults following antibiotic exposure. Nature Microbiology, 2018.
3. Koh A, et al. From dietary fiber to host physiology: short-chain fatty acids as key bacterial metabolites. Cell, 2016.
4. Erny D, et al. Host microbiota constantly control maturation and function of microglia in the CNS.
Nature Neuroscience, 2015.
5. Quigley EMM. Microbiota–gut–brain axis and neurogastroenterology. Gastroenterology, 2017.
6. Imhann F, et al. Proton pump inhibitors affect the gut microbiome. Gut, 2016.
7. Miller AH & Raison CL. The role of inflammation in depression. Nature Reviews Immunology, 2016.
guthealth #anxiety #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a
Do you take antacids like PPIs? The odds are it’s not right for you.
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains why antacids such as PPIs may be causing your symptoms to worsen and perpetuate rather than being resolved.
A global systematic review found that about 60% of PPI prescriptions were inappropriate or lacking a valid indication in clinical practice.
If you’re thinking - No - I really do have acid reflux, hang in there with me for a few minutes.
Fact: It’s one of the most prescribed drugs worldwide
Fact: It has many dangerous side effects
Like what:
Cause infections, worsen gut health (perpetuates the problem), heart disease, bone loss and dementia to name a few
Why would your doctor ignore those risks?
Drs do want to help - they want their patients to “feel” better.
In conventional medicine it’s all about controlling symptoms which is much easier than correcting why they started.
What’s easier? Swallowing a pill or doing lifestyle and diet changes? The answer is obvious - but it the EASY answer the better one or the safe one?
For patients it seems simple: I have “burn”, the drug stops it. That’s all they want to know.
It’s easier to continue a prescription then admit the treatment failed - the reflux came back when the medication is stopped.
It’s unfair that they’re not told what’s going to happen long term:
Nut’l deficiencies
Infections
Worsening gut health that will perpetuate the need for antacids and then more drugs - e.g. heart meds, anxiety meds, breathing meds, pain meds
Weak bones
Risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia
Therapeutic inertia - It means treatment continues because it is easier and safer than changing direction, even if it’s not solving the underlying issue.
This supports the point that long-term continuation often happens by default or habit, without re-checking whether it’s still truly indicated.
Almost every reflux patient I meet was told they might need this medication forever.
-The real causes:
impaired gastric emptying
intra-abdominal pressure
dysbiosis
food triggers
vagal or diaphragmatic dysfunction
constipation
obesity
Note about rebound acid secretion
-Tips
No gluten, sugar or seed oils for 3 weeks
Practice diaphragmatic breathing 3x/day - research shos 2 out of 3 decreased need and some stopped
No tight clothes
Don’t overeat - chew well
Don’t eat and lie down
Don’t eat late
References
1. Dutta AK, Sharma V, Jain A, et al. (2024). Inappropriate use of proton pump inhibitors in clinical practice globally: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Gut.
2. Lüthold RV, et al. (2023). Inappropriate proton-pump inhibitor prescribing in primary care (study reporting high rates of potentially inappropriate long-term PPI use, including “no indication” and “too high dose”). Swiss Medical Weekly.
3. Lazarus B, et al. (2016). Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease. JAMA Internal Medicine.
4. Finke M, et al. (2025). Proton pump inhibitors and the risk of Clostridioides difficile infection: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Journal of Infection
5. Liu J, et al. (2019). Proton pump inhibitors therapy and risk of bone diseases: An update meta-analysis. Life Sciences.
6. Choudhury A, et al. (2023). Vitamin B12 deficiency and use of proton pump inhibitors: a systematic review. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology.
acidreflux #guthealth #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
➡ Learn more or book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
📞 Call us directly: (727) 335-0400
Have you rushed to the ER convinced you were having a heart attack? You had heart palpitations, shortness of breath and anxiety out the roof? You also suffer with acid reflux, bloat, gas, and/or constipation.
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
Every test comes back normal, but your heart still races, the shortness of breath impacts your day to day life and your gut is a mess.
Your cardiologist assures you there's nothing wrong, yet you feel "off" and keep suffering.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains what the 3 missing "pieces" of Hiatal Hernia Syndrome are and why they need to be evaluated in order to achieve successful relief.
We utilize a patient-tailored approach - Personalized medicine, because there isn't a "one size fits all" solution.
Diet, posture, breathing - why “one size doesn’t fit all”
Symptoms influenced by: diet, digestion efficiency, motility within the gut, microbiome health, diaphragmatic breathing, and vagal nerve tone
-
DIET Recent work highlights that diet composition—not just acid suppression—matters for reflux and hiatal hernia symptom burden. Interventions focusing on reduced overall sugar intake, increased fiber, and mindful eating patterns
SMOKING & WEIGHT Risk factor data indicate abdominal pressure, physical workload, smoking, and central adiposity are risk factors. -
MOTILITY & MICROBIOME Current GERD/hiatal hernia literature recognizes the influence of gut motility and possibly microbiome interactions on reflux patterns.
PPIs, given for reflux, can make it worse - can’t be the only treatment. You can’t feel the reflux but it’s still there.
It doesn’t correct motility or pressure issues -
STRESS Stress reduction and vagal nerve influence
TIPS
Eat smaller meals
Stop eating 3–4 hours before bed
Avoid tight clothing
Chew thoroughly
Avoid large mixed meals late at night
Pay attention to early fullness, bloating, or nausea
Walk after meals
Stay upright for at least 20–30 minutes after eating.
Belly breathing - before meals and practiced during the day
Diaphragm part of anti-reflux barrier so needs to be exercised
Address constipation and gas - increases pressure
References:
Martinucci I et al., “Esophageal motility abnormalities in gastroesophageal reflux disease,” 2014, World Journal of Gastroenterology
Voulgaris T et al., “Is there a direct relationship between hiatal hernia size and reflux events,” 2023, Annals of Gastroenterology
Bucan JI et al., “Updates in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Management,” 2025, Medicines (MDPI)
Lin S et al., “Esophageal Motor Dysfunctions in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease,” 2019, Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
Freedberg DE et al., “The impact of proton pump inhibitors on the human gastrointestinal microbiome,” 2014, Gut
Tian L et al., “Proton pump inhibitors may enhance the risk of digestive complications,” 2023, Frontiers in Pharmacology
Remes-Troche JM, “PPIs Have It: Does Tegoprazan Affect Gastric Emptying and Produce Dyspeptic Symptoms?,” 2025, Digestive Diseases and Sciences
Andrews WG et al., “The relationship of hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux,” 2021, Annals of the American Thoracic Society
hiatalhernia #acidreflux #guthealth #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed ar
What health problems are you trying to solve?
Fatigue? Weight gain? Poor sleep? Mood swings? Brain fog?
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains why fasting results are different between men and women and what is the optimal approach for women.
Time restricted eating or fasting is a physiological stressor - not a bad one, but still a stressor and women react differently to it than men. Women are not “small men” and our metabolism and hormones are different- therefore the “dose” of fasting matters.
A fasting window of 12 to 14 hours allows for adequate protein consumption, better quality sleep, and lowers stress load.
Long fasting windows make it harder to hit protein targets - this matters for satiety (stops cravings) and lean muscle mass retention.
Protein maintains:
Muscle and bone
Hormones and enzymes
Neurotransmitters - brain chemicals
Immune system strength
If protein intake drops the body breaks down muscle. Lower muscle = more fat, and slower metabolism.
Men exhibit more predictable improvements like weight loss and insulin sensitivity while women, who mobilize fuel differently, commonly show weight gain, loss of muscle, insulin resistance, adverse hormone and stress responses.
Initially you may not notice negative effects - your fatty acids are elevated meaning you're breaking down stored fat - you lose weight, feel more energy and that convinces you to continue longer fasts.
It’s what happens long-term that is concerning - long-term elevation of fatty acids leads to:
Reduced glucose uptake into muscle and liver, leading to
Insulin resistance - type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver,
Greater difficulty losing fat
Increased visceral fat/belly weight
Muscle breakdown so you lose lean muscle
Sleep disruption
Brain effects:
Fatigue
Lowered stress tolerance
Brain fog
Particularly important if you are in the following categories:
Fertile
Irregular or missed periods
PMS or heavy periods
Feel “wired” but tired
High training volume
Trouble sleeping
Menopause/Perimenopause
Trouble maintaining muscle
Fat gain despite eating less
Poor sleep
Brain fog or stress
Cold intolerance of thyroid symptoms
Fatigue and need caffeine
Tips
Fast while you’re sleeping… and a bit more before and after = 12 to 14 hours.
Prioritize protein - aim for 1 gram of protein per lean pound of body weight.
Book end protein at the beginning and end of the day with a lighter dose mid-day.
Aim for 25 grams of fiber daily from whole food - fruit, veggie, nuts, seeds, beans.
Healthy fats come along with much of the foods you’re eating
References:
Soeters MR et al. Gender-related differences in the metabolic response to fasting 2007 — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Bene-Alhasan Y et al. Determinants of fasting non-esterified fatty acids 2023 — Journal of Clinical & Translational Endocrinology
Takeuchi M et al. Higher fasting and postprandial free fatty acid levels are associated with muscle insulin resistance in young women 2018 — Journal of Clinical Medicine Research
Pankow JS et al. Fasting plasma free fatty acids and the risk of type 2 diabetes 2004 — Diabetes Care
Abraham SB et al. Cortisol, obesity and the metabolic syndrome
2013 — Endocrine Reviews
Kim BH et al. Effects of intermittent fasting on circulating hormone levels and circadian rhythms 2021 — Endocrinology and Metabolism
Uhart M et al. Gender differences in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis reactivity 2006 — Psychoneuroendocrinology
fasting #weightloss #musclelossprevention #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provide
Sleep isn’t one thing. It’s four. Quantity. Quality. Regularity. Timing.
Think of them like the legs of a chair. Lose one, and your health collapses.
In the podcast, Dr Vikki Petersen explains how to reset sleep, its connection to weight, fat loss, and how to avoid dying prematurely.
Quantity - Shorter sleep = a shorter life. Predicts all cause mortality.
Recommended is 7 to 9 hours. 7 is minimum to survive - not what you need to thrive.
Quality - Important for mental health. AKA sleep efficiency-want to keep it above 85%. Desired is 1 to 2 long bouts of sleep vs fragmented sleep due to awakenings.
Regularity - decreases risk of all-cause mortality by 49%, risk of cancer by 39%, risk of heart disease by 57%.
Regularity refers to wake & sleep time.
Best to keep it within 15 minutes on either side
Worst was a variation of 90 to 120 minutes.
You need both, but regularity beat out quantity in reducing all cause mortality.
Timing (aligning with your natural body clock, or chronotype), using light cues (morning sun, dim evening light) to set it right.
E.g. morning lark, night owl - but most people fall in the middle - bears.
Sleep Killers
Artificial light - Artificial light confuses the brain -“junk” light. Think candles - a little essential oils added
Eliminate
Alcohol
Caffeine
Marijuana
Eating before bed - wait 3 hours
TIP to help you fall asleep
For 7 days set alarm 1 hour before bedtime. Turn off most of the lights, candle light is fine, cool room to 68 degrees F. Do you feel more sleepy?
Go back to your regular routine & note difference.
Set an alarm to wake up 8 to 9 hours after your regular bedtime. As your sleep quality improves you won’t need an alarm.
Don’t skimp on that last hour of sleep - impacts mood, learning and mental performance - very restorative
TIP to help you get back to sleep - described in video
3 options:
Box breathing
Body scan
Mental walk
Weight and Sleep
How you sleep dictates what you eat and how you burn calories
Underslept = Cravings
Leptin and ghrelin go in opposite directions when underslept-increases your hunger drive 40%.
Burning calories
More likely to store calories as fat when underslept vs storing them as glycogen in muscles.
Dieters: lost the same weight but poor sleepers lost 70% of weight from lean muscle while keeping the fat.
Fasting
Longer fasts your body makes more Orexin - hormone promotes wakefulness & appetite. May see your sleep scores drop during longer fasts
Melatonin - do you need it? Helpful to prevent jet lag or if you’re someone who doesn’t get sleepy until 3 to 4 am.
It doesn’t make you sleep or generate sleep - it starts the sleep cycle.
Doesn’t improve the speed you fall asleep or the efficiency in any meaningful way.
Safe dose is 0.1 to 3 mg. More not better because you can confuse your morning brain - melatonin should be zero in the morning - taking too much will cause you to have levels of it for the first 3 to 4 hours and you’ll be groggy and needing caffeine.
Note: it’s otherwise safe and an anti-oxidant, but there’s been erroneous data re; amounts that are too high. Don’t give it to children - melatonin is a hormone that influences puberty and some studies indicate that it can perhaps stunt reproductive development. Short-term use seems safe, but long term is concerning.
Magnesium - most doesn’t cross blood brain barrier, except L-threonate. But just being insufficient makes a difference - 50% of us are. Magnesium relaxes muscles and vagus nerve is activated with relaxation.
References:
1.Windred D, et al. (2024) Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration. Sleep
2.Cribb L, et al. (2023) Sleep regularity and mortality... eLife
3.Miao Y, et al. (
If you suffer with acid reflux you are in good company. But acid reflux doesn't respond well to lowering acid levels. The proof?
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains why "blaming" the acid in your stomach is the wrong approach. Millions continue to suffer despite taking a standard acid reducing medication like PPIs.
Up to 40% of GERD patients report dissatisfaction and have incomplete or no response to a standard PPI dose.
Up to 55% continue to have persistent symptoms despite “optimal therapy”.
What’s going on:
Your stomach is supposed to contain acid. It kills bad organisms, begins protein digestion, and absorbs minerals and B12.
Reflux is not due to too much acid -real problem is acid in the wrong location - your esophagus.
Why? The anti-reflux barrier fails.
Why?
1.Digestion slows, stomach remains full, food ferments, gas builds and pressure rises, pushing stomach upward.
2.The diaphragm loses its coordinated support of the LES, becomes flattened, and less able to prevent reflux.
3.Vagus dysfunction - leads to fight or flight resulting in shallow breathing, diaphragmatic excursion decreases, decreased tone of LES, slowed gastric emptying,
4.Hiatal hernia - stomach elevates and compromises anti-reflux barrier
5. H pylori -bacterial infection. More susceptible if older or taking PPI.
Symptoms of H. pyrlori are often mistaken for reflux:
Stomach burning or gnawing pain, nausea, early fullness, worse on an empty stomach.
H. pylori infection can cause anti-reflux barrier to fail
H. pylori is leading cause of atrophic gastritis globally.
Stomach lining thins, loses gastric gland cells, leads to low acid, B12 deficiency and risk of stomach cancer.
Gastric gland cells produce HCl, enzymes, protective mucus to prevent the stomach from digesting itself.
Strains: CagA - most dangerous, higher risk of ulcer, cancer
VacA - all H pylori carry the gene - s1 more toxic, s2 less toxic
The strain matters as much as the infection.
If reflux isn’t just acid problem, what do you do?
1.stop assuming acid is the enemy. Goal is restore normal stomach function.
2. support digestion so stomach can empty properly. e.g.
real food, adequate protein, hydration
3. reduce pressure. e.g. handle constipation, bloating, tight clothing, large late meals
4. restore coordination between diaphragm and esophageal sphincter. e.g. nasal breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, posture awareness, daily movement
5. support vagal tone. e.g. handle chronic stress, shallow breathing, poor sleep, fight or flight
6.identify upstream disruptors. e.g. H. pylori, low stomach acid, hiatal hernia, testing microbiome, ruling out mold, viruses, heavy metals, and food sensitivities.
Reflux improves when the body as a coordinated system works together again-not when acid is simply suppressed.
References:
1.El-Serag HB, et al. Update on the epidemiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.. Gut, 2014.
2.Pandolfino JE, et al. Mechanical properties of the lower esophageal sphincter and crural diaphragm. Gastroenterology, 2007.
3.Sifrim D, et al. Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations and reflux. American Journal of Medicine, 2001.
4.Farmer AD, et al. The role of the vagus nerve...Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2014.
5.Martinucci I, et al. Esophageal impedance-pH monitoring... Neurogastro & Motility, 2018.
6.Malfertheiner P, et al. Helicobacter pylori infection. Nature Rev Dis Primers, 2017.
7.Cover TL, et al, H pylori VacA, ...Nat Rev Micro, 2005.
8.Hatakeyama M. H pylori CagA...Nat Rev Cancer, 2004.
acidreflux #guthealth #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is
Do you have chronic acid reflux or hiatal hernia symptoms that bother you?
Are you considering surgery?
Dr Vikki Petersen explains why you may want to consider all your options before jumping into surgery that is not a medical emergency.
Fundoplication surgery reinforces the lower esophageal sphincter by wrapping the upper pat of the stomach around the lower esophagus.
The surgery reinforces the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) by wrapping the upper part of the stomach (the fundus) around the lower esophagus. This:
What the surgery aims to accomplish:
Prevents stomach acid from refluxing upward
Improves LES pressure
Reduces regurgitation and heartburn
Who is a good candidate?
Persistent GERD, Hiatal Hernia, esophagitis, regurgitation, want to avoid long-term PPIs
Stated Benefits
Reduction of reflux, eliminate need for PPI, long-lasting symptom relief - Note: it states "symptom reflief" not cure.
Risks and side effects
Trouble swallowing
Gas/bloat syndrome - can’t belch or vomit
Increased gas
Wrap loosening or slipping over time
Damage to vagus nerve
Dumping syndrome
Fundoplication does not address the root cause contributors such as:
Impaired gastric emptying
Low stomach acid
Dysbiosis or SIBO
Increased intra-abdominal pressure
Poor diaphragmatic function
Why it Fails - wrap loosens - Why? Ongoing increased intra-abdominal pressure or obesity.
The cause of the increased pressure is the "contributors" just mentioned above.
“Failure” statistics:
~30% develop recurrent symptoms over time
At 10 years, 40% have had symptoms return and require medication.
Failure rates increase with time — many studies show good short-term outcomes but gradual decline over years.
Revisions surgeries fail at a rate of 40%
Bottom line:
Short-term success: high
Long-term durability: moderate
Many failures are driven by ongoing pressure and motility issues, not acid alone.
References:
1.Spechler SJ, et al. Medical or surgical management of GERD
JAMA – 2019
2.Gyawali CP, et al. Modern diagnosis of GERD and surgical candidacy. American Journal of Gastroenterology – 2018
3.Broeders JA, et al. Ten-year outcome of laparoscopic fundoplication. British Journal of Surgery – 2013
4.Oelschlager BK, et al. Symptom recurrence after fundoplication
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery – 2011
5.Herregods TVK, et al. Esophageal motility disorders and reflux surgery outcomes. Neurogastroenterology & Motility – 2015
hiatalhernia #acidreflux #guthealth #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
Many viewers ask what to do next if symptoms persist.
Our licensed medical team at Root Cause Medical Clinic can help you identify the root cause.
➡ Learn more or book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
📞 Call us directly: (727) 335-0400
About this channel: Dr. Vikki Petersen, DC, CFMP, is founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic.
Our multidisciplinary team of licensed APRNs and clinicians provides functional medicine care focusing on gut, hormone, and metabolic health.
These are reviewed by licensed
Bloating and gas are common symptoms with up to 30% of the population suffering enough to complain to their doctors.
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
Dr Vikki Petersen explains what the 5 most common causes are and what you can do to determine which may be bothering you and some steps you can take to alleviate the discomfort.
-
Low stomach acid - the common symptoms are fatigue, heartburn, feeling full, bad brath, undigested food in stool, diarrhea/constipation.
Home test: 1/4 tsp baking soda in 4-6 oz cold water first thing in the morning before any food or drink. Time when you burp. Normal is within 2-3 minutes. If no burp at 5 minutes it may indicate low stomach acid.
You can trial some betaine hydrochloric acid but check with your doctor first. -
Poor gallbladder health - bile breaks down fats and absorbs fat soluble vitamins. Bile also works with the pancreatic enzymes which we are about to discuss.
Symptoms include - bloat after a fatty meal, nausea, upper right quadrant (just below your ribs on the right) discomfort that can radiate around to your shoulder blade, nausea and feeling full after a fatty meal.
You can try adding bitters such as ginger, arugula, milk thistle to see if it improves symptoms.
check with you doctor first however. -
SIBO - small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Symptoms include cramping, gas, pain, diarrhea and or constipation.
Causes are PPI meds, antibiotics, low stomach acid, slowed motility
Test - your doctor can order a Breath Test.
You can trial oregano, garlic, fasting and a carnivore diet for 2 weeks - consult with your doctor first. -
Poor pancreatic function - the pancreas makes enzymes to digest every type of food: fat, carbohydrate and protein.
Symptoms include bloat, greasy, smelly stool, nausea, vomiting, bloat and diabetes symptoms.
You can trial pancreatic enzymes with your doctor's approval. -
Food sensitivities - common foods can cause a variety of symptoms including bloating.
Trial a modified elimination diet and a planned reintroduction after 3 weeks. This is the gold standard for food sensitivity testing.
References:
Vavallo M et al. Autoimmune gastritis and hypochlorhydria: Known concepts from a new perspective. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024.
Filardo S et al. The potential role of hypochlorhydria in the development of duodenal dysbiosis. Microorganisms. 2022.
Whitcomb DC et al. AGA Clinical Practice Update on the epidemiology, evaluation, and management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Gastroenterology. 2023.
Jung SW et al. Epigastric symptoms of gallbladder dyskinesia mistaken for functional dyspepsia. Korean Journal of Gastroenterology. 2017.
Feng X et al. Prevalence and predictors of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in inflammatory bowel disease: a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Medicine. 2025.
Saadati S et al. Effects of a gluten challenge in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized clinical trial. Scientific Reports. 2022.
Pasta A, et al. Food Intolerances, Food Allergies and IBS: Lights and Shadows, Nutrients 2024.
bloating #guthealth #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
Many viewers ask what to
This video is for every woman and every man who loves a woman.
What if:
You could reduce your risk of heart disease and death by up to 50%.
You could decrease your risk of colon cancer by up to 56%.
You could reduce your risk of diabetes by up to 30%?
You could reduce your Alzheimer’s risk by 35%?
What if you could reduce your fracture risk by 50 to 60%?
And, what if you could add a healthy 10 years to your life expectancy?
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains why there has been fear and confusion regarding hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the past 23 years.
What's the solution?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
When I said that, what did you think of?
Did you think: “Wait, isn’t there a risk of breast cancer and stroke with HRT?
It’s time to set the record straight.
23 years ago a $1 billion study (WHI) was conducted on HRT and stopped early due to supposed increased risk of breast cancer, blood clots and cardiovascular disease.
A press conference occurred before the study results were released.
The media frenzy stated that HRT caused breast cancer, leading to panic. By the time the actual study results came out and smart doctors and scientists saw the results, the fact that the study showed no statistical significance was ignored.
NO study has even shown that HRT increases the risk of breast cancer mortality. In fact, taking estrogen alone shows a 24% decreased risk in breast cancer.
The FDA has recently set the record straight and corrected this mistake by revealing the exact science and removing the black box warnings that created fear in so many.
The truth is that menopause shortens lives because of the loss of estrogen. There is no organ in the human body that does NOT have estrogen receptor sites.
Estrogen factually does the following:
It protects your heart, protects your bones, acts as a protective shield for your brain, lowers risk of mental decline, memory loss and Alzheimer’s. It reduces all cause mortality, thus extending women’s lives by a decade. It reduces your risk of diabetes.
It is factually one of the most effective longevity interventions for women.
Is there a risk of taking HRT if you’re 10 yrs past menopause? Not necessarily. You may not be eligible especially if you have cardiac risk. But for ALL women, regardless of your age, or cancer history, you ARE eligible for vaginal estrogen therapy.
With loss of estrogen, urinary tract infections increase, vaginal dryness and painful sex. A UTI in an older woman can be life threatening due to sepsis.
Unlike UTIs in younger women where painful urination is the key symptom, in older women the symptoms of confusion, fatigue or agitation can be the only signs - leading to confusion with onset of dementia.
80 to 90% of elderly women have bacteria in their urine. Vaginal estrogen prevents this - it can be started at any age and should be taken for life.
Many doctors are afraid to recommend hormones because if they were educated during the past two decades they received no education on menopause.
➡ Learn more or book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
📞 Call us directly: (727) 335-0400
womenshealth #hormones #rootcausemedicine
References:
Marty Makary MD, et al. Updated Labeling for Menopausal Hormone Therapy. JAMA, 2025;
Howard N. Hodis, eta al. HRT And Reduction of All‑Cause Mortality and CVD .
menopauselearning.com. The Cancer Journal June 2022
Ferrante KL, et al. Vaginal Estrogen for the Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection in Postmenopausal Women. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2021
Tan-Kim J, et al. Efficacy of vaginal estroge
Are you taking a PPI for reflux? Medications like Omeprazole, Nexium or Prilosec can help symptoms, but long-term use comes with risks.
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains the 4 major side effects associated with long-term use of PPI medications.
Heart disease - a large study of 2 million people found that PPI use was associated with ischemia, heart disease and stroke. The increased risk was 12 to 54% with a dos-response relationship.
Why does this occur?
Nitric oxide production is inhibited with PPIs. Nitric oxide keeps your vessels dilated, reduces inflammation and prevents clots from forming.
Bone health - PPIs decrease mineral absorption and if you've been on a PPI for more than 2 years and you're under the age of 60, your risk of a bone fracture increases 68%.
Infections occur because acid in your stomach is a pathogen barrier. Without acid, 'bad guys' happily multiply. risk of pneumonia increases 50% risk of a bacterial infection (C. diff) increases 73% and SIBO infections see a 100% increase risk based on a 2025 study.
Kidney health suffers as well. PPIs increase your risk of chronic kidney disease and even kidney failure 20 - 50%.
There are also studies linking dementia and liver disease to PPI use. PPIs prevent absorption of vitamin B12 which prevents cognitive decine, Alzheimer's dementia and stroke risk.
There is a way to diminish your need for PPIs by getting to the root cause of why the pressure exists on your stomach, forcing acid up your esophagus.
If you need help, we're here for you.
References:
Khurmatullina A.R., et al. “The Duration of Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy and the Risk of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025;14(13):4702. DOI:10.3390/jcm14134702.
Trifan A, Hammani K, et al. “Proton Pump Inhibitors Therapy and Risk of Clostridium difficile Infection.” Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2017; (meta-analysis) DOI:10.29085200.
Su T., et al. “Meta-analysis: Proton Pump Inhibitors Moderately Increase the Risk of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.” Journal of Gastroenterology. 2018;53:27-36.
Xia B, et al. “Individualized prevention of proton pump inhibitor related adverse events: an evaluation of disease burden and risk stratification.” Nature Communications. 2024;15:3591. DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-48007-8.
Lam JR et al. Proton Pump Inhibitor and Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist Use and Vitamin B12 Deficiency. JAMA. 2013.
Vogiatzoglou A et al. Vitamin B12 status and rate of brain volume loss in elderly. Neurology. 2008.
Morris MC et al. Nutrient Intake and Cognitive Decline. Neurology. 2005.
Smith AD et al. Homocysteine and dementia: an international consensus statement. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018.
O'Leary F., Samman S. Vitamin B12 in health and disease. Nutrients. 2010;2(3):299–316.
acidreflux #guthealth #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
Many viewers ask what to do next if symptoms persist.
Our licensed medical team at Root Cause Medical Clinic can help you identify the root cause.
➡ Learn more or book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
📞 Call us directly: (727) 335-0400
About this channel: Dr. Vikki Petersen, DC,
If you’re breathing through your mouth, you may be sabotaging your diaphragm, your posture, and your acid-reflux/hiatal hernia barrier.
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains what the hidden link is between mouth-breathing, diaphragm dysfunction, intra-abdominal pressure spikes, posture and reflux/hiatal hernia — plus how to fix the root cause.
Hiatal hernia is very common (≈20% general population, it increases with age).
Hiatal hernia definition: 95% are sliding, and most are small
The esophagus passes through the hiatus (opening) in the diaphragm; the crural diaphragm acts as an external “sling” around esophagus - it acts as a valve, preventing reflux and hernia.
When the GEJ (gastro-esophageal junction) rises above the diaphragm, two things happen: the hiatal opening widens and weakens → reflux risk increases.
The diaphragm plays an important role in the antireflux barrier (not just LES but diaphragmatic component).
Nasal breathing engages diaphragm fully (belly movement, lower ribs) vs mouth breathing which often shifting you to shallow chest/neck breathing.
This reduces diaphragmatic excursion (movement) and tone over time; diaphragm becomes less efficient and more flattened.
Posture: mouth breathing often pulls head/neck forward (forward head posture), which changes rib cage mechanics, lengthens accessory muscles, and compromises phrenic nerve and vagus nerve -diaphragm.
Pressure dynamics: with impaired diaphragm and poor posture, the intra-abdominal pressure regulation becomes dysfunctional → more pressure spikes when coughing, lifting, straining.
Each cough, each lift, each straining episode creates an intra-abdominal pressure spike; a competent diaphragm/crural diaphragm and correct posture help buffer that.
If you're mouth-breathing, diaphragm is weak → the hiatus sees more stress → increased risk of the stomach bulging up (hiatal hernia) and reflux.
Research (study below): Diaphragmatic breathing increased LES pressure and reduced post-meal reflux events.
Mouth breathing often during sleep (snoring) means alternating cycles of airway collapse, negative intrathoracic pressure swings (rapid or exaggerated drops in pressure inside the chest – occur when someone is breathing forcefully, mouth breathing or struggling to breathe) → more reflux risk.
Root causes: nasal/sinus inflammation (allergy, mold, SIBO-driven sinusitis), autonomic imbalance (vagus suppression, sympathetic overdrive), structural airway (nasal deviation, adenoids), postural factors.
Interventions:
1. Restore nasal breathing (nasal rinse, address inflammation/allergy, ENT evaluation if structural).
2. Address systemic inflammation: food sensitivities, microbiome imbalance,
3. Postural reset: forward-head correction, rib cage alignment, diaphragm place.
4. Diaphragmatic breathing training (DBT): show technique (belly rise/inhale nose → exhale pursed lips).
hiatalhernia #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
Many viewers ask what to do next if symptoms persist.
Our licensed medical team at Root Cause Medical Clinic can help you identify the root cause.
➡ Learn more or boo
Are you sick of belly fat that won't move?
Frustrated with loss of muscle tone and stsrength?
Worried about memory loss of dementia?
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains why women develop belly fat, lose muscle strength and develop dementia. If you're 35 to 65+ years old, this video is for you.
The bad news is that women start to lose estrogen in perimenopause, early 40s typically. It really plummets at menopause but if you're younger and have suffered with irregular periods or PCOS, you've already been suffering with imbalanced estrogen.
Estrogen is anti-inflammatory and protects you against:
belly fat/ visceral fat
muscle and bone loss
type 2 diabetes
heart disease
fatty liver
dementia.
Protecting you against the adverse effects of aging, called geroprotective, are just two organs, your muscles and ovaries. The latter go away with menopause so you are left with needing very healthy, strong muscle to combat this.
High intensity exercise creates changes in muscle which drives glucose into your muscles while relasing a hormone that prevents storage of visceral fat.
High intensity exercise is defined as reaching greater than 80% of your maximum heart rate. Calculate max HR by taking 220 minus your age. You want to engage in this 20% of the time or 2x/week. At a high intensity you'll find it difficult to speak.
Exercises like HIIT, heavy weights and circuit training fall into this category.
Benefits are many:
1. prevents visceral fat storage / belly fat
2. makes muscles stronger
3. makes anti-inflammatory chemicals (cytokines) which lower disease risk
4. increases neuroplasticity of the brain, produces more brain cells and makes more lactate - protecting against dementia
5. benefits sleep quality
6. balances mood
80% of the time you want to engage in low intensity exercise - defined as 50 to 70% of your max heart rate. So that's 5x/wk.
Examples would be an incline walk, slow run, steady cycle and weight lifting.
Avoid moderate intensity exercise. This zone doesn't create a storng enough stress and post-exercise response the way high intensity does. Instead, it elevates inflammation and the stress hormone corisol.
A recommendation is to get your bone density tested early. You want to catch bone loss early - get tested in your 40s. The LiftMor study cited below found that lifting heavy weights in older women with osteoporosis was safe and built back bone. Don't be afraid of this. It's never too late to turn this around.
bellyfat #menopause #womenshealth #rootcausemedicine
References:
Kodete, C. S. et al. (2024). “Hormonal Influences on Skeletal Muscle Function in …” MDPI J 3(3):24.
Also: Zhang, C. et al. (2024). “Research progress on the correlation between estrogen …” Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Steiner, B. M. (2022). “The Regulation of Adipose Tissue Health by Estrogens.” Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Marsh, M. L. (2023). “Adipocyte Metabolism and Health after the Menopause.” PMC.
García-Suárez, P. C. (2020). “Acute Systemic Response Of BDNF, Lactate and Cortisol to …” PMC.
Kraemer, R. R. (2023). “The effects of peripheral hormone responses to exercise …” Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Ward, L. J. et al. (2020). “Resistance training decreases plasma levels of adipokines …” Scientific Reports.
Tan, L. (2025). “Can strength training modulate inflammatory markers in postmenopausal women with overweight and obesity?” Complement Ther Med
Watson S.L., et al. (2018). The LIFTMOR Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 33(2):211-220. doi:10.1002/jbmr.3284.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is
You've been diagnosed with IBS.
You've tried changing your diet, reducing stress, perhaps you've tried various drugs. But you continue to suffer with bloating, pain or unpredictable bathroom trips.
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
It's ruining your life.
In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains 5 clear causes of IBS that when addressed, allow healing to occur.
The truth is: IBS isn't a real diagnosis; it's a description of symptoms. What's missing is the root causes hiding underneath your symptoms.
Many people just continue to put up with the symptoms or try medications which, by research, have satisfaction rating of only 10%. There's much more that can be done.
So what's really going on?
The 5 Reasons You're Really Suffering:
1. SIBO and gut dysbiosis - bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine leads to gas, bloat, pain and motility issues. Bacterial overgrowth, known as dysbiosis, in your colon creates the same symptoms.
The causes are hiatal hernia, use of PPI drugs, antibiotics, food sensitivities, and vagus nerve dysfunction, which slows motility.
-
Inflammatory changes post-infection - things like food poisoning or traveler's diarrhea begins a cascade of damage to the intestinal lining that triggers inflammation, increases intestinal permeability (leaky gut) sensitizes the gut's nervous system, and slows or speeds up motility. The bacterial toxins and leaky gut causes toxins to leak into the bloodstream and that triggers an immune response.
-
Food sensitivities - certain foods are triggers while other foods are a consequence of a disrupted gut. e.g. gluten and diary are common causes. FODMAPs and histamine foods are reactionary more due to a consequence rather than a root cause. It can result in people eating very few foods which is not desirable or ultimately necessary when the root causes are treated.
-
Hidden inflammation or microbiome imbalance - with chronic food sensitivities, stress, or bacterial dysbiosis the immune system stays on alert - it releases cytokines that irritate the gut's nerves and muscles. Studies show this directly relates to the classic pain - bloat - motility loop.
This degree on inflammation doesn't show up on standard blood tests - one needs to test specifically for it. -
Vagus nerve dysfunction and Gut/Brain axis - the vagus nerve controls motility, poor digestion and serotonin levels. The vagus is the connection between gut and brain.
When you're told IBS is due to stress it doesn't really help. Stress from where? You have to work on the gut and vagus both. 90% of serotonin (the happy hormone) is produced in the gut. You need a healthy microbiome to produce serotonin, which you don't have if you suffer with IBS. The cause of mood swings, anxiety, depression and brain fog is explained due to insufficient serotonin.
Testing:
microbiome, SIBO, hormones, food sensitivities, cytokines and toxins such as mold or heavy metals. Once imbalances are found, treatment is natural.
Annual blood tests and colonoscopies won't find these root causes.
References:
Barbara G. et al., Gastroenterology 2004. Mast cell–nerve interactions in human irritable bowel syndrome.
Ohman & Simrén, Gut 2010. Pathogenesis of IBS: Role of inflammation, immunity and neuroimmune interactions.
Dinan & Cryan, Gastroenterology Clinics 2011. The microbiome-gut-brain axis in health and disease.
Simrén et al., Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 2013. Intestinal microbiota in functional bowel disorders: A Rome foundation report.
Tap et al., Gastroenterology 2017. Identification of an intestinal microbiota signature associated with severity of irritable bowel syndrome.
ibs #guthealth #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational pu
Belly fat is more correctly called visceral fat.
Which means the fat around your organs in your abdomen. Visceral fat is associated with increased risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and Alzheimer's disease.
Belly fat is not the same as peripheral fat found elsewhere in the body. The Journal of Nature Communications entitled "Inherited basis of visceral, abdominal subcutaneous and gluteofemoral fat depots", looked at 40,000 people and determined that visceral fat is the only fat associated with cardio-metabolic disease. Regular fat (located beneath the skin or in glute or thighs) is not.
While extremely impactful on your health, fortunately it isn't difficult to impact your belly fat in meaningful ways.
A study out of BMC Medicine entitled "The Effect of High Polyphenol Mediterranean Diet on Visceral Adiposity..." was a randomized control trial that saw a 14% decrease in visceral fat (!) in the subjects following a Mediterranean diet optimized with polyphenols - plant-based compounds known for their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. In the study they consumed more fruit, green tea, walnuts and other foods high in polyphenols which decreasing red meat intake (more on that later). The group not optimized to eat more polyphenols only lost 4% of their visceral fat.
Foods high in polyphenols: dark wild berries, green tea, almonds, walnuts, cinnamon, turmeric, and more.
Polyphenols activity to enhance the microbiome was reported on in the journal Nutrients with an article entitled: Beneficial Effects of Dietary Polyphenols on Gut Microbiota. This found polyphenols to act as a prebiotic fiber to good bacteria but showed that is also protected against bad bacteria from forming in your gut - very exciting!
A strong correlation has been found between the microbiome and visceral fat. A full 16 strains of microbes are associated with gaining visceral fat. Polyphenol protection is sounding pretty great against these.
Now on to why the recommendation for watching how much saturated fat you're consuming. The Journal of Diabetes published a study entitled: Overfeeding Polyunsaturated and Saturated Fat Causes Distinct Effects on Liver and Visceral Fat Accumulation in Humans.
They found that overeating saturated fat promotes visceral fat and liver fat storage, whereas excess consumption of polyunsaturated fat may promote lean tissue in healthy humans.
Now notice the use of the word "overeating". It's fine to have saturated fat in your diet, but watch to make sure that it isn't above 20% to avoid fatty liver and visceral fat increase.
Dietary Tips
To summarize these recommendations you can try some of the below recommendations:
1. Consume about 1 gram of lean protein per pound of ideal body weight.
2. Eat 2 cups of dark berries/day. This is 2 servings. Aim for organic.
3. Drink 2 cups of green tea/day. Organic if you can.
4. Eat some low oxalate leafy greens to help oxidize fat faster. e.g. arugula, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, asparagus.
5. Eat some aged cheese - pecorino romano is the best because it's low in lactose and contains the fatty acid CLA which is known to help decrease belly fat.
6. Have a serving of collagen or bone broth to help heal the gut.
7. Have 1/2 to 1 cup fermented dairy because it increases good gut bacteria (SCGAs) which results in decreased visceral fat.
8. Intermittent fast - 4 hours between meals and a 12 to 14 hour fast overnight.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
guthealth #bellyfat #rootcausemedicine
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
Call us direc
💓 Heart Palpitations and Shortness of Breath — But Your Heart Is Fine?
It’s scary when your heart suddenly starts racing, skips a beat, or you find yourself short of breath. Add in chest tightness or pain, and it’s completely understandable to head straight to the ER or your doctor’s office.
But what happens when you’ve done all that — maybe more than once — and your doctor or cardiologist assures you everything looks normal?
It’s reassuring to know your heart appears healthy… but that doesn’t make it any less unsettling when it starts pounding again or you can’t seem to catch your breath.
So what’s really going on?
The answer might surprise you.
🎧 Give this a listen — it could change how you understand your symptoms.
If you’d like help getting to the root cause, we’re here for you. The best next step is to schedule a consultation so we can see if what we do is the right fit for you.
📞 Call 727-335-0400 to get started.
hiatalhernia #heartpalpitations #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer:
The information in this video is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health. Never ignore or delay medical advice because of something you’ve seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
If you have a small hiatal hernia you've perhaps been told that your "other" symptoms, such as heart palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath or anxiety are not related. This can be confusing.
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
In this video Dr Vikki Petersen, DC, IFMCP explains why this confusion occurs.
Large hiatal hernias cause direct pressure on the heart and/or lungs due to their sheer size. Due to that direct pressure, the symptoms of chest pressure, heart palpitations, shortness of breath and anxiety can occur. When your doctor has told you that your small hiatal hernia cannot cause those symptoms it's because he or she is thinking with direct pressure.
What they're missing is that small hiatal hernias can cause those symptoms via a different mechanism. The pressure on the stomach causes your body's anti-reflux barriers to be overcome. The result is reflux. The reflux triggers vagal nerve reflexes leading to the symptoms I just mentioned.
These are nerve reflex responses but the symptoms are no less real.
The key is to identify the root cause of the pressure. There are a few potential causes. Some that you can address on your own are:
Not overeating
Changing your diet to include real vs ultraprocessed foods
Chew your food well
Don't lie down after you eat
Other factors you'll need some help to address:
Losing weight around your mid-section
Balance your gut microbiome - good bugs vs bad bugs
Assess any toxic load
Hormonal imbalance
References:
Hyun JJ, 2011 — Clinical Significance of Hiatal Hernia — Gut and Liver.
Kahrilas PJ, 2008 — Approaches to the Diagnosis and Grading of Hiatal Hernia — Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
Andrews WG, 2021 — The relationship of hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux — Annals of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery.
Cleveland Clinic, n.d. (review page current) — Hiatal Hernia: What It Is, Symptoms, Treatment & Surgery — Cleveland Clinic.
Franzén T, 2014 — Is the severity of gastroesophageal reflux dependent on hiatus hernia size? — World J Gastroenterol.
Wallner B, 2018 — Identifying clinically relevant sliding hiatal hernias — Scand J Gastroenterol.
Weitzendorfer M, 2017 — Preoperative diagnosis of hiatal hernia: barium swallow X-ray, high-resolution manometry, or endoscopy? — World J Surg.
Tolone S, 2018 — High-resolution manometry is superior to endoscopy and radiology for hiatus hernia diagnosis — World J Gastroenterol.
Goodwin ML, 2021 — Atypical and typical manifestations of the hiatal hernia — Ann Laparosc Endosc Surg.
Naoum C, 2011 — Left Atrial Compression and the Mechanism of Exercise Impairment in Large Hiatal Hernia — J Am Coll Cardiol. (Large HH → cardiac compression).
Malik A, 2021 — Hiatal Hernia: A Possible Trigger for Atrial Fibrillation — Cureus (case report; association, not proof).
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400 or
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-nat
If you have acid reflux you're told the cause is too much acid. That's not necessarily true.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Let's look at the science.
Hiatal hernia and acid reflux have a 70 to 100% correlation. Where you find one you're likely to find the other.
There is a normal pressure gradient that pushes downwards to keep food moving in the right direction. The pressure is from top down throughout your entire digestive tract.
When pressure builds in your belly - where it shouldn't be - pressure is now pushing in the wrong direction. It's pushing up on your stomach and up on the underside of your diaphragm. This pressure creates acid reflux and hiatal hernia.
This pressure from the abdomen also breaches the 3 natural anti-reflux barriers inherent in your digestive tract. They are located in the bottom of your esophagus, the inner circle of your diaphragm (crura) where the esophagus passes through, and on the underside of your diaphragm. The natural barriers that ensure reflux doesn't occur cannot function with increased abdominal pressure.
To fix this you simply have to identify and handle the source(s) of the abdominal pressure.
It can be:
bad bugs in your gut
poor diet causing inflammation
food sensitivities
toxicity
large meals
tight clothes
abdominal fat
It's a matter of getting assistance to assess what's happening for you and addressing it naturally. The natural approach works very well.
I'm not giving you medical advice; the purpose of this video is education.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
acidreflux #hiatalhernia #guthealth #rootcausemedicine
References:
Fossmark R., Olaisen O. (2024). Changes in the Gastrointestinal Microbiota Induced by Proton Pump Inhibitors — A Review of Findings from Experimental Trials. Journal of Clinical Medicine.
Wu J., et al. (2024). Abdominal Obesity Increases Intragastric Pressure and Disrupts the Esophagogastric Junction in GERD. BMC Gastroenterology.
Pandolfino J.E., et al. (2013). High-Resolution Manometry of the Esophagogastric Junction: Pressure Topography and Relationship to Hiatal Hernia. Neurogastroenterology & Motility.
Gyawali C.P., et al. (2018). Physiologic Evaluation of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Clinician’s Guide. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America.
Lee J.S., et al. (2022). Effect of Increased Intra-abdominal Pressure on Gastroesophageal Reflux: Insights from High-Resolution Impedance Manometry. Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility.
Lidor A.O., et al. (2005). Pressure Characteristics of the Esophagogastric Junction Before and After Hiatal Hernia Repair. JAMA Surgery.
Kahrilas P.J., et al. (2014). The Role of the Diaphragm and Lower Esophageal Sphincter in the Pathophysiology of GERD. American Journal of Physiology – Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
After meals do you feel burning, pressure, chest tightness, heart palpitations or even anxiety?
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.
Your acid pocket could be to blame. What is it?
The acid pocket is a layer eof highly acidic stomach "juice" that floats just above the meal you just ate. It sits at the very top of your stomach.
If you have too much pressure in your belly squeezing your stomach, the pocket can get pushed upwards past your anti-reflux barriers located in the bottom of your esophagus, your diaphragm (crura) and a ligement under your diaphragm. This allows reflux to occur.
The acid exposure to your esophagus can trigger nerve reflxes, via your vagus nerve, causing sensations like chest pressure, palpitations and shortness of breath. This can happen even with a small hiatal hernia.
Addressing the root cause of the excess pressure can address the problem. I explain all the causes in the video.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References:
Kahrilas PJ, McColl K, Fox M, O’Rourke L, Sifrim D, Smout AJPM, Boeckxstaens G. The acid pocket: a target for treatment in reflux disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2013;108(7):1058–1064.
Beaumont H, Bennink RJ, de Jong J, et al. The position of the acid pocket as a major risk factor for acidic reflux in healthy subjects and patients with GORD. Gut. 2010;59(4):441–451.
Sifrim D, et al. “Capping the Gastric Acid Pocket to Reduce Postprandial Reflux.” Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2013.
Rohof WO, et al. Proton Pump Inhibitors Reduce the Size and Acidity of the Acid Pocket in GERD Patients. CGH Journal. 2014.
“The Role of the Acid Pocket in Gastroesophageal Reflux.” Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. 2016 (review).
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
About this channel:
Dr. Vikki Petersen, DC, CFMP, is founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic.
Our multidisciplinary team of licensed APRNs and clinicians provides functional medicine care focusing on gut, hormone, and metabolic health.
Educational videos are reviewed by licensed medical staff and based on current scientific research.
guthealth #acidreflux #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Do you suffer from acid reflux?
Are you taking a PPI medication?
Do you still have symptoms or are you troubled with night time reflux?
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
There is a new antacid drug on the market called Vonoprazan. It was created in Japan where they have been using it for 10 years. Here in the U.S. it's been on the market for just a few years - 2022 and 2023. It was approved for patients with an H. pylori infection and those with erosive esophagitis respectively. It is also utilized for those patients who are non-responders to a PPI.
Pros: it's stronger, lasts longer and acts faster than PPIs. And it seems to be more effective for H. pylori infections and erosive esophagitis.
Cons: it's more expensive, insurance may not cover it, and it suffers many of the same side effects as PPIs. Chief amongst them is shifting your microbiome to favor "bad bacteria" grwoth which in fact sets you up to continue to have acid reflux.
Further it reduces beneficial bacteria that can create obesity, hiatal hernia, and chronic reflux.
In addition, it increases your risk for C. diff infections, a dangerous form of diarrhea that can be life-threatening, causes bloat, nausea, loss of taste, headaches, fluid retention, kidney injury and skin rashes, along with osteoporosis, deficiency of vitamin B12, calcium and magnesium.
To determine what most makes sense for you, find a clinician who understands the drug options, side effects, along with natural options for treatment. As an example, H. pylori can be treated naturally very effectively.
Finding a clinician who can help address the root cause of acid reflux could lessen the duration either antacid drug.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References:
1. Kato M, Suzuki M, Nagahara A, et al. "Vonoprazan Versus Lansoprazole for Healing and Maintenance of Erosive Esophagitis", 2022, Gastroenterology
-
Hori K, Matsukawa J, Umeno M, et al. "Seven-day vonoprazan and low-dose amoxicillin dual therapy as first-line Helicobacter pylori treatment: a multicentre randomised trial in Japan" 2020, Gut
-
Take S, Mizuno M, Ishiki K, et al. "Eradication efficacy and the effect of vonoprazan–amoxicillin dual therapy" 2025, The Lancet Microbe
-
Wang X, Chen Y, Li X, et al. "Effect of Potassium-Competitive Acid Blockers on Human Gut Microbiota: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" 2023, Frontiers in Pharmacology
-
Takayuki Taketo, et al. "Long-term potassium-competitive acid blockers administration changes gut microbiota: insights from a 2.2-year cohort study" 2023, Helicobacter
-
Sugimoto T, Takahashi S, et al. "Gut microbiota changes related to Helicobacter pylori eradication with vonoprazan containing triple therapy among adolescents: a prospective multicenter study" 2020, Scientific Reports
guthealth #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
Do you suffer with acid reflux? Do you also experience heart palpitations or shortness of breath or anxiety?
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Perhaps you've had an endoscopy or other testing and nothing showed up.
Your symptoms are NOT in your head.
The fact is: small sliding hiatal hernias often go undetected.
Don't ignore your symptoms just because your test looks normal. You may very well have a very small hiatal hernia that hasn't yet been detected or you DO have one and you've fallen within the 40% false negative rate of endoscopies. That's right - endoscopy misses hiatal hernias 40% of the time.
A barium swallow can also miss a hiatal hernia. Manometry testing is most accurate, but not easily accessible for most of us.
If you have the symptoms of reflux, shortness of breath, bloat, gas, heart palpitations or anxiety, the odds are that you have a hiatal hernia. [NOTE: when I mentioned heart and breathing symptoms in the context of hiatal hernia I'm assuming that heart and lung disease has been ruled out. That should always be the first step when you experience such symptoms.]
The sooner you address the root cause of your symptoms the easier it will be to remedy them. So waiting and continuing to suffer just because a test doesn't agree with what your body is telling you, is a poor approach.
There's an addage in medicine - actually 2 of them.
1. Treat the patient, not the test.
2. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
What to do
Hiatal hernia symptoms mostly revolve around inappropriate pressure issues: pressure on your stomach, pressure on your diaphragm, pressure on your heart. The pressure is coming from down and pushing upwards, the exact opposite direction that occurs in a healthy digestive tract.
The solution therefore is to identify the causative factors creating the incorrect pressure.
It frequently is one or more of the following:
dysbiosis - too many bad bugs in your gut
insufficient stomach acid or pancreatic enzymes
constipation
food sensitivities
toxicity from mold, heavy metals or other environmental or viral loads
vagus nerve irritation
lifestyle habits such as overeating, eating too quickly, eating late at night, and more.
physical imbalance of the diaphragm, postural imbalance.
These are mostly all able to be managed and addressed naturally.
Finding a clinician who is adept at such treatment is mandatory.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References:
J.M. Levey, D.A. Katz (2012). Reliability of Upper Endoscopy for Diagnosing Hiatal Hernia. American Journal of Gastroenterology
Y.S. Khajanchee et al. (2013). Diagnosis of Type-I hiatal hernia: a comparison of high-resolution manometry and endoscopy. Diseases of the Esophagus
(MDPI) Identification of Sliding Hiatus Hernia by High-Resolution Manometry vs Endoscopy (2022). Journal of Clinical Medicine
S. Tolone et al. (2018). High-resolution manometry is superior to endoscopy and radiology in detecting hiatal hernia. United European Gastroenterology Journal
P.J. Kahrilas (2021). High-resolution manometry findings with hiatus hernia. (In A-leS / A-MeGroups publication)
K. Kostic et al. (2015). High-resolution manometry has low sensitivity but high specificity for hiatal hernias. American Journal of Gastroenterology
A. Laracca (2021). Optimal workup for a hiatal hernia. AL-Es Surgical Forum / AMeGroups
hiatalhernia #guthealth #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is
If you suffer from acid reflux you likely think it means you have too much acid. That's a myth.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Most reflux happens due to pressure in your belly pushing stomach contents up, not because you're making too much acid.
Think of your stomach like a balloon that's partially filled with water. If you squeeze the balloon, what happens? Water squirts out the top. That's exactly what happens with your stomach.
Your body has 3 anti-reflux barriers to prevent reflux from occurring. But when pressure builds and your stomach elevates, those barriers are compromised, allowing reflux to occur.
Calling the problem "too much acid" is an oversimplification and frankly it's inaccurate. It's more about exposure to acid than it is overproduction. Your esophagus is not designed to be bathed in acid. If you've ever vomited you know exactly how it feels when stomach contents flow into your esophagus. It's very irritating. This is the same situation with reflux. Any acid moving up into your esophagus is going to burn.
Fix the source of the pressure and you've fixed the root cause of the reflux. This is possible to be done without medications. Unfortunately, acid reducing medications have many side effects, many that worsen the cause of acid reflux.
Solutions
Some are easy and can make a big difference. Don't wear tight pants or belts, especially around meal times. Don't bend over post-meal. Take a stroll after eating to help your digestion.
The rest will likely involve you finding a clinician to help:
1. Get to the root cause of why you have bloating, gas or constipation.
2. You'll also need assistance balancing your microbiome to eliminate bad bacteria that can cause pressure, along with balancing overall gut motility.
3. Finding someone who knows how to address root causes of hiatal hernia naturally is important considering acid reflux and hiatal hernia have a 70 to 100% common occurrence rate.
4. Getting assistance to lose excess abdominal fat will also decrease chronic pressure in your abdomen.
Postural support and strengthening can also help.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References:
Sugerman HJ. (2007). “Increased intra-abdominal pressure and GERD/Barrett’s esophagus.” Gastroenterology 133(6):2075; author reply 2075–2076.
PubMed
Tack J, Pandolfino JE. (2018). “Pathophysiology of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.” Gastroenterology 154(2):277–288.
PubMed
Mitchell DR, Derakhshan MH, Wirz AA, Ballantyne SA, McColl KEL. (2017). “Abdominal Compression by Waist Belt Aggravates Gastroesophageal Reflux, Primarily by Impairing Esophageal Clearance.” Gastroenterology 152(8):1881–1888.
Siboni S, Bonavina L, Rogers BD, Egan C, Savarino E, Gyawali C, DeMeester T. Effect of Increased Intra-abdominal Pressure on the Esophagogastric Junction: A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 2022.
ResearchGate
“Effect of Increased Intra-abdominal Pressure on the …” (PMC article) — describes how increased IAP is a major force that can overwhelm or disrupt the sphincter barrier. (Published recently)
PMC
Mittal RK, Rochester DF, McCallum RW. Human lower esophageal sphincter pressure response to increased intra-abdominal pressure. American Journal of Physiology 1989 Jan;256(1 Pt 1):G139-44.
Andrews WG, Louie BE. The relationship of hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms — two-sphincter hypothesis: a review. Annals of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery 2021;6:41.
acidreflux #guthealth #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this vid
Vagus nerve disruption from hiatal hernia doesn't just cause reflux, it drains your energy.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Your vagus nerve follows the same path as your esophagus, traveling through your diaphragm to meet your stomach. With acid reflux and hiatal hernia the vagus nerve can become irritated, stretched, or compressed.
This irritation can shift you from parasympathetic mode (rest, digest, relax) to a dominant sympathetic state, putting your body on high alert with an elevated heart rate and cortisol (stress hormone) level. This chronic stress response drains your body leading to burnout and exhaustion.
Chronic stress interferes with your sleep patterns leading to insomnia and worsening fatigue.
Your vagus nerve is linked physically and funcitonally to your diaphragm. A hiatal hernia and acid reflux causes shallow breathing that's inefficient and requires more muscular effort, leading to fatigue.
The vagus also regulates hormones. Chronic reflux, pain or shortness of breatk keeps stress pathways activated, crating adrenal fatigue with low energy and restless sleep.
The bottom line is vagus malfunction that stems from the digestive disturbance you're experiencing. What's needed is to find a clinician who understands this association and can help you identify the root cause so that the vagus nerve can restore function.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
There are also some breathing techniques which can give you and your vagus nerve some immediate relief. I demonstrate that in the video.
References:
Ma, X., et al. (2017). The Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing on Attention, Negative Affect and Stress in Healthy Adults. Frontiers in Psychology 8:874.
“Slow breathing for reducing stress: The effect of extending exhale” (2023). Complementary Therapies in Medicine.
“Breathing Practices for Stress and Anxiety Reduction” (2023/2024). Frontiers / PMC
“Pathophysiology of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease” by J. Tack et al. (2018). Gastroenterology.
Zheng, Z., et al. (2021). A new technique for treating hiatal hernia with function-preserving vagus nerve anatomy: a cadaver and preliminary clinical study. BMC Surgery.
vagusnerve #guthealth #hiatalhernia
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
Are you always tired? Your vagus nerve may be stuck in low-power mode.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
When vagus tone drops, inflammation runs wild, gut bacteria get out of balance, and your body can't absorb the nutrients it needs. That's why fatigue and brain fog go hand-in-hand with reflux and gut issues.
Structurally your vagus nerve runs along the same path as your esophagus. When you have acid reflux or hiatal hernia the vagus nerve can get stretched or irritated. This is when body-wide problems can arise.
The vagus nerve is naturally anti-inflammatory in the pathways it controls. When weakened it can't perform this function and inflammation ensues. The immune system gets overwhelmed feeling that the body must be very ill and it goes into a "sickness response" triggering fatigue and brain fog, just like if you had a bad flu or disease. It's pretty fascinating.
When the vagus gets irritated the amount of stomach acid decreases and the motility of your digestive tract slow. Food is poorly broken down and nutrients aren't absorbed well. Fatigue results because your cells aren't being well fed.
The vagus nerve also influences your microbiome. Bad bacteria outnumber good, more inflammation occurs and you absorb good nutrition poorly.
These factors all can lead to exhaustion and brain fog.
The solution is to get to the root of the acid reflux and hiatal hernia so that the vagus doesn't continue to get irritated. You can also perform some breathing exercises which I demonstrate in the video.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
guthealth #rootcausemedicine #hiatal hernia
References:
Tracey, K. J. (2002). The inflammatory reflex. Nature 420, 853–859.
Borovikova, L. et al. (2000). Vagus nerve stimulation attenuates the systemic inflammatory response to endotoxin. Nature 405, 458–462.
Pavlov, V. A., & Tracey, K. J. (2007). Physiology and immunology of the cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway. Journal of Clinical Investigation 117 (2), 289–296.
Koopman, F. A., et al. (2016). Vagus nerve stimulation inhibits cytokine production and attenuates disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113(29), 8284–8289.
Robinson-Papp, J., (et al.) (2018). Vagal dysfunction and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Clinical Infectious Diseases
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
Do you suffer from gas and bloating that's downright uncomfortable?
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Have you been told to:
just put up with it?
take probiotics?
try a gas pill?
Gas and bloating isn't just a nuisance, it's can be a warning from your body of a hidden imbalance. We don't want to just "band-aid" it.
Causes:
1. SIBO - small intestinal bacterial overgrowth - excess bacteria in your small intestine ferment food in the wrong place, causing gas/bloat, constipation or diarrhea.
2. Food intolerances or Malabsorption - undigested carbohydrates and fats reach your colon and produce gas.
3. Motility issues - in the stomach it's called gastroparesis, and constipation is another indicator of motility problems. Slowed movement through your digestive tracts means the gas and intestinal contents hang around too long, intensifying your symptoms of gas and bloat.
4. Hormone influences and Stress - stress and anxiety (common with hiatal hernia) can modify how your body reacts. Your nerves can be more sensitive within your intestine causing your to feel even mild amounts of gas and bloat more acutely.
Stress also activates your fight or flight nervous system which slow digestive rate and motility.
Stress alters your microbiome allowing for more bad bacteria, increased fermentation of food and increased bloat and gas as a result.
Evaluation
A good in-depth health history
Rule out celiac disease and thyroid disease plus any inflammatory bowel disease
Test the microbiome for dysbiosis - presence of bad bacteria
Endoscopy
Motility tests - called gastric emptying study
Trials of therapeutic diets to evaluate for food intolerances.
Treatment
Rebalance your microbiome
Optimize motility - an easy first step is to hydrate and increase the amount of soluble fiber in your diet
Start breathing techniques like box breathing
You don't have to suffer with this.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References:
Lacy BE et al., Pathophysiology, Evaluation, and Treatment of Bloating (2011) PMC
Crucillà et al., Functional Abdominal Bloating & Gut Microbiota (2024)
MDPIStanghellini V, Tack J. Gastroduodenal disorders of sensation and motility. Gastroenterology. 2004;126(6):1721-1737.
Hasler WL, Gas and Bloating (PMC article) — overview of causes, when it's abnormal
PMC
“Gas, Bloating, and Belching: Approach to Evaluation and Management” — AAFP review of differential causes
American Academy of Family Physicians
“Management of Chronic Abdominal Distension and Bloating” (CGH journal) — therapeutic strategies
CGH Journal
Lacy BE et al. Pathophysiology, evaluation, and treatment of bloating. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2011;7(11):729-739.
Camilleri M. Fat-induced changes in upper GI function: relevance to dyspepsia. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;82(4):777-784.
Wedlake L et al. Systematic review: the prevalence of idiopathic bile acid malabsorption as diagnosed by SeHCAT scanning in patients with diarrhoea-predominant IBS. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2009;30(7):707-717.
Keller J, Layer P. Human pancreatic exocrine response to nutrients in health and disease. Gut. 2005;54(Suppl 6):vi1–vi28.
bloating #guthealth #hiatalhernia
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment option
Are you considering hiatal hernia surgery?
Did you know that acid reflux can come back even after surgery?
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
The official medical guidelines for surgery specifically state that a small, sliding hiatal hernia (95% of them are sliding) is NOT an indication for surgery. Surgery is typically reserved for large, paraesophageal hernias, those with severe esophagitis, Barrett's disease and strictures.
It is also considered as an option when there is refractory relux - meaning you are taking medication (typically PPIs) and it isn't working to suppress your symptoms. It is this point I wish to address.
A critical point that's missed is that PPIs suppress acid, they don't prevent reflux. Read that sentence again. So reflux is still happening, it's just not very acidic. Now we need to ask what could continue to cause symptoms if it wasn't acid? Bile. Bile reflux can cause similar symptoms to acid reflux in how you feel, even though it's not acid causing it.
As a 2025 study that I list below stated: "consider bile reflux, don't just keep giving more PPIs".
A 2024 study stated that up to 38% of refractory reflux is due to bile reflux. If you add in acid plus bile, the total is 64%.
Let's look at another point. How well does hiatal hernia surgery do in eradicating reflux? It's not great. After 5 years, 44% of patients were again long-term PPI users. Another study found that recurrent heartburn post-surgery had an occurrence rate of 10 to 62% and was considered a post-operative complication.
This data is to give you knowledge that I find many patients considering surgery haven't been made aware of. Conservative measures are always preferred over surgery. Every surgeon would agree, barring obvious emergencies.
Finding a clinician who can address the often missed bile reflux and get to the root cause of what's causing it and acid reflux, could be of great benefit in improving your health.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References:
Monaco L, Balletta A, Mazzarella G, et al. Combined pH and bilirubin monitoring of the esophagus improves the diagnostic yield of reflux disease in patients non-responsive to proton pump inhibitors. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2009;44(5):565-571.
Sugimoto M, Nishino S, Nishizawa T, et al. Importance of bile reflux in proton pump inhibitor-refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease. Digestive Endoscopy. 2024;36(3):390-399.
Armstrong D, Wong RKH, et al. Management of refractory reflux-like symptoms. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2025;61(7):505-522.
Naik RD, Vaezi MF. Treatment of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;18(2):343-351.
Wetscher GJ, Schwab G, Pointner R, et al. Long-term outcome after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2024;409(2):199-211.
Oor JE, Roks DJ, Broeders JA, et al. Reflux control 5 years after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication: a prospective long-term study. World J Surg. 2025;49(4):1020-1029.
Engström C, Jamieson GG, Devitt PG, et al. Ten- to fifteen-year outcome of laparoscopic Nissen vs. Toupet fundoplication: a randomized trial. JAMA Surg. 2022;157(7):623-631.
Lundell L, Miettinen P, et al. Long-term outcome of antireflux surgery in randomized clinical trials: results at 20 years follow-up. Surg Endosc. 2024;38(1):112-120.
Broeders JA, Rijnhart-de Jong HG, Draaisma WA, et al. Ten-year outcome of laparoscopic and conventional Nissen fundoplication: randomized clinical trial. Ann Surg. 2013;258(5):870-877.
hiatalhernia #acidreflux #r
Why can doctors miss the presence of Hiatal Hernia Syndrome. It's sheet number of symptoms is one problem.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
The symptoms are acid reflux, bloat, abdominal discomfort, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, anxiety and panic attacks, trouble swallowing, hoarseness - to list just a few. There are up to 20.
You can see that these symptoms cover many organ systems of your body: heart, lungs, stomach, digestion, and brain. It's no wonder that what you receive from specialists, who are not communicating with one another, is a palliative drug that can improve your symptoms but does not address the root cause.
And, unfortunately, in the case of PPIs and psychiatric medication, is known to worsen the root cause through its effect on your microbiome.
It's not that your doctors don't care; they are constrained by our medical model to make a diagnosis and then provide the appropriate care, typically a drug, that is approved.
What the research below does confirm is that the root cause of the problem involves physical/mechanical changes within the digestive tract along with neurological effects (primarily the vagus nerve) which explain what people suffering with this syndrome experience.
How to fix it? One has to establish the causative agents that have created the increased inta-abdominal pressure within the body. Finding a clinician who understands the full depth and breadth of these interactions and how to identify the "why" can really open the door to improvement.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References:
1. Kahrilas PJ, Pandolfino JE. Hiatus hernia. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2021;7(1):1. doi:10.1038/s41572-020-00241-1
-
Schlottmann F, et al. Hiatal hernia: a review on diagnosis and treatment. J Thorac Dis. 2017;9(Suppl 12):S1108–S1117. doi:10.21037/jtd.2017.06.120
-
Roman S, Kahrilas PJ. Challenges in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012;10(9):864–871. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2012.02.018
-
Tutuian R, Castell DO. Management of atypical manifestations of GERD. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006;101(8 Suppl):S38–S44. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2006.00657.x
-
Vaezi MF, et al. Proton pump inhibitors and risk of adverse events: a critical appraisal of current evidence. Gastroenterology. 2017;153(1):35–48. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2017.04.047
-
Moayyedi P, et al. Long-term proton pump inhibitor use and safety: a review of evidence and position statement by the American Gastroenterological Association. Gastroenterology. 2017;152(4):706–715. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2017.01.031
-
Mittal RK, Balaban DH. The esophagogastric junction. N Engl J Med. 1997;336(13):924–932. doi:10.1056/NEJM199703273361306
-
Bredenoord AJ, Pandolfino JE, Smout AJ. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Lancet. 2013;381(9881):1933–1942. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)62171-0
-
Farré R, et al. Mechanisms of gastroesophageal reflux disease: lessons from animal models. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2017;312(1):G1–G15.
guthealth #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and
There are places in your body where bacteria normally reside. But what happens when they move to a different location?
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400.
In a recent study looking at 13 different trials the researach observes to hwat degree PPI medication altered gut bacteria. What they found was concerning.
Oral bacteria normally confined to the mouth moved (translocated) and proliferated further down the GI tract. As an example, Strep, proliferated in just 7 days of using a PPI.
Esophagus bacteria shifted too, causing refllux symptoms even without excess acid.
These shifts explain why PPI meds can increase infections, SIBO, system inflammation and overall dysbiosis.
One infection, C diff (Clostridium difficile) is one of the best known connections to PPIs - proven to double the risk. It causes colitis with severe diarrhea and can become life threatening.
Why does this happen? When you take a PPI you raise the pH in your stomach and you lose good bacteria while allowing bad bacteria to multiply. There also an issue with bile not being converted properly which allows this bacteria (and other bad bacteria) to multiply.
SIBO symptoms include gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, rosacea, osteoporosis, generalized malabsorption, along with creating a deficiency of fat soluble vitamins - A, D, E, and K.
Causing systemic inflammation factually increases your risk for obesity, a weakened immune system, diabetes, IBS, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, certain cancers, anxiety and cognitive decline.
To summate, here's what the authors of the study said: PPI use may be one of the strongest factors shaping dysbiosis in populations.
Finding a clinician to help you get to the root cause of your reflux so that you can wean down or off your PPI could make a big impact on your health.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
Reference
Fossmark & Olaisen (2024) Microorganisms. “Changes in the Gastrointestinal Microbiota Induced by Proton Pump Inhibitors — A Review of Findings from Experimental Trials”
guthealth #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
A hiatal hernia attack can involve up to 20 different symptoms that seem unrelated to one another.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
You can feel acid reflux, bloating, gas, pressure in your abdomen or chest, but you can also feel short of breath, have heart palpitations, feel anxious or have a panic attack.
It this hits you suddenly or in the middle of the night it's pretty terrifying. You definitely want to rule out heart disease due to the symptoms of heart palpitations, shortness of breath and chest pain or pressure. But once you've done that and you continue to suffer, you're left perplexed with what's really going on.
A hiatal hernia, even if small, can cause a cascade of symptoms that begin with the stomach getting compressed, bringing acid up into your esophagus (tube that connects your mouth to your stomach) and the subsequent irritation/spasming of your diaphragm and irritation to your heart that sits directly above your diaphragm. This can cause shortness of breath and heart palpitations along with anxiety symptoms.
It's important to realize that these 3 organs (stomach, diaphragm, and heart) sit very close to one another anatomically and it's well researched that they can influence one another's function when a hiatal hernia or acid reflux occurs.
It's worth mentioning that 95% of hiatal hernias are sliding which means the symptoms can come and go, which can also be confusing because you're not sure what you're doing to cause it.
At the root is increase intra-abdominal pressure which can worsen lying down at night to sleep as well as when bending over. This is why you can awaken in the middle of the night with a hiatal hernia attack, that is quite frightening.
Half of all reflux is silent, meaning it presents with symptoms that are less obvious than the "classic" heartburn. In silent relux the symptoms are more in the upper chest and throat such as trouble swallowing, having the feeling of a lump in your throat, hoarseness, a cough, or bitter taste in your mouth. You can still have the rest of the symptoms mentioned previously without the signs of heartburn and reflux.
The root of this problem is digestive in nature, with the rest of the symptoms occurring secondarily due to a cascade of effects.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References:
Kahrilas PJ, et al. Approaches to the diagnosis and grading of hiatal hernia. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2008;22(4):601-616.
Schlottmann F, Patti MG. Hiatal hernia: a review on diagnosis and treatment. World J Surg. 2017;41(7):1626-1633.
Mittal RK, Balaban DH. The esophagogastric junction. N Engl J Med. 1997;336:924-932.
Roman S, et al. Gastroesophageal reflux disease: from pathophysiology to treatment. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(14):5275-5294.
Gyawali CP, Kahrilas PJ, Savarino E, et al. Modern diagnosis of GERD: the Lyon Consensus. Gut. 2018;67:1351-1362.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
A new study reveals a surprising link with acid reflux and your overall health and disease risk.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Acid reflux is linked to a host of degenerative diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, certain cancers and cognitive decline.
Don't get depressed; there's good news.
First the mechanisms:
The researchers discovered that when comparing healthy patients to those suffering with acid reflux, Barrett's esophagus or esophagitis, there was a shift in the bacteria population when the reflux was present.
The good bacteria within the esophagus shifted to bad, "gram-negative" bacteria that inflammed the cells of the esophagus triggering not only a leaky esophagus but downstream inflammation throughout the gut. The leaky esophagus created an environment for systemic, body-wide, inflammation.
The bad bacteria affect motility, decreasing it, which increased the frequency of reflux, thereby compounding the problem.
The increased numbers of bad bacteria alter how bile from your gallbladder is broken down, resulting in bile that is more toxic, increasing bile reflux and further damaging the esophagus.
It's quite a vicious cycle.
The protective effects from good bacteria which support an overall healthy microbiome, prevent leaky gut, are anti-inflammatory, enhance proper motility and bile acid metabolism (breakdown) are all lost due to this imbalance.
I promised good news and here it is: improving reflux and thereby healing the esophagus can allow the bacteria to shift back towards a healthy bacteria balance - reversible dysbiosis!
This is great and now you need to find someone who can address how to naturally get to the root cause of your refllux. It's not difficult, but the solution is not a PPI, which factually worsens this very imbalance. [Note: I've recently done some videos on the PPI link to dysbiosis and the research supporting it.]
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
Reference
Guan et al., Frontiers in Immunology (2025). "The role of the esophageal and intestinal microbiome in gastroesophageal reflux disease: past, present and future"
guthealth #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
A new type of reflux has been discovered. If you suffer with heartburn but testing doesn't really show it, this is for you. Similarly, if antacids aren't providing much relief, you could fall into this category.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
If you go to your doctor with classic heartburn symptoms, the first treatment offered to you is antacids, typically a PPI medication. [Note: this is the WORST thing you can do with this condition!]
If that isn't providing relief you may be scheduled for an endoscopy. Not everyone can avail themselves of this testing, but if you do and the test doesn't really show a reason for your symptoms, it can be quite perplexing.
A new study revealed that an abundance of a certain type of bacteria, Gram negative, may be present in your esophagus. Bacteria such as Klebisella and Pseudomonas fall into this category. these bacteria trigger inflammatory chemicals which in turn create a "leaky esophagus" which can result in heartburn symptoms, even with minimal acid reflux.
What are the causes?
1. Low stomach acid - this is why a PPI or any acid reducing medication would in fact worsen this condition. Stomach acid is needed to keep bacterial overgrowth from occurring.
-
Poor oral hygiene - periodontal disease or mouth breathing. Mouth breathing, especially at night, allows bad bacteria to multiply, you swallow them with your saliva and they propagate in your esophagus.
-
A diet high in saturated fat and low fiber also fosters growth of these bacteria.
-
Poor motility of stasis with the esophagus and gut from a hiatal hernia or vagus nerve dysfunction also allows these bacteria to colonize.
Treatment
1. Restore hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Work with a clinician to determine the best approach for you.
2. Supplements such as green tea catechins, resveratrol, curcumin and oregano oil can help reduce the population of these bacteria. Again, work with a clinician to determine best protocols.
3. Add polyphenols to your diet - dark berries, apples, broccoli, cumin asparagus, flax, chai, almonds and walnuts, to name just a few.
4. Foster nasal breathing - try mouth tape at night.
5. See your dentist to address any periodontal disease.
6. Don't eat late at night to allow your body's normal cleansing process to occur during a 12 to 14 hour fast overnight.
7. Get help to naturally treat your hiatal hernia, vagus nerve imbalance.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
Reference:
Chen S, Journal of Translational Medicine, 2024: Esophageal dysbiosis → barrier injury via LPS-TLR2-IL-6-claudin-1.
guthealth #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video. The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
Do you suffer with acid reflux or hiatal hernia? Do you also suffer with irregular heartbeats like atrial fibrillation (A fib)? Have you wondered if they were connected?
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
If so, you're correct. Before we jump into the results of a brand new study confirming the link, I want to note that symptoms associated with your heart should always be checked out first by a cardiologist. This video is directed towards those individuals who do NOT have heart disease but still suffer with cardiac symptoms.
Atrial fibrillation occur due to an irregular rhythm in the upper chambers of your heart called the atria. The heart's electrical system becomes irregular.
Symptoms include heart palpitations, a racing heart, fatigue, shortness of breath or dizziness.
This new research, corroborated by several other studies which I include below, cite that acid reflux treatment could influence the prevention or progression of A fib. And the acid reflux (GERD) mangement could potentially modify A fib risk. This is exciting.
When heart disease isn't driving A fib, how does acid reflux cause it? There are 2 key mechanisms:
-
Vagus nerve involvement - it's called vagally -mediated A fib and the clue to its presence is A fib that occurs after meals, when you're overly full, it occurs when lying down or during reflux. Reflux and hiatal hernia causes irritation that can overstimulate the vagus and thereby trigger A fib or heart palpitations.
-
Inflammation due to acid exposure - acid and bile reflux causes inflammation of the esophagus. Anatomically the esophagus is very close to the atria of your heart. Inflammatory chemicals, created by reflux set off changes in the cells of the atria that alter how electrical impulses are generated, causing electrical instability.
The solution for this type of atrial fibrillation is to get the reflux under control naturally. I say naturally because PPI medication has multiple side effects, one of which is a risk of heart attack and stroke.
It's not difficult to identify the root cause of acid or bile reflux and to get the hiatal hernia symptoms under control.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
acidreflux #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
-
Sinha T, Joshi HM, Patel B, Stanikzai H, Hussaini H, Chaudhari SS, Habib I, Hirani S. The Association Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus. 2025;17(2):e78356.
-
Xu L, Zhang Y, Xie J, Liu Y, Xu L. Association between gastroesophageal reflux disease and atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2019 Nov;111(11):874-879.
PubMed -
Huang C-C, Chan W-L, Luo J-C, Chen Y-C, Chen T-J, Chung C-M, et al. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Population-Based Study. PLoS ONE. 2012;7(10):e47575.
-
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. “Gastroesophageal reflux disease may causally associate with increased AF incidence: Mendelian randomization study.” 2024.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as o
If you've been suffering with acid reflux or hiatal hernia, you've already been told what NOT to eat: avoid tomatoes, onions, garlic, coffee, mint, citrus and spicy foods.
But what SHOULD you eat?
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Adding the right goods can help heal, soothe and prevent reflux.
- Soothing, Alkaline Promoting Foods
Melons and bananas are naturally low-acid; they coat and soothe the esophagus.
Oats, quinoa and brown rice absorb stomach acid and can reduce reflux episodes.
- Mucosal Healing Foods
Aloe vera juice (inner fillet, no aloin) has been demonstrated to reduce esophageal irritation.
Slipper elm or marshmallow root tests are demulcents (a substance that forms a protective film over inflamed mucous membranes) that coat the esophagus and stomach.
Cabbage juice is rich in glutamine and supports mucosal healing.
Prokinetic (Motility) Supporting Foods
Ginger, start with small amounts to imrove stomach emptying.
Bitter greens such as arugula, dandelion and endive, stimulate bile production and motility.
Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Berries and high polyphenol foods (olive oil, flax, walnuts, Brussels sprouts) lower inflammation.
Omega-3 rich foods such as wild salmon, chia and flax recude esophagus inflammation.
Gut-Balance Foods
Soluble fiber has been show to increase the positive presure of the esophagus to thereby prevent reflux.
Fermented foods - start with samll amounts of sauerkraut, kefir, miso, support the microbiome.
High fiber vegetables such as steamed brocoli, zucchini, sweet potatoes, help stool transit time and reduce the intra-abdominal pressure that can drive hiatal hernia and reflux.
Eating Habits
Adopt small meal size to lower intra-abdominal pressure
Timing: finish eating 3 hours before bed.
Posture - avoid slumping after meals, take a gentle walk to facilitate digestion.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
guthealth #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
References
Panahi, Y., et al. (2015). Phytotherapy Research. Efficacy and safety of Aloe vera syrup for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a pilot randomized positive-controlled trial.
Morozov, S., et al. (2018). Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. Fiber-enriched diet helps to control symptoms and improves esophageal motility in patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (NERD).
Komolafe, K., et al. (2025). Foods. Natural Products in the Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Future Directions.
Panahi, Y., et al. (2016). Pharmacological Sciences. Effect of Aloe vera and Pantoprazole on Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms in Mustard Gas-Exposed Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Andrews, W. G., et al. (2021). AEG/AME Groups, specialized GI journal. The relationship of hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux.
Kahrilas, P. J., Shi, G., et al., 2000. Gastroenterology. Increased frequency of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation induced by gastric distention in reflux patients with hiatal hernia
Hyun, J. J., et al. (2011). Gut and Liver. Clinical Significance of Hiatal Hernia.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice
Barrett's esophagus is typically "blamed" on acid reflux and the solution offered is to take PPI medication. But that's not the whole story.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Bile reflux can be more damaging to your esophagus, proven by research.
Some basic information before we dive in: Barrett's esophagus occurs after many years of reflux, acid and/or bile. It is diagnosed when the lower esophageal lining changes from its normal type of cells (squamous epithelium) to the types of cells seen in your stomach (columnar epithelium).
The concern is that these cells can become pre-cancerous and then cancerous and esophageal cancer is an awful cancer to have.
The earlier you begin with reflux in life raises your risk for developing Barrett's. Additional risk factors are: reflux, obesity, smoking, male, caucasian, age and having a hiatal hernia. But bile reflux is one of the strongest independent factors, therefore the reason for this video.
Symptoms of Barrett's includes: heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, or no symptoms.
It's typically diagnosed during an endoscopy.
Traditional treatment is PPIs, weight loss, smoking cessation and surgery.
While a scary proposition to contemplate, the risk of esophageal cancer is about 5% but it is higher once the cells have become pre-cancerous. At the pre-cancerous stage there is a successful ablation surgery but the recurrence rate is about 10% per year so it's still advantageous to be addressing root cause issues.
The exciting prospects for this condition is research that if the cause of reflux is addressed, healing/stabilizing and a potential for reverting to normal tissue can occur.
That's certainly something we see often with hiatal hernia and reflux. When you get to the root cause of what's causing the reflux, the esophagus has the potential to heal.
Solutions
Address "drivers" of bile and acid reflux including hiatal hernia, weight reduction, neutralizing bile acids (alginates are helpful), shift bill acid composition to a less toxic state with things such as taurine/glycine, milk thistle. Note: I am not diagnosing nor treating you. You will need to find a clinician to work with you.
For hiatal hernia utiizing diaphragmatic breathing and stabilizing the vagus nerve are important while normalizing microbiome diversity.
Protect the esophagus and stomach lining with natural agents such as DGL, aloe vera and zinc.
Avoid late night eating, ultra-processed foods, sugar and alcohol.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
guthealth #acidreflux #hiatalhernia
References:
Katerina Dvorak, et al., "Bile acids in combination with low pH induce oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage: relevance to the pathogenesis of Barrett’s oesophagus" Gut 2007
Bhaskar Banerjee, et al. "Clinical study of ursodeoxycholic acid in Barrett’s esophagus patients". Cancer Prevention Research
2016 (July issue)
Shaheen NJ et al. ACG Clinical Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Barrett’s Esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022.
Andrici J, Eslick GD. Hiatal hernia and the risk of Barrett’s esophagus. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013. Wiley Online Library
Eusebi LH et al. Risk factors for Barrett’s oesophagus in individuals with reflux symptoms. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2021. White Rose Research Online
Orman ES, Shaheen NJ. Efficacy and durability of radiofrequency ablation for Barrett’s esophagus. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013. mgh-ita.org
Wani S et al. Recurrence after complete eradication peaks around 18 months. Clin Gastroente
If you're one of the millions of people taking a PPI, this is data you'll want to know.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
You're told that you have acid reflux and you have to decrease your acid with a drug. Sounds reasonable until you find out that your reflux is not associated with excess acid, but rather inappropriate pressure on your stomach.
Further, the acid that's being blamed, once reduced by the drug, is causing the exact problem that's creating the acid reflux. It's not helping your underlying condition, it's perpetuating it.
I know that's frustrating but there are solutions.
First let's look at the various mechanisms occurring.
When you reduce stomach acid it allows both oral and environmental (from your food) bacteria to pass into your intestines. PPI uders have greater oral bacteria like Streptococcus in their gut than non-PPI users.
Bacteria such as E. Coli and C. difficile (which can result in life-threatening diarrhea) are linked to infection and overgrow in PPI users. There is also less diversity of good bacteria in the gut making you less resilient against infectious organisms.
Bile acids are also affected. You need good gut bacteria to break apart bile acids so they can be recycled. With less good bacteria present that doesn't occur and even more infectious, pathogenic bacteria survive, further worsening the gut microbiome.
When the pH is raised in the stomach, bacteria colonize in the small intestine promoting SIBO and causing bloat, gas, diarrhea and malabsorption.
The imbalance of the colon weakens the gut lining causing leaky gut and promoting body-wide (systemic) inflammation. This not only increases infection risk but also leads to metabolic changes leading to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, autoimmune diseases and dementia.
What can you do? It's not about abruptly stopping your PPI, especially if you've been taking it for more than a few months. You need to find a clinician who can evaluate and help you treat the root causes which include:
Infections
SIBO
Poor diet
Toxins
Weight loss - visceral fat particularly
Food sensitivities
Vagus nerve imbalance
and more.
It's not difficult when you know how to determine what the causative agents are. The program is natural and drug-free.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References
1. Imhann, F., et al. (2016). Proton pump inhibitors affect the gut microbiome. Gut, 65(5), 740-748.
-
Seto, C. T., et al. (2014). Prolonged use of a proton pump inhibitor reduces microbial diversity: implications for Clostridium difficile susceptibility. Microbiome, 2, 42.
-
“Passing the ‘Acid Test’: Do Proton Pump Inhibitors Affect the Microbiome?” – T. Dong, E. Forslund, et al. (2018). Annual Review of Microbiology. PMC
-
Zhang, J., et al. (2023). Meta-analysis of the effects of proton pump inhibitors on the gut microbiota. BMC Microbiology, 23, 2895.
-
Khurmatullina, A. R., et al. (2025). The Duration of Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy and the Risk of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(13): 4702.
6.Fossmark, R., et al. (2024). Changes in the Gastrointestinal Microbiota Induced by Proton Pump Inhibitor Treatment. Frontiers / PMC paper.
-
Zhang, X., Li, Y., Huang, C., et al. (2024). Proton Pump Inhibitors and Oral–Gut Microbiota. Biomedicines, 12(10), 2271.
-
Kiecka, A., et al. (2023). Proton pump inhibitor-induced gut dysbiosis and digestive disorders: what is the link? Pharmacological Reports.
guthealth #acidr
Do you suffer from heart palpitations, chest presure, shortness of breath, arrhythmias or dizziness? And, you've had your heart checked out and been told it's "fine"...
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
But you continue to suffer with obvious heart-related symptoms. Even atrial fibrillation for some. What's happening?
You could be suffering from Roemheld Syndrome, also known as gastrocardiac syndrome. [Gastro = stomach, cardiac = heart]. The understanding of this syndrome stems from the work of Dr Roemheld that stems back to 1912 when he wrote about it.
Dr Roemheld very astutely understood that classic cardiac symptoms in the presence of no heart disease which in fact stemming from digestive upset.
What we describe as hiatal hernia syndrome fits what's occurring.
Mechanically, excess gas and bloating increases intra-abdominal pressure, pushing your stomach upwards against your diaphragm. This pressure in turn causes irritation to the sac surrounding your heart and it responds to this irritation with a combination of symptoms just discussed.
There is also a nervous system component due to the fact that the diaphragm and vagus nerve are stretched or irritated when the stomach pushes upwards. The vagus nerve signals are altered and it can affect heart function, despite the presence of no heart disease.
Maybe you too have experienced a lack of validation for your symptoms once your heart has been cleared from disease. Roemheld Syndrome validates your experience of these very real heart symptoms due to the mechanical and neurological alterations due to the pressure and abberant movement of your stomach and diaphragm.
Advanced studies using high-resolution manometry and impedance pH testing confirm what Roemheld discovered well over 100 years ago.
Along with these cardiac-like symptoms, those with hiatal hernia suffer from gas, bloating, acid reflux, constipation, chronic cough, sleep issues and more.
There is much that can be done for this condition once you have ruled out the presence of heart disease, which of course would take precedence for treatment. Once the heart has been deemed fine, the treatment options are natural and effective.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400 or click here: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
guthealth #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
References
1. Ludwig Roemheld, early 20th century case reports on gastrocardiac syndrome.
-
Bredenoord AJ, et al. Mechanisms of reflux perception in gastroesophageal reflux disease patients. Gut. 2006;55(3):313-318.
-
Kunz JS, et al. Hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux, and atrial fibrillation: coincidence or causality? Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(12):1871-1878.
-
Bechtold ML, et al. Gastrocardiac syndrome: a systematic review. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2020;54(9):747-754. 【PubMed PMID: 32404649】
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
When your digestion actis up do you feel dizzy, experience heart palpitations, arrhythmias, or do you feel faint?
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Maybe you've been suspicious that these symptoms are connected to your digestion but you've been told by your doctor that it's not related. Assuming that your heart has been fully checked out and you are found not to have heart disease, this is likely the mechanism that's occurring.
Here's what is happening:
The vagus nerve travels the same path as your esophagus through the opening in your diaphragm. With reflux or a hiatal hernia, mechanical irritation to the vagus occurs, putting your body into parasympathetic overaction. The result is that you feel dizzy, faint, experience low blood pressure and heart palpitatons or arrhythmias.
This can occur after eating a large meal or just after eating any meal that seems to "sit there" and not digest. You can also experience it bending over, due to increased intra-abdominal pressure, or at times of reflux.
If you have excess gas, distention or increased intra-abdominal pressure, so common with hiatal hernia and acid reflux, this will irritate your vagus nerve.
Solutions are natural:
Working with the physical side of hiatal hernia addressing diaphragm spasm, nerve irritation in the neck or mid-back and practicing breathing techniques like box breathing.
Microbiome restoration is key - whether it's treating SIBO, bad gut bacteria or addressing dietary change to eliminate trigger foods or food sensitivities plus increase fiber, balancing the microbiome is critical.
Lifestyle factors include chewing thoroughly, eating slowly, not eating within 3 hours before bed, taking a stroll after meals.
Vagal toning exercises - physiological sigh which I demonstrate how to do this on the video, and a proper humming technique.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
guthealth #vagusnerve #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
References
Richter JE, Rubenstein JH. "Presentation and Epidemiology of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease." Gastroenterology. 2018. (links hernia/reflux to extra-esophageal symptoms, including cardiac-like complaints).
Taneja I et al. "Effect of gastric distension on cardiac autonomic reflexes." Neurogastroenterology & Motility. 2005. (shows gastric distension can trigger vagal reflexes).
Pellissier S et al. "Relationship between vagus nerve, stress, and gut microbiota." Front Neurosci. 2014. (links dysbiosis and vagal nerve function).
Northuis C et al. "Hiatal hernia and vagus nerve compression: an overlooked cause of syncope." Case Reports in Medicine. 2023.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
SSRIs affect your gut in a way that can not only worsen your symptoms of anxiety and depression, but also worsen your hiatal hernia.
How?
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
20% of our population takes an SSRI. SSRIs, are drugs designed to make serotonin remain in your system to elevate your mood.
Yet common side effects are well known: 60% of those who take it feel emotional blunting and numbness, while 70% experience sexual dysfunction.
Less well known here in the U.S., but widely known in the European Union, Australia, Canada and Hong Kong, is that these common side effects can persist, even once the drug is discontinued.
If you have a hiatal hernia or acid reflux, we know that you already have dysbiosis, increased intra-abdominal pressure and vagus nerve dysfunction, based on the symptoms you suffer from.
Let's tie this data together. We have recently learned that SSRIs behave like antibiotics, inhibiting the growth of good bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidus, while allowing the overgrowth of bad bacteria.
One results from this will be a worsening of hiatal hernia and acid reflux symptoms due to the leaky gut, intra-abdominal pressure increase and vagus nerve dysruption this will cause.
But it's important to note that the way your body naturally makes serotonin is in your gut. 90% of serotonin is created in your gut and you need good bacteria present in enough abundance for that to occur. Without sufficient good bacteria you will instead produce kynurenine and neurotoxic agent.
SSRIs are preventing you from possible making adequate serotonin naturally, the very chemical they're supposed to be protecting.
Additionally, the serotonin produced in your brain now only requires a healthy microbiome to make serotonin, but it also requires a healthy vagus nerve. SSRIs alter vagus nerve signaling, impairing the message that allows your brain to release serotonin.
There are more natural ways to balance the gut, normalize vagus nerve function and serotonin levels. I hope this information was informative for you.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References
Maier L, et al. Extensive impact of non-antibiotic drugs on human gut bacteria. Nature. 2018;555:623-628. doi:10.1038/nature25979.
PubMed
Rukavishnikov G, et al. Antimicrobial activity of antidepressants on normal gut microbiota (in vitro). Front Behav Neurosci. 2023;17:1132127.
PMC
Ayaz M, et al. Sertraline enhances antimicrobial activity (combo/efflux mechanisms). J Biol Res (Thessalon). 2015;22:4.
PMC
Wang Y, et al. Sertraline antibiofilm/antimicrobial vs Listeria. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(5):4678.
MDPI
Ait Chait Y, et al. Unravelling antimicrobial action of antidepressants (mechanistic). Sci Rep. 2020;10:16391.
Nature
Ou J, et al. TCA/SSRI selection pressure for efflux-dependent antibiotic resistance in E. coli. mBio. 2022;13:e0219122.
PubMed
Lyte M, et al. Fluoxetine alters murine gut microbiota (depletes Lactobacilli). Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2019;31:e13600.
PMC
Cussotto S, et al. Psychotropics shift microbiome & increase ileal permeability (animal). Psychopharmacology. 2019;236:1671–1685.
PubMed
Yano JM, et al. Indigenous bacteria regulate host serotonin biosynthesis (EC cells). Cell. 2015;161:264-276.
PubMed
Wei L, et al. Enterochromaffin cells–gut microbiota crosstalk (review). Front Cell Neurosci. 2022;16:837166.
PMC
Gao K, et al. Tryptophan metabolism and the microbiota–brain axis (review). Adv Nutr. 2020;11:709-723.
PMC
What actually causes a hiatal hernia?
Research explores a link that isn't discussed typically along with a common prescribed drug that can exacerbate your risk.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Your "gut bugs" or more properly referred to as your gut microbiome, encompasses 40 to 100 trillion organisms, primarily bacteria. The makeup of your microbiome can influence your risk of developing a hiatal hernia. When there is a prevalence of 'bad bugs' it is called dysbiosis.
The good news is that rebalancing of the bacteria can go a long way to reversing those symptoms.
Specifically there are 4 main mechanisms occuring:
Gas production, motility issues, improper pressure gradients and inflammation.
Dysbiosis creates gas, bloating and increased intra-abdominal pressure. Gas is created from fermentation of undigestion carbohydrates in your large intestine which create gas as a byproduct.
Gas produces bloating and both increase the pressure within your abdomen. The increased pressure pushes upwards on your stomach and your diaphragm, resulting in reflux as well as compromised anti-reflux barriers within your diaphragm hiatus (opening where the esophagus passes through).
Dysbiosis also aggravates your vagus nerve which slows digestion and interrupts the proper functioning of various sphincters or valves in your digestive tract, but most particularly the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) which prevents acid reflux from occurring. The slowed digestion further results in gas production and increased pressure causing a negative cycle of recurring symptoms.
Risk factors for hiatal hernia including obesity, bloating, slowed digestion and constipation - all conditions that are worsened if not caused by dysbiosis.
When you're diagnosed with either reflux, hiatal hernia, gastritis, esophagitis or Barrett's, the "solution" provided you is a PPI medication. While there are benefits to reducing the irritation acid causes with a PPI, it is staggering to realize that PPIs worsen and can primarily be the cause of dysbiosis.
If that frustrates you I understand. And it can feel that there's no solution, but in fact there is. Dysbiosis can be addressed successfully naturally. When the root cause is identified gut imbalance can shift to balance and reducing if not eliminating the PPI need can occur.
It's something we do here regularly as a part of our hiatal hernia programs.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
guthealth #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Clinical References
1. Haworth JJ, Boyle N, Vales A. The prevalence of intestinal dysbiosis in patients referred for antireflux surgery. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:713689. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.713689 PMC8599257
-
Crucillà S, et al. Functional abdominal bloating and gut microbiota: An update. Microorganisms. 2024;12(10):1669. doi:10.3390/microorganisms12101669 PMC11357468
-
Hiatal hernia: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Updated 2022. Available at: Mayo Clinic Hiatal Hernia
-
Chen S, et al. Esophageal microbial dysbiosis impairs mucosal barrier integrity via toll-like receptor 2 pathway in patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. J Transl Med. 2024;22:1145.
-
Bonavina L, et al. The association between gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia: pathophysiology and surgical perspectives. Ann Laparosc Endosc Surg. 2021;6:35.
-
Okereke C. Associations of the microbiome and esophageal disease. J Thorac Dis. 2025;17(2):29591.
guthealth #acidreflux #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is inte
You've probably heard of Hiatal Hernia and acid reflux. A brand new study reveals the true culprit underlying these conditions, in many cases, to be your gut bacteria.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
In this video I'll reveal the 5 ways that SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) can directly lead to Hiatal Hernia and reflux, plus what you can do about it.
The 5 ways discovered in the research reveal effects that span mechanical, neurological and inflammatory.
-
Excess gas production leads to increased intra-abdominal pressure.
SIBO organisms overproduce hydrogen, methane and hydrogen sulfide gases which raises pressure within your abdoman, mechanically pushing your stomach upwards. The result? Hiatal hernia and acid reflux. -
Impaired motility via vagus nerve dysfunction.
Bacterial overgrowth alters vagus nerve signaling, or functioning. The emptying of your stomach slows, food and gas lingers, organisms mltiply and the result is reflux and increased pressure cuasing hiatal hernia. -
Diaphragm compression from bloating.
A distended abdomen places pward stress on the diaphragm which over time weakens the hiatal opening structure. -
chronic inflammation weakens structures (ligaments).
IBO increases endotoxins and cytokines (inflammatory chemicals) within you gut. these can degrade connective tissue, particularly a ligament (phrenoesophageal ligament) that anchors the diaphragm to the esophagus. -
Gut-Brain Axis and Hypersensitivity.
SIBO alters serotonin and inflammation within the gut's nervous system (enteric nervous system). This heightens esophagueal sensitivity and reflux symptoms even without excess reflux.
Solutions:
1. Lower the intra-abdominal pressure.
You have to stop feeding the bad bacteria through a low FODMAP diet, identifying food sensitivities, eliminating or vastly decreasing simple carbohydrates, ultra-processed foods, sugar, and alcohol. Also eliminar sugar alcohols like sorbitol and xylitol that feed the gas producers.
Antimicrobial support through working with a clinician.
-
Restore motility.
Ginger, iberogast, meal spacing of 4 to 5 hours and stress reduction can assist. -
Relieve diaphragm pressure.
Address constipation - magnesium citrate can help. Also decrease visceral fat and utilize exercises to strenghten the diaphragm. -
Reduce inflammation.
An anti-inflammatory diet (omega 3s, polyphenols), real food (Mediterranean diet), avoiding ultra-processed foods, sugar, alcohol and simple carbs.
Supplements such as aloe, DGL, glutamine and zinc carnosine
Collagen and vitamin C to strenghten connective tissue. -
Support gut-brain axis
Stress mangement - prioritize sleep, exercise and breathing techniques.
Microbiome support - a lab test can identify how to best address this.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
SIBO #hiatalhernia #acidreflux
References:
Neurovanna (Aug 29, 2025). 5 Mechanisms Linking SIBO to GERD and Sliding Hiatal Hernias. Neurovanna Health Blog. Link
Aziz I, et al. (2025). Functional abdominal bloating/distension and dysbiosis: central role of the gut–brain axis. World Journal of Gastroenterology.
Liu Y, et al. (2021). Gut dysbiosis in reflux disease: associations with belching, bloating, and symptom severity. Frontiers in Medicine.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with a
Burping is normal after meals but when it becomes persistent or excessive there's a problem.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Common causes include: "bad bugs" in your gut (dysbiosis), diaphragm imbalance, slowed digestion, certain dietary habits and postural issues.
Let's delve into each one and what you can do about it.
1. Gastric (stomach) distention from slow stomach emptying, which allows hostile organisms to reproduce both in the stomach itself plus further down in the intestines. The result is dysbiosis and/or SIBO. These organisms produce gas and results in burping.
-
Supragastric belching where air is sucked into and expelled from your esophagus. This is more common in those suffering with acid reflux and hiatal hernia. A test called manometry shows that hiatal hernia disrupts the barrier at the junction of the stomach and esophagus and that disruption correlates with reflux and supragastric belching.
-
Hiatal hernia mechanically predisposes to burping because when the stomach pushes up above your diaphragm is wekanes the function of the anti-reflux barrier (composed of the esophagus lower sphincter, diaphragm (crura), plus the esophagus/stomach junction. Breaching of this diaphragm allows for air to escape more easily.
Gas reflux and acid reflux both are more likely, along with regurgitation with a hiatal hernia.
The increased intra-abdominal pressure known as a causative factor in hital hernia and acid reflux, which also causes gas (air) reflux (burping) is causes by bloating, constipation and obesity, to name a few conditions.
Fortunately there are several natural solutions to hand depending on what the root cause(s) are for you. I list some here:
1. Address dsbiosis and/or SIBO. I mention in the video that lab testing provides an exact profile, allowing treatment to be more efficacious.
2. Diaphragm normalization and breathing therapy. I describe breathing techniques such as box breathing and physiological sign in the video.
3. Posure and mechanical correction. I demonstrate the postural abnormalities that can not only increase intra-abdominal pressure, but restrict diaphragm motion and irritate the nerves traveling to the diaphragm and stomach in the video.
4. Diet - decreasing if not eliminating carbonated beverages, gum chewing, rapid eating and determining any food sensitivities (perhaps a low FODMAP diet if SIBO is present) are some common dietary habits that should be tackled.
As frustrating and annoying as persistent burping is, the good news is there's a root cause that can be identified and treated.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400 or click here: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
guthealth #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
References
-
Bredenoord AJ, et al. Physiologic and pathologic belching.
Gut. 2007;56(6):749–753. -
Kahrilas PJ, et al. Approaches to the diagnosis and grading of hiatal hernia. Neurogastroenterology & Motility. 2013;25(1):1–7.
-
Richter JE, et al. Presentation and Epidemiology of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. New England Journal of Medicine. 2018;379(6):548–557.
-
Bredenoord AJ, et al. Supragastric belching: prevalence and association with gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophageal hypomotility. Gut. 2004;53(11):1561–1565.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your h
Do you suffer with any of these symptoms:
pain in the upper right abdomen perhaps radiating into your right shoulder blade,
bloating,
belching,
gas,
fullness after even a small meal,
nausea or vomiting after a fatty meal,
having a bitter taste in your mouth,
chronic diarrhea,
fatigue,
constipation or,
headaches?
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
These symptoms can indicate gallbladder dysfunction or poor bile flow, whether you still have a gallbladder or not. Your liver manufactures bile, the gallbladder is a storage unit, therefore even if you've had it removed, you still are producing bile.
Too often, however, the gallbladder is either ignored or surgically removed too soon.
Bile or gallblader dysfunction creates increased intra-abdominal pressure, systemic inflammation and increases your risk of stomach acid reflux as well as hiatal hernia.
Bile acts as a natural antimicrobial, controlling bacterial overgrowth and ensuring your microbiome remains balanced.
After gallbladder removal the bile trickles continuously into your small intestine rather than the proper "pulsing" action that occurs when a healthy gallbladder is online. This decreased amount is less potent and concentrated, resulting in impairment to the antimicrobial activity and leading to imbalanced microbes in your colon.
If you have gall stones or "sludge" your bile is thicker (stasis) and less effective, leading potentially to SIBO and dysbiosis.
Bile reflux up into your stomach and esophagus is also more likely to occur with a malfunctioning gallbladder or post-surgery. Such reflux is often misdiagnosed as acid reflux, resulting in continued symptoms when it's incorrectly treated with a PPI antacid. Additionally the bile reflux damages the lining of the stomach and the esophagus, promoting inflammation, gastritis and esophagitis potentially.
With poor or decreased bile flow, there's also the risk of fat malabsorption causing deficiencies of fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and the fat remaining in the gut ferments there, further feeding bad bacteria.
Fortunately, much can be done to support bile motility and liver health, whether you've retained your gallbladder or not. I will give many suggestions below but please note that I am not prescribing anything for you but rather solely providing information. You need to find a clinician to work with who is very familiar with a natural approach to restoring gallbladder and bile health. Follow their direction.
Support gallbladder motility - magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids
Support bile quality - taurine, glycine, PTC, bitters, digestive enzymes with bile salts, ox bile (under supervision)
Promote healthy flora - fiber, probiotics
Address SIBO if present
Bind toxic bile acids - soluble fiber
Mucosal repair - glutamine, zinc, DGL, melatonin
Address environmental toxins
Support liver - milk thistle, curcumin
Reduce dietary triggers - ultra-processed food, sugar, alcohol, bad fats, stabilize blood sugar
Monitor levels of fat-soluble vitamins
Reduce visceral fat
I know this is a lot of information but it isn't difficult if you have assistance to direct you to what is most needed for your situation.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References:
Huang Y, et al. Frontiers in Medicine. 2024. “Cholelithiasis and cholecystectomy increase the risk of GERD and Barrett’s esophagus: meta-analysis and Mendelian randomization.”
Frontiers
Qian J, et al. Int J Surg. 2024. “Associations of cholecystectomy with the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a M
Studies reveal that those suffering with acid reflux or hiatal hernia have a significantly higher risk of anxiety than those without reflux.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
How much higher? 4.5x!!!
Younger individuals age 18 to 40 had double the risk of suffering with anxiety.
Why is this?
It involves the diaphragm, vagus nerve plus overall gut health.
The diaphragm is a structural anchor or tether, for the stomach and the esophagus. The esophagus passes through the opening (hiatus) in the diphragm and the vagus nerve travels the same route through the opening.
When the diaphragm weakens or spasms, it can create a hiatal hernia.
The vagus nerve becomes irritated when a hiatal hernia, reflux or diaphragm tension exists. The resulting symptoms can be heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest tightness and/or dizziness. Even one of these symptoms can cause anxiety, let alone more than one.
[Note: we are assuming that any heart or breathing symptoms have been checked out by your doctor and you are found to be free of heart disease or lung disease.]
A vicious cycle gets started where the reflux causes diaphragm dysfunction (spasm) which can cuase a degree of hyperventilation and then anxiety. The resultant anxiety then irritates the vagus more leading to a cycle of increased reflux, diaphragm dysfunction and continued anxiety.
The good news is that there are natural solutions.
I review how to do a manual diaphragm release in the video to reduce vagal irritation.
I also review how to perform a physiological sigh and a specific humming technique which assists in restoring vagal tone and balance to the nervous system.
The next step is to delve into what is triggering the inflammation and increased pressure within your abdomen. There are a variety of root causes creating this including: nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, microbiome imbalance, infections and toxicity. Hormonal imbalance can also play a role.
For this you may need the assistance of a professional but if this isn't possible I do give tips and suggestions in a variety of my videos. [I've run out of room in this description to add any more data!.]
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
guthealth #hiatalhernia #acidreflux
References:
Howe & Dwyer (2007): Diaphragmatic breathing lowered situational anxiety in students. Link
Chen et al. (2017): RCT showed 8 weeks of diaphragmatic breathing reduced anxiety scores and stress markers. PubMed
Ma et al. (2017): Systematic review found diaphragmatic breathing improves cortisol, blood pressure & stress response. PubMed
Zaccaro et al. (2018): Breathing practice reduced negative affect and cortisol, improved attention. PubMed
Rashidi et al. (2021): In T2DM patients, diaphragmatic breathing lowered anxiety, depression, and improved outcomes. PubMed
Jindal et al. (2024): Controlled breathing reduced both anxiety and pain in chronic pain patients. Springer
Zhou et al. (2025): Mendelian randomization study found mood swings, depression, and tension increase risk for hiatal hernia. PMC
Choung et al. (2012): Anxiety levels were higher in GERD patients without hiatal hernia, suggesting complex emotional interplay. PubMed
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options
The symptoms we're looking at are: acid reflux, nausea, abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea and erratic digestion. Additionally, feeling dizzy, light-headed or feeling faint.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Your vagus nerve is like a superhighway connecting your brain to your stomach and intestines, not to mention your heart and diaphragm.
The vagus nerve controls sphincters or valves throughout your gut and body.
In your esophagus you have 2 sphincters and when functioning normally they remain closed until they detect food or drink coming their way and then they open, only to close again once that has passed. Once closed, they also maintain a pressure downwards to prevent any food or stomach contents/acid from moving upwards, such as acid reflux.
When the vagus nerve is out of balance it is typically underactive and the valves are too loose. The resulting symptoms include gastroparesis, chronic reflux, nausea and upper abdominal discomfort.
In this video I discuss what happens with an overactive vagus nerve where the rest and digest system (parasympathetic nervous system) is too dominant. In this case the valves can open too often or too early resulting in rapid gastric (stomach) emptying (dumping syndrome), bloating, cramping, diarrhea and erratic digestion from too much bile and/or pancreatic enzymes.
The cuases of overactive vagal stimulation include:
1. Hiatal hernia which stretches or compresses the vagus nerve.
2. Abdominal distention due to overeating or chronic bloating
3. Post-surgical changes - hiatal hernia surgery, as an example, is known to alter the vagus nerve pathway and create erratic firing.
4. Excess parasympathetic dominance from adrenal fatigue and low cortisol levels.
5. Neuroinflammation from chronic infections, mold toxicity or autoimmune activity.
6. High gastrin (a hormone that stimulates your stomach to produce acid) levels due to stopping PPI drugs - called PPI rebound.
7. Stress causing a vasovagal reaction of feeling light-headed, nausea or fainting.
You need to find a clinician who can help you assess which of these factors could be influencing how you're feeling. In a nutshell it's hiatal hernia, H. pylori, stress hormones, gut inflammation.
It's typically a natural solution; just find a clinician who is well versed on how to treat all of the above.
Home Tips
There are several things you can do on your own to balance the vagus.
1. Box breathing
2. Physiological sigh - I demonstrate this on the video
3. Humming - there's a specific way to do this correctly which I demonstrate.
4. Cold exposure
Testing
HRV - a home device can do this
gastric emptying studies - through a gastroenterologist
esophageal manometry - through a gastroenterologist
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
References
Travagli RA & Anselmi L. Vagal neurocircuitry and its influence on gastric motility. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2016 【PubMed PMID: 26827968】
Mittal RK et al. Neuroregulation of the lower esophageal sphincter. Am J Physiol. 1995 【PubMed PMID: 10718459】
Browning KN & Travagli RA. Central nervous system control of gastrointestinal motility and secretion and modulation of gastrointestinal functions. Compr Physiol. 2014 【PubMed PMID: 24692155】
vagusnerve #hiatalhernia #guthealth
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may ha
Millions of people are on acid-blocking medications (PPIs) yet they still suffer with reflux, anusea, and even anxiety. Is this you? Research shows that 40% of patients with GERD continue to suffer symptoms despite taking a PPI.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
What if you problem isn't excess acid at all?
Reflux can be driven by nervous system dysfunction, making you feel reflux and burning symptoms even when acid isn't elevated. You could be taking medications with dangerous side effects when that's not even the problem.
Let's look at nerve dysfunction and how it can be creating these symptoms.
Your vagus nerve travels the same route as your esophagus, passing through the opening in your diaphragm. If you have a hiatal hernia or a tense diaphragm (this can occur due to a variety of digestive imbalances) the result can be a compressed, stretched or irritated vagus.
An irritated vagus can result in a weak sphincter (valve) in your esophagus that allows acid reflux to occur, in addition to creating gastroparesis (your stomach contents move too slowly) causing reflux and increased abdominal pressure.
Additionally, an irritated vagus can cause heart palpitations, diziness, nausea and symptoms of anxiety - all issues common to many hiatal hernia and reflux sufferers.
When the nerves are irritated they become hypersensitized and you feel burning, nausea and chest pressure even when acid levels are normal! You're really experiencing the pain, it just isn't actually due to excess acid.
This is not something that's commonly understood.
Note that bile reflux should also be considered here as it's another reason for hypersensitized nerves.
The nerve irritation makes you more likely to suffer form anxiety and sleep disturbances as well, due to the gut-brain connection.
Solutions - fortunately they are natural and effective
Diaphragm relaxation and a diaphragmatic release. I discuss breathing techniques and demonstrate a diaphragmatic release in the video.
Vagus nerve rebalancing - there is a "sigh" and "hum" technique that I demonstrated in the video along with a mention of a vagus nerve stimulator that I can send you a discount code for. (I have no affiliation with the company).
Gut normalization/optimization is crucial here as well. The vagus nerve/gut connection is strong and it typically requires working with both to enjoy a successful outcome.
From the perspective of gut health a real food diet is imperative, so ditch the alcohol, sugar and ultra-processed foods. You'll want to discover if you have any food sensitivities along with getting your microbiome tested for imbalances of good and bad organisms which would include infections and toxins causing increased pressure and inflammation.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
Research
1. Sifrim D, 2004, Gut – found that up to 40% of GERD patients remain symptomatic on PPIs due to non-acid reflux & hypersensitivity.
-
Kessing BF et al, 2011, Gastroenterology – bile and weakly acidic reflux events cause symptoms despite PPI therapy.
-
Ronkainen J et al, 2006, Gastroenterology – population study linking GERD to higher prevalence of anxiety and sleep disturbance.
-
Tack J & Pandolfino JE, 2018, Gastroenterology – hypersensitivity and altered brain-gut interaction contribute significantly to reflux symptoms.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health pr
Many patient with burning, nausea or reflux are told it's all due to excess stomach acid, but that's not always true. In this video you'll learn the hidden resons reflux is often misdaignosed, and what to do if PPIs aren't helping you.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
When it isn't acid, it's bile, or a combination of the two. What's dangerous about it being missed is that bile can cause more dangerous damage to your esophagus and stomach then acid, including Barrett's esophagus and sometimes cancer.
The specific studies are listed below. What they found was that bile backflow (reflux) can damage the esophagus even with normal acid levels, which worsens when esophagu motility is impaired. I discuss solutions below.
In patients with silent reflux (LPR), elevated bile acids in the saliva is directly linked to worse symptoms (as compared to acid reflux) and esophageal inflammation.
Mixed reflux (acid and bile) causes more severe tissue then acid alone.
Bile reflux gastritis (in the stomach) sees traditional medications often failing due to severity of inflammation.
Clinica data shows bile reflux is frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed as GERD, and can lead to the progression of Barrett's esophagus or worse.
The best way to diagnose if you have bile reflux is a 24-hour impedance pH-monitor. I describe the procedure in the video.
The good news is that there are natural solutions that can reduce irritation, improve bile quality and flow, support sphincters (valves) and motility and break the vicious cycle of reflux-inflammation-loss of motility.
I review all the solutions and specific diet and supplement options in the video, but here's the summary:
- Address Underlying Triggers - uch as hiatal hernia, weak LES (lower esophageal sphincter), gallbladder dysfunction, and gastroparesis.
- Soothe and protect the mucosa (lining of the esophagus and stomach).
- Neutralize or bind bile acids.
- Optimize bile flow.
- Rebalance the microbiome
- Lifestyle and Nervous System support
You should tackle these with the help of a clinician who is an expert in this area to ensure you identify the root cause(s) of any bile reflux occurring.
If you continue suffering from what seems to be acid reflux this could be part of the problem. The solution isn't difficult.
The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
Resources:
Krzeminska-Malinowska I, et al. Evaluation of gastric emptying and gastric bile acid levels in dyspeptic patients after cholecystectomy. Hepatogastroenterology. 1995. PubMed
Kauer WK, et al. Esophageal peristaltic failure is more common in patients with duodeno-gastro-esophageal reflux than with acid reflux alone. Dig Dis Sci. 2004. DOI
Liu J, et al. Salivary bile acids in laryngopharyngeal reflux disease and their clinical significance. J Voice. 2021. PubMed
Saritas Yuksel E, et al. Mixed reflux (acid and bile) is more injurious to the esophageal mucosa than acid reflux alone. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2007. PMC
Bechi P, et al. Bile reflux gastritis and esophagitis: clinical and pathological features. Ann Surg. 1980. PubMed
Hofmann AF, et al. The role of duodenogastric reflux in gastric mucosal injury: histopathological findings. World J Gastroenterol. 2003. PubMed
Falk GW. Bile reflux: clinical manifestations and diagnostic considerations in gastroesophageal reflux disease. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009. PMC
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of y
If you have symptoms from hiatal hernia or acid reflux causing heart palpitations, anxiety, shortness of breath or more, understanding how to improve your vagus nerve function can really help these conditions.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
The vagus nerve is an incredibly complex cranial nerve traveling to your chest, lungs, diaphragm, heart, the entirety of your gut and most of your organs.
85% of your vagus is sensory, meaning that is "senses" what your organs are experiencing and reacts to it. That sense involves chemical and mechanical factors. Consider excess acid in your stomach or an overfull stomach as an example of each.
The vagus is considered to head up your parasympathetic nervous system which helps you to rest, digest, and relax. Key elements to improve the symptoms addressed above.
If you're experiencing anxiety, a panic attack or a rapid heart rate, I'm going to describe a tool that can create immediate calm and a lowered heart rate. This tool also improves your HRV (heart rate variabiity), a metric tied to longevity but one that decreases with age unless you keep it toned.
This exercise/tool could not be easier but can create powerful impacts. It's called a physiological sign and I demonstrate it in the video. Best to watch to see it in action. It involves a 2-part inhale with a looong exhale. The key is to completely empty out your lungs from air.
You an also perform an inhale with a long exhale any time and repeat this 10 to 20 times per day to keep this important neurological pathway toned. Get a full exhale.
Directing ourselves to gut health and the gut-brain connection now. 90% of serotonin is manufactured in your gut and we previously assumed that some of that serotonin traveled to your brain. It turns out the connection is less direct. Serotonin can't pass the blood-brain barrier.
How does it get there? You guessed it - your vagus nerve.
Here's the breakdown: First you need adequate tryptophan and a balanced gut microbiome which creates short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in order to make enough serotonin in your gut.
Serotonin in your gut improves gut motility, immune strength, and overall gut health. With adequate serotonin levels your vagus nerve sends an impulse to your brain and there, serotonin is released to help stabilize your mood. But without sufficient serotonin within the gut, you won't get the message successfully to the brain! The study supporting this is cited below.
Getting adequate tryptophan in your diet shouldn't be difficult; it's found in many foods including turkey, chicken, eggs, salmon, beef, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews and oata.
Having a balanced gut microbiome is definitely harder. One home tip is to consume 1 to 4 servings of fermented foods - no sugar please. This can include yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, etc. This data was supported by a study that I list below.
Probiotics can assist taken intermittently, but I prefer testing to help direct the proper combination of organisms for your particular microbiome. It's definitley not a one size fits all proposition.
You may need more professional assistance to test and treat your microbiome. We're here to help if you need it.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
vagusnerve #guthealth #hiatalhernia
Research
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11818468/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5859128/
https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2023/02/cyclic-sighing-can-help-breathe-away-anxiety.html
Ramirez JM. The integrative role of the sigh in psychology, physiology, pathology, and neuro
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
If you were to guess whether ultra-processed or unprocessed food caused you to gain 2 pounds in 2 weeks, you'd likely get the answer correct - Ultra-processed.
But why? And how is this useful to you and your health status?
Belly weight is dangerous because it infiltrates your organs and puts you at risk for diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, some cancers, Alzheimer's, autoimmune diseases, and more.
Getting a good handle on how to drop the belly fat (visceral fat) reduces your chances of getting acid reflux and hiatal hernia as well, a focus of this channel.
Let's dive into a couple of studies and look at what you should and should not eat.
The study published in Cell Metabolism in 2019 is entitled: "Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trail of Ad Libitum Food Intake".
In summary individuals were fed either an ultra-processed food diet for 2 week or an unprocessed diet for 2 weeks. Each group did both diets for 2 weeks.
While those in the ultra-processed group gained 2 pound in 2 weeks, the unprocessed group LOST 2 pounds in 2 weeks! The ultra-processed group ate more (each group was allowed to eat as much or as little as they liked at each meal), ate faster and ultimately consumed 500 calories per day, leading to the weight gain.
The group eating the unprocessed food felt more satisfied, ate slower and ultimately ate 500 calories less, losing 2 pounds. Each group participated in each diet, although the order they experienced it was different.
The ultra-processed food group was offered ingredients found in food industrially manufactured such as hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn sweeteners, emulsifiers and flavoring agents. The exact foods making up about 53 to 62% of the calories Americans consume.
Specifically they could eat potato chips, sugary drinks, processed meats, processed dairy like cream cheese, and french fries.
The unprocessed food group ate real unadulterated food: vegetables, fruit nut, whole grains (e.g. oatmeal for breakfast), legumes, milk, eggs, fish and meat.
It's the next study that I'm going to cite that really tells the tale of why. Published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2023, entitled "Evidence for protein leverage in a general population sample of chilldren and adolescents", was discussed the hypothesis called "protein leverage".
Protein leverage simply looks at the fact that the body requires a certain amount of protein and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals to optimally function. When the food (ultra-processed) is deficient in the needed basics, the reaction is too keep eating in an attempt o fulfill the necessary nutrient quota.
It makes sense! Your body is smart; it knows what it needs and it really explains why it's so easy to overeat ultra-processed food. It's not satisfying; it's not giving you the nutrients you need.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual resul
Let's review the 7 common conditions associated with it and then learn more about bile, why it's so important and how to treat your deficiency.
- You're deficient in fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E, K.
- Jaundice
- Constipation
- Fatty liver
- Bloat and gas, especially after a fatty meal
- Stool floats, it's light in color and greasy
- Gallstones are present
Why are you deficient?
1. You follow a very low fat diet. Your gallbladder doesn't get stimulated to produce bile, stasis develops which clogs your liver and ultimately sets you up for a fatty liver and decreased bile.
Solution: add some good fats into your diet - olive oil, avocado, nuts.
-
You have a fatty liver. This is mostly reversible so don't think you're stuck with it. But in its damaged state it won't make enough bile.
Solution: add bitter foods to your diet: arugula, artichoke, radicchio, dandelion greens. Depending on the severity of the fatty liver you can need the assistance of a savvy clinician who knows how to help reverse the condition naturally. We'd be happy to help you. -
Your gallbladder has been removed.
Solution: Discuss this with your doctor but taking ox bile or bile salts supplements can assist you to regain the benefits of bile despite the loss of your gallbladder. These supplements are best taken mid-meal (meal should contain some fat). If it causes diarrhea then reduce the dose or stop altogether. Again, best done under the advice of your doctor. -
You have a colon disease such as Crohn's or IBS/IBD.
Solution: Take steps with a clinician who has good success improving these diseases so that you can rebalance your bile flow when there's less inflammation present in your colon. -
You have dysbiosis - an imbalance of the bacteria in your colon. It's important to rebalance because it is the good bacteria in your colon that recycle 95% of bile. The remaining 5% is eliminated via your stool and with it comes the elimination of excess cholesterol.
Solution: Dysbiosis isn't hard to fix but it is truly critical in order to maintain good bile quantity. You may need the assistance of a clinician and lab testing to identify the exact imbalances to remedy.
Diet tip: lemon and apple cider vinegar before meals can stimulate bile flow, as can ginger and turmeric.
Remember to hydrate, move your body, get adequate dietary soluble fiber and protein.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
guthealth #gallbladder #rootcausemedicine
What are the possible causes of acid reflux? ➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Let's review:
1. too much acid
2. too little acid
3. a weak valve in your esophagus and/or diaphragm
4. your stomach contents move too slowly (gastroparesis)
5. increased intra-abdominal pressure
6. weak vagus nerve
7.chronic stress
8. poor diet, fatty diet, overeat
9. belly fat
Many of these causes are inter-related.
- Too much acid is a bit of a misnomer unless you are trying to get off a PPI (antacid). At that point your stomach can be producing too much acid as a result of the medication suppressing it for so long.
Generally it's not too much acid but pressure on your stomach that is forcing acid up into your esophagus.
Why?
The pressure can occur from constipation, SIBO, food sensitivities, belly fat and/or other gut imbalances (dysbiosis).
What to do?
Start with the basics: adequate soluble fiber, hydration, don't over eat, chew well and eat slowly, take a walk after meals, avoid some key foods: chocolate, coffee, carbonation, tomatoes, garlic, onion, spicy foods, fatty foods, and mint.
This is where I want to offer help, but it's fine to take some steps on your own to see how you improve. We are always here for you!
- too little acid. Is counterintuitive but read on. The stomach needs acid to keep the valve connecting your stomach to your esophagus closed. Too little acid - due to PPI drugs or aging, results in an open valve and heartburn.
What to do?
Review what follows with your doctor -don't try this is you suffer from an ulcer in your stomach or your esophagus.
If your symptoms are due to too little acid a trial of betaine hydrochloride can give you an idea if too little acid is the problem. You would take it just before a meal and see if your symptoms improve. [Note: I'm not giving this as advice to you because I'm not your doctor. This is for informational purposes only. Check with your doctor first.]
- The valve between your stomach and esophagus can get weakened from a weakened vagus nerve.
Test your vagus nerve by looking in the mirror, open your mouth and say "ah". Look for your uvula - the little piece of tissue that dangles down at the back of your throat. When you say "ah" does it move straight up or does it deviate to one side? If so, that's not normal.
Vagus rebalancing techniques involve humming, gargling and doing an "eye gaze". Look that one up online as I'm running out of room per YT's allowed characters.
- Gastroparesis - you feel like your food just "sits there" after eating.
Why? This can be a result of PPI drugs, a food sensitivity, blood sugar imbalances, infections in your gut (think SIBO), inflammation, low thyroid (hypothyroid), and not enough stomach acid.
What to do?
Home remedies are above. Dietarily, eating real whole foods and not overprocessed foods, avoiding sugar and alcohol can help blood sugar and lower the amount of foods you could be sensitive to.
Re: thyroid and infections in the gut, that's going to take a smart clinician who really knows how to diagnose and treat both, as appropriate.
Points 5 and 6 we've already discussed. There is another vagus nerve tip: a vagus nerve stimulator. I can provide a discount code for it if you're interested. We've been using it with patients for a long time with very good success.
-
Chronic stress - I go into this deeply in the video - scrub to that point and give a listen.
-
Poor diet - we've reviewed some good tips already.
-
Belly fat - this is the need to address weight, yes, but also the source of inflammation as that can "hold on" to belly fat more than even what you're eating. Here we look at toxin levels a
Recent studies from 5 different countries concur that PPIs, especially in those over the age of 45 and long-term users, are at an increased risk of dementia.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
These were mostly cohort studies in the following countries: US, UK, Denmark, Germany, and Korea.
In the Korean study they saw a 36% increased risk even in short-term users. Something I've heard from patients and those watching this channel.
The US study showed a 33% increased risk in adults over the age of 45 taking PPIs for 4.5 years. This was an observational study.
Denmark's study showed a 42% increase, while Germany saw 44% risk and the UK showed a 22% risk of all-cause dementia and a 43% risk of vascular dementia.
These were not randomized control studies, the gold standard in science, but they were certainly robust studies.
Even if we disregard this research, there are unassailable facts known about PPIs that do put you at risk for dementia.
The decreased acid compromises absorption of vitamin B12, magnesium, protein, plus causes microbiome disfunction.
Vitamin B12 when deficient leads to cognitive impairment, memory loss, mood changes, and elevated homocysteine, linked to Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.
Magnesium deficiency is linked to poor memory, depression and accelerated cognitive decline.
Gut microbiome disruption is linked to increased permeability of the brain and increased risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Finally, when protein digestion is impaired is can impact your memory and cognition.
My recommendations are to find a clinician who can get to the root cause of why you were put on the PPI and then slowly wean you off it once that root cause has been properly addressed.
Also it's critical to located a clinician comfortable with properly assessing an healing your microbiome.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
dementia #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen or heard in this video.
The views expressed are based on my clinical experience and current scientific understanding as of the date of publication. Individual results may vary.
How do you get rid of bad bacteria in your stomach?
Call 727-335-0400 for a consultation. Click here for help: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/locations/telemedicine/
First the summary:
1. Kill the bad bacteria
2. Starve the bad bacteria
3. Support the good bacteria
4. Promote motility within your gut
5. Reduce inflammation
6. Practice good oral hygiene
7. Address specific infections
Now the how-to:
You can kill bad bacteria with natural antimicrobials such as garlic (if you have acid reflux see if you tolerate garlic or not), mastic gum (particularly good to eliminate H. pylori infections), green tea extract and manuka honey. Get the best quality honey - a UMF of 10 plus or a MGO rating of 260 plus - the latter indicates the antibacterial strength. I have a video on manuka honey to explain these benefits further.
You starve the bad bacteria by dramatically decreasing the ingestion of refined carbohydrates and sugar. Why? Because the bad bacteria love to eat them and it helps them multiply.
Limit alcohol and ultra-processed foods - better yet, eliminate them.
Stop grazing - best to not eat for 4 hours between meals and follow a 12 to 14 hour fast overnight. This allows enough time for your body to "clean house" and rid you of some bad bacteria.
Support good bacteria by eating fermented foods, prebiotic-rich foods (onions, garlic, leek, asparagus) and soluble fiber (chia, psyllium, flax, cooked and cooled potatoes).
Promoting motility prevents the bacteria from stagnating and thereby multiplying. Try ginger tea, take a light walk after meals and learn diaphragmatic breathing (look at how to perform Box breating online).
Reducing inflammation yourself by taking curcumin, omega 3 fatty acids, aloe vera juice. More chronic inflammation may need the help of a clinician in the functional medicine space. We are here to help if you'd like.
Practice good oral hygiene - see your dentist and make sure you don't have gum disease. This can affect your gut health as well as your heart.
Address infections directly - this means testing to identify specific infections present that can be treated naturally but it's impossible to guess what they are specifically without testing.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
guthealth #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
Vitamin D is Dangerous - Yes? No? Actually it's yes and no.
It's dangerous when it gets to toxic levels
You take a synthetic form of vitamin D
You take vitamin D2
You're deficient in a very important mineral - Magnesium
Explaining the above further:
Toxic levels can elevate calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcemia), causing stomach upset, vomiting, weakness, arrhythmia of your heart, bone pain and kidney stones.
Is it something to worry about? Leading researchers in the field of vitamin D haven't seen it in their patients so concern can safely be cited as highly unusual.
The next concerns are definitely more common.
Synthetic forms of vitamin D (D2) are not very effective, so ultimately a waste of money. Look for Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol (means the same) on the label.
Terms such as "irradiated ergosteral" or "calciferol" means they're using the synthetic vitamin D2 form.
The "danger" really comes from not getting adequate, absorbable vitamin D3. 70% of Americans have inadequate levels of vitamin D3 and that percentage worsens with age.
Why is vitamin D3 so important? First it's good to know that it's actually a hormone, even though we call it a vitamin. It regulates the expression of over 900 genes in your body, turning them on and off as required.
Vitamin D is critical for the health of your immune system, bones, protects against MS, certain cancers and premature brain aging.
It definitely is worth the effort to get your vitamin D3 to healthy levels - over 50 ng/mL (that's how we measure it in the US). It's also important to take your D3 alongside vitamin K2 to ensure that calcium is depositied where you want it - into your bones, rather than your kidneys or blood vessels.
A daily dose is 2,000 to 4,000 IU but you should discuss it with your doctor while testing the levels in your blood fairly often.
But what if you ARE taking a supplement, getting some sunshine and your levels are still low? This could be due to deficient magnesium. Considering half the population is deficient, you're in very good company.
What does magnesium do? Many things but most pertinent you need it to convert vitamin D to its active form. If vitamin D isn't active it won't do any of the wonderful protective measures its designed for.
Magnesium is needed for DNA repair contributing to overall health, reduces risk of premature death from elevated blood pressure, protects against colorectal cancer and prevents calcium from building up in the blood and causing clots.
Magnesium is best found in green leafy vegetables, nuts, legumes and fish. A good supplement source is magnesium glycinate about 120 mg (this is not a recommendation, but rather a comment on an often utilized dose). The daily need of magnesium is about 350 mg/day.
Stress depletes magnesium.
Vitamin D3 is best found in fatty fish, egg yolks and liver.
Exercise improves the metabolism of vitamin D3.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
vitamind #magnesium #rootcausemedicine
What's the Best Home Treatment for Hiatal Hernia? Let's get into it.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
Avoid: onions, tomatoes, garlic, fatty foods, carbonation, chocolate, coffee and mint.
Eat smaller meals - don't over stuff yourself
Walk after meals - a light stroll for about 15 to 20 minutes
Wait 3 hours after you eat before lying down.
Learn box breathing - you can look this up online. The great thing about this technique is that it moves you from fight or flight to your parasympathetic nervous system - rest, digest, relax. You can use this technique before meals, when you feel anxious, short of breath, or have heart palpitations.
Intermitten Fast - but not longer than 12 to 14 hours. Why? After 14 or 15 hours fasting will put stress on your gallbladder, an organ that is frequently already stressed with hiatal hernia.
Support gut motility - you want to avoid constipation or treat it if it's present. Magnesium citrate, hydration and eating foods high in soluble fiber can help. [Note: I am not prescribing any supplements and I am not your doctor. Review this with your doctor first.]
Trial betaine hydrochloride - I say trial because this is definitely not for everyone. If you have a stomach ulcer or esophageal ulcer this is NOT for you. Review this with your doctor first. The reason for this trial is to see if your problem is too little stomach acid. This is frequent in those over 40 and can give similar symptoms of acid reflux, despite the problem being low acid. Same note here: [Note: I am not prescribing any supplements and I am not your doctor. Review this with your doctor first.]
In this video I teach a maneuver that can help reduce the spasming of your diaphragm and stomach and give you some relief. Go to the video to watch how this is performed.
This video is meant to give you some treatments that you can do from home but there are no guarantees that this is all you need to do to resolve your hiatal hernia.
What's missing?
Evaluation of your microbiome
Testing for food sensitivities
Evaluation of your liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and more depending on your health history.
Testing for toxins: mold, heavy metals, etc.
Assessing vagus nerve malfunction, muscle and nerve imbalance
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
hiatalhernia #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
The function of your thyroid can put you at risk for acid reflux and hiatal hernia.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
How?
First, a look at the statistics:
Low thyroid or hypothyroid is one of the most common hormonal disorders, especially in women and older adults. It is however, often underdiagnosed and therefore undertreated.
The risk for hypothyroid increases after age 40. Subclinical hypothyroid affects up to 15% of the population.
Thyroid hormones are critical for maintaining muscle contraction and nerve conductivity. When thyroid function is low, smooth muscle tone decreases, including the tone of the LES (lower esophageal sphincter or valve) and other GI sphincters.
This leads to reflux.
Slowed digestive motility is also an issue with hypothyroid. The low thyroid causes gastroparesis (slowed movement of food through the stomach) and slowed intestinal transit. This increases intra-abdominal pressure, worsening reflux and putting
strain on the sphincters.
Chronic bloating, constipation and straining are all symptoms associated with hypothyroid and they all result in increases intra-abdominal pressure. This increased pressure weakens the diaphragm hiatus (the opening through which the esophagus passes), contributing to hiatal hernia and a reduction of the integrity and function of the LES.
Other sphincters in the GI tract, including the pyloric sphincter (connecting the stomach to the small intestine) become sluggish leading to bloating and poor digestion.
Therefore it is extremely important to assess and treat, if necessary, a low thyroid. In the video I review some ideas of how to do so.
If you're suffering with these digestive issues or suspect low thyroid, we're happy to help. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
thyroid #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
Acid reflux and hiatal hernia both are extremely common.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
The main triggers are not well known. So let's start with the triggers, then move on to the solutions.
The Reasons Underlying Your Acid Reflux:
1. Weak LES (lower esophageal sphincter/valve)
2. Hiatal Hernia
3. Delayed stomach emptying
4. Low stomach acid - yes LOW!
5. Poor eating habits
6. Obesity, especially belly weight
7. Vagus nerve dysfunction
8. Stress - chronic
9. Microbiome imbalance
The 9 reasons share common underlying root causes which is good news, because what's good for one is also beneficial for others.
-
A weak LES can be causes by obesity, a hiatal hernia, increased intra-abdominal pressure, and certain trigger foods such as alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, mint and fatty foods.
-
A Hiatal Hernia is definitely a cause of reflux, but the good news is that addressing these 9 factors (or whichever of them applies to you) will also improve your hernia.
-
Delayed gastric emptying means the contents of your stomach are moving through too slowly. You'll feel overstuffed, bloated, gassy and uncomfortable. The causes include vagus nerve dysfunction, low stomach acid, microbiome imbalance, and chronic stress. Again, these are all treatable naturally.
-
Low stomach acid may sound surprising when you have acid reflux, but you can still have the symptoms of reflux with low acid levels. The causes include long-term use of PPIs, chronic stress and aging. I cannot prescribe for you nor do I intend to, but finding out if this is a problem for you is fairly easy with a trial of apple cider vinegar or hydrochloric acid capsules. Talk to your doctor about how best to try this and if it makes sense for you.
-
Poor eating habits is of course a huge culprit for Americans. We eat low fiber and high processed foods, bad oils and high sugar. Getting back to real food, balanced with protein, fruit, vegetables, fiber and healthy fats is not difficult to do and well worth your effort.
-
Obesity, especially around the mid-section creates a lot of pressure in the abdomen and is a main contributor to acid reflux and hiatal hernia. It takes some time of course to determine the best route to lose that weight, but everything mentioned above is a good start.
-
Vagus nerve dysfunction puts you in fight or flight mode and prevents the sphincters/valves of your gut from working properly. It can also trigger heart palpitations and anxiety. There are exercises to do for the vagus nerve which are very easy: eye gaze, humming, gargling that you can try. We also utilize a vagus nerve stimulator that I can give you information about to get a discount.
-
Chronic stress causes the vagus to not function optimally, which we just reviewed, but it also upsets the microbiome which we are about to discuss, in addition to offsetting hormone imbalance. The cause of the chronic stress must be identified and treated naturally, and may require a rebalancing of hormones.
-
Dysbiosis, or an imbalanced microbiome, is the cause of the increased intra-abdominal pressure but also inflammation and hormonal imbalance. It has far-ranging effects upon your health but isn't difficult to normalize once you've tested it and identified what precisely the imbalances are.
The treatment we utilize is natural, drug-free, and it works. But it's not a quick fix. It takes time. You just need some patience to identify which of these 9 causes that we just reviewed applies to you and find a clinician who is well versed in how to handle them.
If you'd like help we're here - the best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
What's the "no-acid" food causing your acid reflux?
Sugar.
I think you'll be surprised at all the ways this common ingredient is causing and aggravating not only acid reflux but hiatal hernia as well.
-
It increases intra-abdominal pressure. This pressure within your abdomen puts pressure on your stomach and diaphragm, weakens the LES (Lower esophageal sphincter) and increases your risk of acid reflux and hiatal hernia. Sugar leads to gas and bloat, and frequently is found in individuals with poor digestion or dysbiosis.
-
Feeds gas-producing bacteria. Sugar alters the microbiome, especially in the small intestine, contributing to SIBO. The "bad bugs" ferment sugar into gas causing bloat and gas.
-
Slows gastric (stomach) emptying. Sugar impairs your stomach's motility, especially paired with high fat foods. Food sits in your stomach longer, pressure increases, bad bacteria reproduce and reflux and hiatal hernia occurs.
-
Increases insulin and inflammation. Sugar spikes insulin which leads to systemic inflammation. Inflammation impairs sphincter (valve) function, delays tissue repair in the esophagus and causes hypersensitization of your nerve where you feel more burning or pain, even with mild reflux.
-
Weight gain and visceral fat. Sugar directly contributes to weight gain, especially in the abdomen. Increases belly fat raises pressure on the stomach and diaphragm making it an especially strong risk factor.
-
Triggers reflux-promoting foods. Sugary foods are often eaten with other reflux triggers including chocolate, caffeine, mint, and fatty foods.
In summary, sugar itself isn't acidic but it's a reflux amplifier.
Listen to the full video for my tips on how to reduce your sugar consumption without being miserable.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
sugar #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine #guthealth
If you have acid reflux or hiatal hernia you want to avoid this drink.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
What is it? Alcohol.
Why is it a problem?
-
Alcohol relaxes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) that prevents reflux from occurring up into your esophagus from your stomach. The sphincter to work needs to be toned; when it relaxes it allows the movement of stomach contents to back up into your esophagus - reflux. It also worsens or can contribute to a hiatal hernia.
-
Alcohol increases stomach acid production. If your stomach acid is creating irritation of your esophagus or stomach, increasing it can cause symptoms of burning and irritation, worsening your condition.
-
Delayed gastric (stomach) emptying. Alcohol causes your stomach to stay full longer which increases pressure within your stomach, increasing the likelihood of both reflux and hiatal hernia, especially after larger meals. Slowed gastric emptying also increases the risk for infections and the development of SIBO.
-
Irritates lining of your esophagus. Alcohol burns when you swallow it normally. Add that to an esophagus that is already inflamed and you'll worsen the irritation to the lining, increasing your risk of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer over time.
-
Aggravates nocturnal reflux - people tend to drink at night and eat their larger meal then as well. When you lie down to go to sleep you'll have an increased risk of reflux, interrupting your sleep.
-
Impairs healing - alcohol causes a chronic cycle of inflammation, a weakening of your immune system, decreased nutrient absorption and antioxidant interruption, all resulting in impaired healing.
Specific alcohols and their issues:
Red wine is acidic and high in histamines
Beer is carbonated, increasing bloat and pressure
Mixers are carbonated and sugary. [Watch my video on the problems with sugar and reflux.]
Cocktails with citrus - the acid of the citrus is an aggravant.
Tips:
Drink rarely
Avoid alcohol at least 3 hours before bed
Avoid carbonation and citrus
Stay upright after eating for a few hours
Avoid high fat with alcohol
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
alcohol, #acidreflux #hiatalhernia
There is certainly an enormous amount of discussion regarding GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic,, Semaglutide, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. And it's no wonder considering 70% of Americans are either overweight or obese.
To optimize gut health and avoid acid reflux and hiatal hernia, losing weight is a key component. It's not the only factor, but an important one.
GLP-1 drugs mimic the action of the hormone GLP-1 which is released into your small intestine from L cells in response to eating.
GLP-1 slows gastric emptying and therefore promotes satiety. It also stimulates insulin release and decreases fat accumulation in the liver. It supports gut barrier integrity (preventing leaky gut) and due to this modulates the immune system and inflammation.
Considering inflammation is at the root cause of most of the diseases we are trying to avoid such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, having adequate GLP-1 production is very foundational to optimal health. It decreases inflammation in your brain as well, decreasing neurodegenerative diseases.
Some of us are "under-responders" meaning that we naturally make less GLP-1 than desired. Such people, me included, suffer with cravings, easy weight gain and more.
It is the under-responder who might really do well to increase their GLP-1.
Can you do it naturally? To a degree, yes.
The following are some diet and lifestyle habits that will raise your GLP-1 naturally that are safe and beneficial to your overall health regardless.
1. Increase the soluble fiber in your diet. e.g. chia, flax, psyllium, beans, oats/oat bran, many fruits and vegetables.
2. Increase your polyphenols found in berries, olive oil and dark greens.
3. Use intermittent fasting - 12 to 14 hours, not beyond.
4. Exercise - movement and resistance training
5. Balance your gut microbiome - I know that's a big one and you'll have to work with a trained clinician to tailor a program to you. We are here to help you with that.
Now on to the problems with GLP-1 drugs:
1. The basic dose is too high for most people. I review in the video what I recommend.
2. Loss of appetite can result in skipping meals and not being mindful about getting healthy macronutrients into your diet.
3. Loss of muscle mass can occur if you don't include resistance training and eat enough to keep up your energy.
4. Constipation can occur. I review in the video some steps I took to counteract this.
5. Not focusing on the meal sizes that work to maintain your healthy weight, but instead eating very little, skipping meals, etc.
I tell my personal story with using Semaglutide in the video. Why I tried it and the results I saw.
Finally, my ultimate solution: Calocurb. A product I have no personal affiliation with, but one that I've been very impressed with.
It was researched for 14 years in New Zealand. It's a hops extract (gluten-free) which increases GLP-1 levels by 600%. For under-responders this is a game changer. It has been shown to reduce hunger by 30%, cravings by 40% and calorie intake by 12 to 18%.
It is NOT for people suffering with IBD.
If you are having trouble with weight and want sensible help while avoiding the very real dangers associated with these drugs, we're happy to help.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
glp1 #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Do you have a chronic cough that's driving you crazy? (not to mention those around you!)
Have you been treated for asthma, allergies or bronchitis but the medications don't seem to do any good?
Here are the reasons why!
- Acid, bile or pepsin (the main digestive enzyme in your stomach which breaks down proteins) from the stomach can reflux into the esophagus and even reach your larynx (voice box) or airways. This triggers a reflexive cough to clear the throat or lungs.
This mechanism is a description of silent reflux, LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux). With silent reflux you won't experience the classic heartburn symptoms traditionally associated with acid reflux.
-
Chronic irritation from reflux can sensitize the cough reflex leading to persistent coughing especially after meals or late at night. Hiatal hernia worsens reflux mechanics. The pressure of the hiatal hernia weakens the lower esophageal sphincter or valve (LES) causing more frequent reflux when lying down or bending forward.
-
Micro aspiration of acid or bile can occur, inhaling these fluids into the airway especially while sleeping. This causes irritation, inflammation and a chronic dry cough which is sometimes misdiagnosed as asthma, post-nasal drip or even bronchitis.
-
There is finally the "catch-22" of coughing worsening acid reflux and hiatal hernia, while reflux and hiatal hernia cause coughing!
Strong coughing increases intra-abdominal pressure which worsens acid reflux and can enlarge a hiatal hernia.
The symptoms include: a dry hacking cough worse after eating or lying down.
No improvement with medications treating other conditions.
Having a hoarse throat, have to clear your throat often, and feeling a lump in your throat.
Symptoms can be worse at night or early in the morning after lying down.
You don't need to continue putting up with a chronic cough. We can help you to get to the root cause of why you're suffering.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
acidreflux #cough #rootcausemedicine
There's a strong causative link between constipation, acid reflux and hiatal hernia.
First, a look at the statistics:
Up to 20% of the population suffers, but this is highly under-reported due to so many people suffering who don't realize they are actually constipated.
Women are at double the risk of men.
The percentage goes up to 33% in older adults
The definition of constipation is less than 3 bowel movements per week, but the ideal definition of a normal bowel is 1 to 3 movements per DAY that are formed, easy to pass and fully evacuation occurs.
How does it link to reflux and hiatal hernia?
1. With constipation you strain which increases the pressure inside the abdomen, causing the stomach to get pushed up and thus resulting in hiatal hernia. The increased pressure also forces the contents of your stomach upwards, causing reflux to occur due to the pressure overwhelming the LES (lower esophageal sphincter).
-
Delayed gastric emptying (gastroparesis) occur with constipation because a backed-up colon slows digestion down upstream. Food staying in your stomach longer, pressure builds and acid moves up into your esophagus. Delayed gastric emptying also increases the risk of gas and bloating. Explained next...
-
Gas, bloating and fermentation. Constipation is accompanied by bloating and gas from the fermentation of undigested food in your gut. The gas, as we've reviewed, put pressure on the diaphragm and the stomach both, leading to acid reflux and hiatal hernia.
-
Gut-Brain-Vagus connection. Chronic constipation reflects a nervous system imbalance, especially to the vagus nerve. The vagus controls esophageal motility, LES tone and stomach emptying, plus more. With this imbalance, the risk of reflux and hiatal hernia rises.
Solutions for Constipation
There are several aspects of your health that should be investigated. There isn't a single reason YOU have constipation vs someone else. There are several potential factors and you need to discover what is true for you. We are happy to assist.
Here's what we evaluate:
Food sensitivities - dairy and gluten are common
Fiber - frequently deficient, start with soluble fiber like chia, flax and psyllium husks. They are gentler than insoluble fiber found in vegetables which can be a bit harsh if you're chronically constipated.
Magnesium citrate - a safe magnesium that stays in the colon
Hydration plus electrolytes - drink 1/2 your weight in ounces of water
Movement - exercise is very critical for gut motility
Dysbiosis - testing to discover if you have it can make a big difference in successful treatment
SIBO - test. I discuss more in the video
Thyroid - get a good comprehensive test and find out if you suffer from hypothyroid
Vagus nerve - I discuss more in the video
Constipation is detrimental to your health on many, many levels. Here we discuss reflux and hiatal hernia, but it also weakens your immune system and disrupts hormonal balance.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
constipation #acidreflux #hiatalhernia
If you've been considering Hiatal Hernia surgery I'm glad you're here.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
I am not typically a fan of the surgery but that doesn't mean I never think it should be done.
The majority of hiatal hernias are small and sliding, and much can be done conservatively to regain optimal functioning of your GI tract. If this is you, then this video, and in fact this channel is for you!
Large hiatal hernias and paraesophageal hiatal hernias are a different story where surgery is often the only option.
Today we're discussing a side effect of the surgery that is truly horrible and life altering and can affect up to 20% of those receiving the surgery. Predominantly those affected have undergone the Nissen Fundoplication, but considering that is the most popular surgery occurring, this would apply to most people undergoing the surgery.
The side effect is called Dumping Syndrome and it refers to the rapid emptying of the stomach contacts into the small intestine, causing a cascade of unpleasant symptoms.
When does it happen?
The LES (lower esophageal sphincter or valve) is tightened during surgery - this is commonly done
The stomach is repositioned or wrapped - this is exactly what the surgery is designed to do, so you can expect this to happen.
The pyloric sphincter (it connects your stomach to your small intestine) becomes dysfunctional and thereby cannot hold back food from the stomach adequately. The result is that the small intestine receives undigested food too quickly.
On this last point, it is important to realize that while the surgery is targeting the upper stomach and esophagus, it can unintentionally affect the lower stomach and pylorus due to a combination of nerve disruption, anatomical shifts (the stomach being moved around), and altered gastric motility.
Surgery is a major disruption to your body. Yes, it's sometimes very needed, but it doesn't come without risks.
What's the mechanism?
The stomach can lose its ability to properly stretch to accommodate food.
The surgery can damage or bypass branches of the vagus nerve which regulates the stomach's emptying speed.
Pyloric sphincter dysfunction that prevents the pyloric valve from being able to hold food back adequately resulting in the small intestine receiving undigested food too quickly.
What are the types of Dumping Syndrome? Early and Late
Early occurs within 15 to 30 minutes. Food should stay in the stomach for 2 to 4 hours. PLEASE NOTE: I misspoke this timing on the video. Apologies...
The symptoms of Early Dumping Syndrome include: nausea, cramping, bloating, diarrhea or urgent bowel movements, dizziness, faintness and rapid heartbeat.
Late occurs 1 to 3 hours after eating due to rebound hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which occurs after blood glucose is absorbed too quickly.
The symptoms of Late Dumping Syndrome include: weakness, sweating, feeling shaky, brain fog, and heart palpitations.
If you have acid reflux or hiatal hernia there is much that can be done for you conservatively. We'd be delighted to help, so that surgery can be avoided for most.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
hiatalhernia #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
If you have acid reflux or hiatal hernia, you may very well have gastroparesis, which means your stomach is digesting food much slower than it should.
Do you have acid reflux or a hiatal hernia, are you sometimes short of breath or anxious?
We're going to discuss the connection these symptoms can have to your low back and hip. An unlikely connection on the face of it, but highly important once you understand how the connection occurs.
We're talking about your psoas muscle (the "p" is silent - SO-as) which runs from your lower back to your thigh bone (femur). It's a hip flexor, so if you're sitting right now and you lift your thigh up to the ceiling, you're engaging your psoas muscle.
The diaphragm also attaches to the low back spine via fibers and these fibers (crura) are interwoven with the psoas fascia (a sheath that surrounds the muscle).
Tightness or weakness or dysfunction of one will affect the other.
A tight psoas is common and it creates a downward or rotational tension on the diaphragm which can distort the hiatus, or opening that the diaphragm passes though. This tension can contribute to widening of the hiatus, thus aggravating or creating a hiatal hernia.
A dysfunctional psoas is often associated with an exaggerated curve of the low back (duck butt) and poor core muscle support. These postural imbalance raise intra-abdominal pressure. Chronic slouching pushes abdominal contents upwards against the diaphragm and lower esophagus, potentially causing acid reflux and hiatal hernia.
A tight psoas restricts the descent of the diaphragm during inhalation resulting in chest breathing. Over time the tone of the diaphragm is reduced and its ability to restrict acid reflux from occurring is similarly compromised.
Finally, the psoas is tied to the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) and it contracts during stress. The tight psoas reinforces the sympathetic state which reduces digestive function.
Incredible how this one muscle can influence so much about digestion!
Treatment involves:
targeted stretching of the psoas
diaphragmatic breathing
postural correction involving the core and pelvic stability
nervous system regulation which involves the normalizing vagus nerve tone
This involvement, which can be quite instrumental in the success or failure of treatment, is why we actively include structural evaluation as part of our programs.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
acidreflux #hippain #rootcausemedicine
It can be frustrating to suffer with burning, nausea and what seems like acid reflux, only to be told you don't seem to have excess acid or you're given PPI medications that don't work for you.
Do you have any of the following symptoms?
Burning
Nausea, especially after fatty meals
Bitter taste in your mouth or the back of your throat
Nighttime reflux
Gastritis or esophagitis without a high acid level
If you do, you may be suffering from the effects of bile acids, not stomach acids.
Bile is made up primarily of bile salts which are highly alkaline and detergent-like, as they emulsify fats. They are very irritating and their enzymatic activity dissolves cell membranes when they are in a part of your body not designed for them, namely your stomach or esophagus.
When bile refluxes into your stomach it can cause gastritis, nausea and burning. When it refluxes into your esophagus it can worsen GERD or LPR (silent reflux), esophagitis or Barrett's esophagus.
Bile causes spasming and then weakening of the smooth muscle which makes up your sphincters, the valves that allow for proper movement of food and drink through your digestive tract.
When the LES is weakened, you'll get worsening reflux of acid and bile. When the pyloric sphincter (connecting your stomach to your small intestine) malfunctions, you'll get bile refluxing into the stomach.
Bile acids don't just weaken your sphincters, they also affect the nervous system in your gut (called the enteric nervous system), altering normal reflexes and sensitizing nerves. This means that your stomach and esophagus become hypersensitive to acid and bile. So you'll "feel" burning despite there being very little acid present (or bile).
It becomes a vicious cycle of motility and sphincter dysfunction: Bile acid inflammation slows motility and this worsens stasis, leading to bacterial overgrowth and more bile acid disruption.
Bile acids also impair the small intestine sphincter (ileocecal valve) and the anal sphincter, leading to bile diarrhea, so no sphincter is spared from the ill effects of bile acids.
If this sounds like you, we would be happy to assist. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
reflux #rootcausemedicine #hiatalhernia
Do you have a chronic cough that's driving you crazy? (not to mention those around you!)
Have you been treated for asthma, allergies or bronchitis but the medications don't seem to do any good?
Here are the reasons why!
- Acid, bile or pepsin (the main digestive enzyme in your stomach which breaks down proteins) from the stomach can reflux into the esophagus and even reach your larynx (voice box) or airways. This triggers a reflexive cough to clear the throat or lungs.
This mechanism is a description of silent reflux, LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux). With silent reflux you won't experience the classic heartburn symptoms traditionally associated with acid reflux.
-
Chronic irritation from reflux can sensitize the cough reflex leading to persistent coughing especially after meals or late at night. Hiatal hernia worsens reflux mechanics. The pressure of the hiatal hernia weakens the lower esophageal sphincter or valve (LES) causing more frequent reflux when lying down or bending forward.
-
Micro aspiration of acid or bile can occur, inhaling these fluids into the airway especially while sleeping. This causes irritation, inflammation and a chronic dry cough which is sometimes misdiagnosed as asthma, post-nasal drip or even bronchitis.
-
There is finally the "catch-22" of coughing worsening acid reflux and hiatal hernia, while reflux and hiatal hernia cause coughing!
Strong coughing increases intra-abdominal pressure which worsens acid reflux and can enlarge a hiatal hernia.
The symptoms include: a dry hacking cough worse after eating or lying down.
No improvement with medications treating other conditions.
Having a hoarse throat, have to clear your throat often, and feeling a lump in your throat.
Symptoms can be worse at night or early in the morning after lying down.
You don't need to continue putting up with a chronic cough. We can help you to get to the root cause of why you're suffering.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
acidreflux #cough #rootcausemedicine
If you're contemplating surgery for your hiatal hernia, or you've already had one and are unhappy with the results, I think you'll find this information very enlightening.
➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Call us directly: 727-335-0400
First let's review the size of the normal esophagus and how much the opening expands with a small to medium hiatal hernia. The end of your esophagus is just under 1 inch (0.98). Where the stomach joins with the esophagus the diameter increases 4/10 to 8/10 of an inch. Thus, a small hiatal hernia has widened the opening from just under 1 inch to 1.3 to 1.7 inches. I think it's a good perspective to have because I've met many patients who assume there's a gaping hole in their diaphragm.
Your body has an anti-reflux barrier designed to prevent reflux from occurring. There are 3 components to this barrier, making it very obvious that your body considers it to be very important to prevent reflux.
The 3 parts are:
1. LES - lower esophageal sphincter - a valve in your lower esophagus to prevent reflux
2. Crural diaphragm - a ring of muscle also acting as a sphincter or valve that's located at the opening of your diaphragm where you esophagus passes through that acts to also prevent reflux.
3. Lastly there's the phrenoesophageal ligament - which acts as a sling, holding the esophagus to the diaphragm on the underside, again designed to prevent reflux.
I did a little research into how the anti-reflux barrier can bounce back from having stress put upon it. I did this because clinically with our patients we definitely see return of normal function, despite a supposed lack of evidence that these structures can return to normal on their own.
What I discovered is that there is some evidence to support that LES tone can partially improve with a small sliding hiatal hernia (95% of them are sliding). Additionally there is symptom improvement seen as relates to the crural diaphragm, with partial reversal seen on imaging.
This is exciting and supports what we see with our patients - Symptoms improve, function is restored.
Surgeries:
Nissen fundoplication - failure rate is 15 to 30% over 5 to 10 years
TIF - failure rate of 25 to 40% due to symptom recurrence.
Now the important question: WHY?
These are the factors that came up.
- improper repair - meaning the surgeon didn't perform well
- obesity - abdominal fat creates increased pressure upon the stomach and diaphragm.
- increased intra-abdominal pressure - this is one of the biggest components leading to hiatal hernia and its cause varies and typically is multi-factorial. But to resolve it is a natural treatment regimen, once we identify the root cause(s).
- silent reflux or LPR - missing LPR means that the reflux is primarily due to bile and pepsin, not stomach acid, so success of surgery will be poor.
- gastroparesis - the contents of the stomach move too slowly and that creates increased pressure, forcing the stomach upwards.
- esophageal dysfunction - this is primarily motility issues, with swallowing and movement into the stomach lagging.
How what can you do about it!
It is interesting to note that the six points mentioned above do tend to have a common root cause and it is what we evaluate our patients for her at Root Cause.
We look for the presence of the following and treat what is present.
1. Loss of vagus nerve tone
2 Posture abnormalities - spinal, diaphragm and core muscles
3. Nutritional deficiencies - particularly magnesium zinc, and vitamin B12, but not exclusively
3. Inflammation - this is a big area but can be evaluated for in blood, stool and symptomatically
4. Poor diet - a diet of "real" food is mandatory
5. Liver and gallbladder/bile flow - this needs to be normalized
6. Hypot
If you're a mouth breather, you could be creating an environment for acid reflux and hiatal hernia.
Mouth breathing, due to congestion or inflammation can contribute to a weakened diaphragm, altering its mechanics, increasing intra-abdominal pressure, and leading to poor posture.
Nasal breathing, or normal breathing, engages the diaphragm fully and rhythmically, helping to prevent acid reflux and hiatal hernia.
Chronic mouth breathing encourages shallow chest breathing using the upper chest and accessory muscles (the muscles in your neck and shoulders). This then leads to under use and weakening of the diaphragm over time, reducing its effectiveness and a clamp (known as a pinch-cock) on the esophagus where it passes through the diaphragm. This clamp or valve is necessary to prevent acid reflux from occurring.
Mouth breathers have inefficient core and brath coordination, which can impair abdominal pressure regulation, a key factor in preventing acid reflux and hiatal hernia. Due to this, abnormal pressure spikes can occur in the abdomen especially during coughing , lifting or straining, all putting stress on the hiatal (opening) area of the diaphragm.
Mouth breathing, posturally speaking, is often associated with a forward head posture and poor spinal alignment, leading to stress on the vagus and phrenic nerves (the phrenic travels to the diaphragm), thus affecting diaphragmatic function.
During sleep, mouth breathing can worsen sleep apnea or snoring, both of which involve repeated pressure surges into the chest and abdominal cavity. This can worsen acid reflux and a hiatal hernia.
The solution is to get to the root cause of why the mouth breathing is occurring. This can be do to a variety of factors including: food sensitivities, inflammation of the nose or sinuses (the cause needs to be identified. e.g. mold, SIBO, etc), sympathetic nervous system overdrive (vagus related), and more.
Mouth breathing can truly aggravate acid reflux and hiatal hernia, but getting to the root of it isn't difficult. If you struggle with it we'd be happy to see how best to resolve it.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
acidreflux #rootcausemedicine #hiatal hernia
Your body has a natural Anti-Reflux Barrier designed to prevent reflux from occurring – it's composed of 3 structures:
-
LES (lower esophageal sphincter)
-
Crural diaphragm – tendons from the lumbar spine that form a “crura” (like another sphincter) which surrounds the opening where the esophagus passes through the diaphragm and prevents reflux – it lies above the LES by just a small distance.
-
Phrenoesophageal ligament – anchors to the esophagus and the diaphragm both, and holds the lower esophagus and the GE (gastro-esophageal) junction in the abdomen. It prevents the GE junction from sliding upwards into the chest.
These 3 structures work together to maintain a high-pressure zone that prevents reflux. In other words, they’re exacting more pressure externally than the stomach exerts, thus keeping acid inside the stomach.
How does the pressure zone get compromised? It’s due to intra-abdominal pressure that overwhelms it.
Due to:
Constipation - ~20% of adults
Gas and bloating from: IBS, food sensitivities, SIBO – 40% based on 2025 study
Fatty liver or pancreatitis – 25% of adults have fatty liver
General inflammation – 35% of adults
Leaky gut – 80 to 90% of adults
Obesity – excess abdominal fat builds up intra-abdominal pressure – 74% are overweight and 43% are obese.
Discovery is that of those with acid reflux, 75 to 100% have a hiatal hernia.
This is a mechanical problem which is corrected with a comprehensive look at the underlying root cause:
Gut
Diaphragm
Vagus nerve
It's the analysis of what factors are affecting you that allows us to resolve this problem naturally. Hopefully resolving the problem completely and allowing you to wean or discontinue your PPI.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
acidreflux #leakygut #hiatalhernia
Are you taking a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) to address the symptoms of your acid reflux?
Please note that acid reflux does not occur due to excess acid, but rather pressure inappropriately placed upon your stomach, forcing the acid up your esophagus and thus the symptoms of reflux.
The decreased acid in your stomach creates problems for your liver, particularly leading to liver inflammation and non-alcoholic fatty liver.
The diminished acid levels allow bacteria to overgrow in your stomach and small intestine. These bacteria produce endotoxins that get into your bloodstream and travel to your liver (via the portal vein) and trigger liver inflammation, fat accumulation, and eventually fatty liver. Those who are at higher risk for this include people who are obese, have diabetes or are consuming higher than moderate levels of alcohol.
Another way the liver is affected is through bile. Bile is produced in the liver and housed in the gallbladder but there are actually two pools of bile. The primary is produced in the liver, but the secondary is formed by the gut bacteria. Of course when the gut bacteria are imbalance and more bad bacteria are present, such as the condition with a PPI, less secondary bile if formed.
This results in less effective fat digestion and a higher incidence of diarrhea or irritation which can damage colon cells, increase inflammation and causes increased colon cancer risk.
Due to fat malabsorption a person will not absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K.
In summary, taking a PPI puts you at risk of malabsorption of important vitamins, toxic bile production, diarrhea which can be mistaken for IBS, fatty liver, colon inflammation and increased colon cancer risk.
And this is just one of the more than 10 risks associated with taking PPIs.
If you are on a PPI and would like to get to the root cause of your acid reflux and not have to concern yourself with the many dangerous side effects of these drugs, we are here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
acidreflux #fattyliver #rootcausemedicine
If you have acid reflux but still suffer with symptoms despite using medication, you may suffer from bile reflux. You can have both acid reflux and bile reflux, or you can have bile reflux only. Let's delve into it.
Symptoms of bile reflux include many of the same symptoms of acid reflux. They include:
upper abdominal pain or burning
nausea after eating
cough or sore throat if the bile reaches the upper esophagus
vomiting (may be yellow-green if it contains bile)
unresponsive to PPIs - this medication only decreases acid, not bile
Complications of bile reflux are also similar to acid reflux:
gastritis
Barrett's esophagus
increased risk of stomach and esophageal cancer
What's important to know about bile is that it's highly alkaline, on the opposite spectrum of the pH scale from stomach acid. However, it's like a detergent and when it's present in parts of the body where it shouldn't be, it breaks down cell membranes and mucus membranes, making it highly inflammatory and destructive. Hence its ability to cause the complications just reviewed.
Bile is produced in your liver, stored in your gallbladder and it is secreted into the upper small intestine. Those are its normal destinations. If bile enters the stomach, esophagus or throat however, it's going to cause major damage.
Causes of bile reflux include:
Gallbladder surgery
Weakened sphincter between the stomach and small intestine (duodenum) - this is due to ulcers, inflammation and/or vagus nerve irritation
Gastroparesis - slow stomach emptying. There are many causes for this such as: type 1 diabetes, vagus nerve malfunction, hiatal hernia surgery, gallbladder surgery, low thyroid, autoimmune disease, depression, anxiety, chronic reflux, chronic PPI use and SIBO.
Addressing bile reflux is extremely important because of its caustic damaging nature, its frequency of misdiagnosis as acid reflux, plus the danger of utilizing treatments that don't work.
In order to address the root cause one needs to optimize gut health, normalize inflammation, rebalance vagus nerve function, engage in a healthy diet and balance hormone function. Of course the root causes may vary individual to individual and you may require one or two of the above mentioned factors, but not the others. That is why all our programs are customized to each person. We'll identify what needs to be done for you.
If you've been suffering with these symptoms and want to resolve them rather than band-aiding them with drugs, we'd be happy to help. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
bile #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
Send us a text
I'm frequently asked if H2 blockers are safer than PPIs.
Let's take a look.
To review the dangers of PPIs first, they are associated with the following:
Nutrient deficiencies
Gut microbiome disruption
Infections
Depression and Anxiety
Loss of libido
Kidney problems
Osteoporosis
Stroke, heart attack risk
Stomach cancer, and more...
H2 blocks work by this mechanism: They block histamine-induced acid secretion in your stomach. Histamine triggers your stomach cells (parietal cells) to release acid by activating H2 receptors. These drugs block that mechanism.
H2 blockers are less potent than PPIs and are best for mild to moderate reflux or nighttime symptoms. Overall they are used to accomplish moderate acid reduction.
The acts faster than PPIs (within 1 hour) but lasts for a shorter period of time (6 to 12 hours vs 24 hours with a PPI).
Side effects are: headaches, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches and confusion in the elderly.
Long-term side effects include:
Vitamin B12 deficiency (same as a PPI)
Increased risk of infections, though less severe than with a PPI
Kidney and mood changes are considered rare
Microbiome disruption - all less than with a PPI
Another factor is that tolerance builds over time with H2 blockers reducing their effectiveness.
As you can see, there are still dangers, and for those with more severe reflux, H2 blockers won't provide the relief needed.
The best goal is to identify the root cause of the reflux and thereby be able to wean off the medication. The side effects are too severe to be ignored.
If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
acidreflux #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Send us a text
Macadamia nuts can help you have a healthier gut which everyone should be interested in, but they also improve mental clarity, stabilize your blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity and may help you lose weight.
Macadamia nuts and nuts in general help act as a prebiotic, feeding particular bacteria in your gut, helping to keep nice diversification of your microbiome.
They help in mental clarity because they are high in omega-3 fatty acids while being low in omega-6s. Eating more monounsaturated fats (like macadamia nuts) is associated less cognitive decline.
If you're someone who's digestive tract gets upset eating nuts you may find no trouble with macadamia nuts for this reason: macadamia nuts are low in phytic acid which is the substance nuts use to protect themselves from predators but this same substance can cause gut upset. Due to the very thick, hard shell on macadamia nuts, they have no phytic acid, making digestibility high.
Macadamia nuts are also very high in fiber, another helpful benefit for your gut.
Surprisingly, nuts can be potentially less caloric because when we chew them we're only breaking down the first layer of cell wall, resulting in diminished overall absorption of the fat in the nut.
A mice study in the Journal Mediators of Inflammation showed a very interesting correlation with macadamia nuts and weight loss. This was in mice remember, but it's promising. The study had group fed a high fat diet and a control diet. The high fat group showed increased inflammation and enlargement of their fat cells, as compared to the control group. But when they switched the high fat group to macadamia nut oil, all their inflammation reversed and their fat cells shrunk.
Blood sugar is controlled better and insulin sensitivity rises with a diet higher in monounsaturated fatty acids as well.
Dose: about 1/4 cup or 1 ounce of nuts.
Thomas DeLauer goes into great depth about all the studies associated with these benefits if you want a deeper dive.
If you are ready to get healthier and want some assistance we're here for you. Call us for a consultation: 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
If you suffer from acid reflux or have a hiatal hernia, you've likely been tested for H. pylori (Helicobacter Pylori), a bacteria found in the stomach which is the number one cause of stomach and duodenal (top part of your small intestine) ulcers.
The most common way to test for it is during an endoscopy, although stool testing can be done as well.
The symptoms of H. pylori are a bit vague and can mimic acid reflux, making it often missed. Unfortunately a chronic infection has a lot of dangers associated with it so you want to test for it accurately.
Symptoms include: bloating, discomfort in the upper abdomen, nausea, early satiety (meaning you feel full quickly), and acid reflux symptoms. If you have a hiatal hernia these symptoms are very familiar to you, hence the need to make the distinction. You can certainly suffer from all 3: a hiatal hernia, reflux AND an H. pylori infection, but we can't miss the infection.
H. pylori creates many of the same side effects associated with PPIs. Due to its effect upon the acid producing cells in your stomach you can malabsorp important nutrients including magnesium, folate, vitamin B12 and iron.
I decided to film this video because I've been asked several time why testing doesn't agree. An endoscopy won't show the infection, but a stool test will. Of course that leaves one wondering which test is correct.
Let's look at the two tests and how they compare.
An endoscopy misses H. pylori 30 to 50% of the time.
Why? It's due to something called sampling bias. The biopsy is taken from certain parts of the stomach only (the antrum and body - which is the lower stomach and main "body"). The problem with this is 2-fold. There are other parts of the stomach not addressed: the cardia, fundus and pylorus.
Plus, H pylori can colonize in a patchy distribution meaning you can be in the right area but still miss it. It's especially difficult if the patients uses PPIs (that's a big one considering their widespread use), has stomach cancer or atrophic gastritis. The latter can be caused from autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Type 1 diabetes. Atrophic gastritis increases your risk of stomach cancer.
Endoscopic biopsy is very susceptible to false negatives (you have the infection and it fails to detect it) with patients who have taken a PPI, antibiotic, or bismuth during the past 2 to 4 weeks!
Let's move on to stool testing. Note: All stool testing is NOT created equal. Therefore, please ensure that any stool test your doctor orders for you covers all the points I'm about to discuss. Typically they do not through a conventional medicine doctor, but double check.
- A benefit of stool testing is that it captures H pylori shed from the entire stomach lining.
- The right test will utilize PCR DNA testing that is able to detect H. pylori with a high sensitivity and specificity, even at low levels. This is exactly what you want.
- Stool testing is not affected by the use of PPIs, antibiotics or bismuth (think Pepto-bismol).
- DNA testing can detect genetic material of the bacteria from live and recently dead organisms. Again, a more sensitive detection.
- The "right" testing detects antibiotic resistance genes. e.g. Clarithromycin and other medications commonly used to treat the infection. If you particular H. pylori infection is resistant to the common drugs used to treat it, you won't successfully eradicate it. These tests prevent useless treatment from occurring.
- H. pylori is a known carcinogen. The "right" testing looks at virulence factors (genes). Most common is: cagA - linked to a higher cancer risk. chronic gastritis also puts you at higher risk for stomach cancer. And vacA, associated with ulcer formation.
Many think H. pylori is a
Send us a text
PPI medication is very commonly prescribed for acid reflux but it's important to know its various side effects, of which there are many.
Today I'll review the increased risk of infections, what types and the mechanisms involved.
Your stomach's acid is a key part of your body's natural defense system against pathogens, both bacteria and virus alike. When the acid level is decreased more pathogens survive and can reach your intestines and respiratory tract.
-
Clostridium difficile (C diff) - this is one of the most well documented infections associated with PPI use and its symptoms include severe diarrhea, colitis, and it can be life-threatening. While the risk is highest for the elderly and those in hospital, it's also a risk factor for those on a high-dose of PPIs or those who have taken the drug for more than 1 year.
-
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) - this occurs when bacteria overgrow in the small intestine which is supposed to be mostly sterile. Symptoms include bloating, bas, diarrhea and malabsorption.
-
Pneumonia - two types of involved: Bacterial and Chemical.
Chemical pneumonia results from aspirated acid into the lungs due to acid reflux. The acid causes inflammation of the lung tissue.
Bacterial pneumonia is a result of aspirating saliva or food that as inappropriately moved up the esophagus. With someone suffering from GERD this could occur while sleeping or lying down, or as a result of LPR which I describe in the video as well as previous videos on the topic. -
Food-borne Illnesses - food poisoning can result in Salmonella, Campylobacter or Listeria infections due to insufficient acid in the stomach.
Those at risk include:
PPI use for more than 1 year
High dose PPI use
Elderly
Those in hospital
Individuals taking antibiotics
The most important step you can take is to resolve the root cause of your acid reflux and get that treated so that we can wean you down and hopefully off the PPI completely. We have good success in this area.
If you take a PPI and would like to discover the underlying root cause of your acid reflux, we'd be delighted to help. The best next step is to call us for a consultation and we can then determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call us at 727-335-0400.
Please subscribe to the channel if you enjoy the content. It really helps others to see it.
ppi #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
Send us a text
If you have Hiatal Hernia Syndrome you may have been told you have a shortened esophagus. A shortened esophagus can put you at risk for, or worsen, a hiatal hernia.
I'm going to review why it happens and what you can do about it.
One cause is due to chronic reflux and the acid has damaged your esophagus to such an extent that it goes beyond inflammation of the esophageal tissues and becomes scar tissue (fibrosis). Scar tissue does not have the "elasticity" of healthy tissue and it also tightens and pulls. Therefore, this chronic situation can result in a shortened esophagus that is difficult to repair.
However, and here's the good news, there is another contributor to tightening and shortening that is reversible. We look to your vagus nerve that has several different functions that can all affect your esophageal length.
The vagus nerve is responsible for the smooth muscle of your esophagus to engage in peristalsis which is a wave-like motion that moves food and liquid down your esophagus.
The vagus nerve is also responsible for the tone of your LES (lower esophageal sphincter), which is basically a valve that resides below your diaphragm level near the base of the esophagus which allows food and liquid to pass through into the stomach, but it also closes to prevent anything from refluxing in the wrong direction.
LES tone is thought to be compromised in Hiatal Hernia and now you know a cause that you can do something about. Tips are coming!
Further there are longitudinal muscles that run vertically in your esophagus that temporarily shorten it through contractions when you're swallowing. This is of course transient, but it can become more chronic and result in excessive contraction, and thereby shortening, with dysfunctional vagal tone.
You can see there are several routes by which abnormal vagal tone can affect the length of your esophagus and put you at risk for developing or worsening a hiatal hernia.
Tips to normalize vagus nerve tone: (These are explained in depth in the video)
1. cold exposure
2. gargling, humming, singing
3. laughing
4. moderate intensity exercise
5. eye gazing
Lastly I mentioned a vagal nerve stimulator and a discount code we offer to patients. It's called Truvaga and if you're interested I can send you the link for the discount.
If you have chronic GERD and want to prevent irreversible shortening of your esophagus we'd be happy to help The best next step is to reach out for a consultation and we can then determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call us at 727-335-0400.
Please help more people have access to these videos by subscribing and liking the video.
I appreciate you!
GERD #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine
Send us a text
Patients often ask how they can tell between "legitimate" digestion issues and anxiety. They want to know if the cause of their symptoms is "just anxiety" or something else.
With Hiatal Hernia Syndrome common symptoms include acid reflux, heart palpitations, shortness of breath and anxiety. But too often, while the reflux can be confirmed, visits to specialists fail to find anything wrong with your heart or lungs, and then when the complaint of anxiety or panic attacks is added to the list of symptoms, you can be labeled a patient with "health anxiety", thus dismissing your symptoms. It is insinuated that, other than your reflux, your symptoms are likely "all due to stress", meaning it's "all in your head".
This is not only unfair to you it's inaccurate.
The truth is the Hiatal Hernia Syndrome does cause anxiety via 2 routes: the spasming of your diaphragm which causes your nervous system to secrete stress hormones because of the decreased oxygen, and because of irritation to your vagus nerve which can also cause anxiety.
It's a physical and neurological cause that is very real and the good news is, very treatable, naturally. The solution is to get to the root cause of what's creating your hiatal hernia, which isn't difficult to do.
Now what if anxiety is a symptom you have in isolation? Meaning you've been an "anxious" person for quite some time but don't have any of the other symptoms we've been discussing.
Here at Root Cause Medical we would evaluate the following 7 factors:
1. Diet - we know the standard American diet is full of chemicals and artificial ingredients that can cause anxiety, brain fog and mood swings, to name a few.
2. Food sensitivities - if you look at gluten, which is a common food sensitivity, it's interesting to note that it's neuroinflammatory and can most definitely cause anxiety. Realize that can be the main symptom, despite having little to no digestive complaints.
3. Genetics - SNPs ("snips") that you inherit from Mom and Dad can influence your ability to deal with stress and make you less able to clear stress chemicals, as an example. I tell my personal story in the video... But know that specific nutrition for specifics SNPs can calm the waters and no longer have you feeling anxious.
4. Toxins - we evaluate for many toxins, but as an example, mold toxins pass across the blood brain barrier and can cause brain inflammation and anxiety as a result.
5. Microbiome - we know that there is a strong gut-brain connection and that an imbalanced microbiome can be responsible for psychological symptoms such as anxiety.
6. Hormonal imbalance - it is well understood that hormonal imbalance can create the symptom of anxiety, along with others.
7. Lifestyle Basics - in this category we address such things as sleep hygiene, exercise, hydration and more.
I could write a book on the 7 topics above, but suffice to say that evaluation of the factors pertinent to you and your health history can be very impactful when getting to the root of anxiety.
Anti-anxiety medications are too freely used to "band-aid" symptoms while doing nothing to address the root cause. Their side effects also concern me as they include aggravating digestion with causing upset stomach, nausea, along with loss of libido, weight gain, emotional blunting (people say they feel like a robot and it's scary), and suicidal thoughts.
The good news is that much can be done to get to the root causes of why you may suffer anxiety, whether it's secondary to hiatal hernia or not.
If you've been suffering with anxiety, we'd love to help. You can reach out to us for a consultation and we'll let you know if we're a good fit for you. Call us at 727-335-0400. We're here to help.
Please subscribe to this channel if you enj
Send us a text
Many Americans suffer from gastrointestinal complaints including:
Gas, bloating, indigestion, SIBO, gastroparesis, constipation, diarrhea or IBS, to name a few.
These problems go beyond the discomfort associated with them, they are compromising your overall health in a major way. When you think of it, digestion allows you to feed your 10 trillion cells. Therefore when digestion is compromised it impacts your health across the board. It can't be overstated how important it is to optimize your gut function.
We're going to discuss a function of your body called the migrating motor complex (MMC) which is a "housekeeping" function of your gut which is a pattern of electromechanical activity that occurs in the stomach and small intestine while you're fasting.
It acts to clear your gut from residual food, secretions and bacteria and then prepare for your next meal.
It consists of 4 Phases:
Phase I is called Quiescence where no contractions are happening. This phase lasts 45 to 60 minutes.
Phase II is Irregular Contractions where intermittent and irregular contractions occur that are preparing your for Phase III. This phase lasts 30 to 45 minutes.
Phase III is the Housekeeper Wave and consists of regular, strong, peristaltic contractions that begin in your stomach or small intestine and move down through your intestines. It's the cleansing phase that sweeps debris and bacteria down the GI tract. This phase lasts 5 to 10 minutes.
Phase IV is the Transition phase where your body transitions back to Phase I.
Tips for Optimizing Your MMC
1. Don't eat between meals and allow a 3.5 to 4 hour window with no food.
2. At night fast for 12 to 14 hours and enjoy several cycles of the MMC occurring.
3. Consume adequate magnesium, vitamin B12 and zinc - nutrients Americans are frequently insufficient in.
NOTE: PPI drugs suppress your body's ability to absorb these nutrients, especially magnesium and vitamin B12. Therefore, even if you're consuming enough of these nutrients, if you're not absorbing them it's problematic.
What to avoid
1. High fat meals
2. Alcohol
3. Opioids
4. Certain antidepressant drugs suppress the MMC.
These are some tips to assist with your symptoms, but I'm definitely not stating that they are the sole cause. Therefore, give these a try and see how you do. Realize that if you are still struggling it simply means there are more root causes that need to be identified. That's why we're here.
If you need assistance to optimize your gut health, we're happy to assist. Call us for a consultation and we'll determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
rootcausemedicine #sibo #constipation
Send us a text
One of the dangers from taking PPIs for years is an increased risk for dementia.
What is the mechanism associated with this? We are going to look at 4 different mechanisms.
The first is the creation of a magnesium deficiency.
Magnesium is essential for producing neurotransmitters. GABA is such an example and with low GABA you can experience cognitive dysfunction along with anxiety and insomnia.
Magnesium is anti-inflammatory. If its low oxidative damage occurs to nerve tissue along with reduced blood flow to nerves. Oxidative damage is akin to rust on metal but in your body the damage is to your cells, DNA and tissues. It can lead to advanced aging, cancer, Alzheimer's and heart disease.
Magnesium also plays a role in electrical stability. When it's low nerves get overstimulated and can result in tremors, twitching and even seizures.
The next mechanism involves a vitamin B12 deficiency.
With low B12 methylation is impaired which causes neuroinflammation, increased risk of stroke and Alzheimer's disease.
Vitamin B12 insulates your nerves so when deficient is disrupts nerve signaling, critical for brain function.
Third involves nitric oxide production.
PPIs inhibit the conversion of nitrates in foods to nitrites and then on to nitric oxide (NO). The conversion requires an acidic pH which is which PPIs inhibit its production.
NO is a vasodilator, maintaining blood flow to the brain and preventing oxidative stress.
NO also plays a role in neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity (important for learning and memory) and neuroprotection (protecting you from dangerous neuroinflammation).
Finally PPIs cause microbiome disruption which leads to leaky gut. With a leaky gut inflammatory molecules can enter your bloodstream and cross to your brain causing neuroinflammation which leads to dementia.
More research needs to occur but the mechanisms are sound and it makes sense that longer exposure to PPIs can influence brain health.
If you would like help getting to the root cause of your reflux so that you don't have to continue a PPI, we're here to help. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation so that we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
Please subscribe to the channel if you enjoy the content and share with someone you know.
acidreflux #dementia #rootcausemedicine
Send us a text
A common question in the area of digestive health has to do with gas and bloating.
Why am I always bloated?
Why do I look pregnant after eating?
Gas and bloating is not only embarrassing but it can be confusing when you're trying to eat well. It's also pretty darn uncomfortable and can be quite painful.
What's important is to appreciate what it means, and that is your gut is not functioning normally, and over time that's going to create a variety of health issues that are serious but avoidable.
Why is it serious? Because your digestive tract is responsible for turning your food into fuel. Ultimately it's why we eat and gas and bloating is signaling that the conversion into utilizable fuel is not happening well. Ultimately that can create imbalances that will result in low energy, unstable mood, brain fog, pain and soreness, and later diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, autoimmune disease, cognitive decline and more.
It's not overstatement that without good gut health it's truly impossible to be healthy.
Let's start with some easy tips which you can try today and see how they help:
1. Breathe: practice box breathing before you begin eating (I describe how to do this in the video and why it works)
2. Chew: eating slowly and chewing completely prevents you from swallowing too much air that can result in gassiness.
3. Take a 15 minute walk after eating. The specifics are in the video.
If that doesn't work it's on to Plan B. It's still easy to fix, we just need to do a deeper dive to understand why your body is creating gas and bloat.
What we do here at Root Cause Medical is the following:
1. Rule out food sensitivities that your body isn't reacting to as fuel, but rather considers a toxin.
2. You have low hydrochloric acid of low pancreatic enzymes. A test can help us figure that out.
3. You have dysbiosis, meaning an imbalance of the bacteria in your colon and the "bad guys" are living off undigested carbohydrates and fermenting them, resulting in gas.
4 You have SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. I explain this further in the video.
5. You have a toxin burden which is affecting the immune system within your gut and causing inflammation and a leaky gut.
6. Your genetics predispose you to digestive imbalance - this can be fixed naturally, we just need to identify its presence.
7. Your vagus nerve is imbalanced and that is putting a lot of burden on your digestive tract.
It's a pretty long list but we'll be able to determine which of those 7 factors are more likely affecting you and then perform testing to get specifics.
It's important to not ignore gas or bloating and not rely on quick fixes like over the counter gas relievers. That will do nothing to identify the root cause.
If you're suffering with this the best next step is to reach out to us for a consultation. We can then determine if you're a good fit for what we do. Call us at 727-335-0400. We're here to help!
gas #bloatingsolutions #rootcausemedicine
Send us a text
I use the term "inflammation" often so let's discuss it more in depth. Inflammation is at the root of all the degenerative diseases we're trying to avoid including heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, cognitive decline, obesity and cancer.
But what is it? Inflammation is ongoing activation of the immune system either acutely (for a short time) or chronically (long term). The acute inflammation is the good protective kind that heals you up quickly after a cut or an infection. It's the chronic inflammation that is creating all the issues.
Chronic inflammation occurs due to a persistent trigger which your body cannot resolve and over time is causes tissue damage (like chronic reflux can damage your esophagus), dysfunction and disease.
The causes include:
Infections like sinus infections that recur, post-viral infections, and H. pylori (stomach infection), to give a few examples.
Toxins - such as heavy metal or mold
Poor diet - not eating real food, but rather having a heavy ultra-processed diet, high sugar, etc.
Obesity - abdominal fat secretes its own inflammatory chemicals called cytokines which is why obesity is the root cause of so many other diseases.
Dysbiosis - an imbalance of your microbiome. Gut bacteria cause a leaky gut and trigger an immune response either in the gut itself or systemically throughout your body.
Stress - disrupts your sympathetic nervous system and doesn't allow your immune system to repair.
Sleep disruption - poor sleep patterns overburden your immune system.
Some tips to lower your inflammatory profile include:
Breathing exercises - I like box breathing because it shifts your into a parasympathetic nervous pattern that benefits your immune system.
Exercise - it's important for your immune system's health to exercise regularly
Hydrate
Sleep as mentioned above
Clean diet - also mentioned above.
However, to enable your body to heal if chronic inflammation has been present requires a personalized program for many. In other words we need to discover what the exact diet and lifestyle is best for you, what does your microbiome require to become optimized, do you need a hormone rebalance, and how best to optimize sleep plus identify the presence of any toxins or infections present.
If you need help, we're here for you. The best step is to call us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
inflammation #microbiome #rootcausemedicine
Send us a text
There's a type of reflux which is atypical and "silent" because it doesn't create the typical symptoms of acid reflux. It's LRP - laryngopharyngeal reflux. Your larynx is your voice box, and your pharynx is your throat.
This condition is frequently misdiagnosed as allergies, infections (like chronic sinusitis), vocal strain, or even anxiety-related throat tension, when it's actually a form of acid reflux. And endoscopies are frequently normal so going through that test is no help in identifying this problem unless your concurrently have classic acid reflux.
It can be very frustrating living with these symptoms and your doctor missing the real cause.
The interesting question is how acid reflux can pass through your esophagus and not create classic symptoms. There are a few different thoughts on how this occurs. Firstly this type of reflux is brief and occurs when the individual is upright vs lying down as is so common with classic acid reflux.
The acid doesn't "pool" or reside in the esophagus for long, going right up past the sphincter (valve) situated at the top of the esophagus to create its symptoms. This valve is called the UES - upper esophageal sphincter.
Due to the acid moving past the esophagus into the voice box and throat, it's not surprising that the symptoms associated with LPR are as follows:
chronic cough
hoarseness
throat clearing
post nasal drip
lump in throat
difficulty swallowing
sore throat
The causes are considered to be:
A weak UES - upper esophageal sphincter. The vagus nerve irritation can cause this and we frequently discuss the interrelationship between hiatal hernia and vagus nerve tone being abnormal.
Increased intra-abdominal pressure - the cause I always discuss as the reason underlying hiatal hernia syndrome. The key is to identify the root cause of what's creating it.
Diet and lifestyle - the typical "bad guys" we discuss including sugar, refined carbohydrates, ultra-processed foods, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, stress, etc.
Vagus nerve irritation - it affects not just the sphincters, but how the stomach, diaphragm and heart function.
Gastroparesis - a slowing of the stomach to empty its contents into the small intestine. This can be caused by certain medications, infections, diabetes and more.
Smoking and excess Alcohol
LPR can later become class acid reflux, or as mentioned above, both can occur at the same time.
The Root Cause Medicine approach is to truly identify the root cause of why the reflux is occurring rather than "band-aiding" symptoms with medications. We look at diet, gut health, vagus nerve function, inflammation, and more.
Much can be done to eliminate reflux from happening when the true root cause(s) are identified. And the good news is that the treatment is a natural one - no drugs or surgery.
If you're suffering with these symptoms we'd be delighted to help. Contact us for a consultation and we'll determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
silentreflux #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
Send us a text
I'm frequently asked if acid reflux can feel like a heart attack. It absolutely can and that occurs due to two main reasons.
Anatomy, or geography, is one reason - the stomach, esophagus and heart lie very close to one another. Therefore the burning of acid up into the esophagus can be felt in the chest and surrounding area, therefore mimicking a heart attack. Even pressure in the chest, which occurs with a heart attack, can happen with reflux.
There is another reason which relates to your nervous system. The vagus nerve, your longest cranial nerve, travels to your heart, lungs, esophagus, stomach and the rest of your digestive tract.
There is a reflex when connects the heart to the esophagus, as well as the heart to the stomach: the cardioesophageal and cardiogastric reflexes, respectively.
An "irritation" to the heart occurs due to these reflexes and it is not innocent. It factually compromises blood flow to your heart which can result in ischemia (lack of blood flow) and an increased risk of heart attack.
I don't say this to scare you, but acid reflux should not be ignored because long-term it IS creating damage to your heart potentially.
If you need help addressing acid reflux naturally, we are happy to help. You can call us for a consultation and we'll help to determine if what we do is a good fit for your needs. Call 727-335-0400.
acidreflux #heartburn #rootcausemedicine #heartattack
Send us a text
I'm frequently asked "Why has my doctor been unable to diagnose my Hiatal Hernia Syndrome?" "Why have I lived all these years suffering and received no help?"
Let's first review what Hiatal Hernia Syndrome is. It's the coming together of about 20 different symptoms with a common root cause. It frequently starts with acid reflux, bloat, gas, constipation, and then over time other symptoms occur such as heart palpitation, shortness of breath, anxiety, mood swings, light headed, tingling into the arms, regurgitation and more.
As you can see this involves potentially many different organs and systems of the human body. And this is why the condition remains undiagnosed. You primary care physician is looking for a disease for which he or she can prescribe the approved medication. And when you seek out a specialist like a cardiologist or a gastroenterologist or pulmonologist, they similarly are constrained by finding a disease and when they don't find one they are able to give a medication to lessen symptoms, but that's where it ends.
A hiatal hernia can be diagnosed and the treatment for that is PPIs or surgery. And that is the entire depth and breadth of what's recommended.
What doesn't happen is to stand back and truly look at your body as a whole because Hiatal Hernia Syndrome is all about the inter-communication and cross-talk among several organs that are affecting one another.
The stomach is compressed, it elevates and then spasms your diaphragm creating shortness of breath, and when the diaphragm elevated it gets in the way of the heart resulting in heart palpitations or even A fib. That's the physical aspect of the syndrome.
But there's a neurological aspect which is completely unappreciated. The vagus nerve travels "everywhere" in your body. But if you see a neurologist about your vagus nerve they'll ask you if you have epilepsy or depression. They focus on vagus nerve stimulation to address predominantly those two conditions.
What isn't appreciated is the reflex the controls an interplay between your heart and your stomach, as well as a reflex between your esophagus and your heart. These reflexes are called the cardio-gastric reflex and the esophageal-cardiac reflex and what happens in each is that the acid that is irritating the esophagus and stomach sets off an intercommunication to the heart, which now gets irritated.
The word "irritated" understates it because the heart is affected in profound ways, resulting in less blood flow to the heart, heart palpitations and decreased heart rate, along with increased risk of heart attack.
You can see that the lack of understanding of how all these organs communicate with one another and why you can have digestive upset along with shortness of breath, heart palpitations and anxiety is what's resulting in your continued suffering with a condition that is not hard to fix.
The treatment is natural - no drugs or surgery, and we have a very high success rate. But it requires this understanding of how this interplay occurs and how to diagnose what the root cause is for each individual. It's customized, personalized care.
It's frustrating to be told that what you know you are experiencing isn't possible, or it's "all due to stress". It's not, and you're right - it is all interconnected.
If this is you and you're ready to get help, we're here for you. We can't help everyone but if we think you're a good fit for what we do, then our success rate is high - 85%.
We're happy to help if you want assistance. You can call us for a very affordable consultation and we'll let you know if you're a good fit for what we do. Call us at 727-335-0400.
hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine #acidreflux
Send us a text
If you've been considering Hiatal Hernia surgery, you've likely been told that surgery has a very high success rate and that you can expect to no longer need your PPI (antacid medication), and there are no long term side effects.
Surgery is always a risk, but the outcomes sound pretty good when you consider what you are told in the main.
Study from 2001 published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) entitled "Long-term outcome of medical and surgical therapies for GERD". The objective of the researchers was to determine exactly what the title states: Long-term outcomes of medicine vs surgery.
The first outcome was surprising when it came to post-surgery patients. 92% of the patients taking a PPI continued to take it regularly - not surprising, but was not expected was that 62% of post-surgery patients needed to take an antacid regularly. Regularly, not occasionally. And 62% - that does not align with the promises made to patients regarding surgery outcomes.
As part of the study patients filled out symptom score and also had endoscopies performed. The symptom scores of the surgery patients were better than that of the medical group, but the grade (degree) of esophagitis and strictures found were no different between the two groups. This means that the amount of reflux even in the post-surgical group was enough to continue damage to their esophagus.
Patients were followed for up to 140 months (11.66 years) and the survival rate of the surgical group was lower than that of the medical (PPI) group. It was significant - 1.57-fold increased risk of death in the surgical group, predominantly from heart disease.
The conclusion of the researchers was this: "Antireflux surgery (Hiatal hernia surgery) should not be advised with the expectation that patients will no longer need PPIs or that the procedure will prevent esophageal cancer". Patients with GERD and Barrett's esophagus are at an increased risk of esophageal cancer - which is fortunately rare as it's a deadly cancer.
Don't worry. There's an alternative - get to the root cause of the reflux and handle that completely so there is no more reflux and the stomach and esophagus can heal and there's no more need for medication, let alone surgery. Our program is natural and drug-free. We have a high success rate when we determine that someone is a good fit for what we do.
If you've been considering surgery but you don't have a large hiatal hernia, consider your options and take heed of the side effects of surgery. Surgery is not a quick fix and its success rates are overall unsatisfactory.
If you'd like assistance we're here for you. Call us for a consultation: call 72-335-0400.
hiatalhernia #acidreflux #rootcausemedicine
Send us a text
This video reviews the story of how we discovered Hiatal Hernia Syndrome, its start, its evolution and where we are now.
Patient 1 was over 30 years ago - a young woman who awoke in the middle of the night with heart palpitations, trouble breathing and panic. As so many of you have experienced the diagnosis was a panic attack.
She did have chronic bloating and constipation but she never suffered with anxiety. We treated her digestive issues and she resolved beautifully and she never had another panic attack. Meeting her did plant the seed in my mind of what did cause her to have this terrifying experience, but I certainly didn't understand the depth and breadth of it until many similar patients came our way at the clinic.
As the years passed we started to see a connection between acid reflux, bloating, gas, constipation AND additional symptoms of heart palpitations, shortness of breath and anxiety. The common treatment was an antacid or prescription PPI and as we delved into the side effects of these drugs we became concerned.
Proper digestion required stomach acid and this was compromised with these drugs, not to mention the many and dangerous side effects.
Patients seeing gastroenterologists were often told about their acid reflux but a hiatal hernia wasn't mentioned... even when it was present! It was interesting to discover that a hiatal hernia was found on the report but not mentioned to the patient.
The surgery for Hiatal Hernia was developed in 1991 but it took a while to catch on. By 2010 surgery center started springing up and it seemed liked "overnight" patients were not only being told about their hiatal hernias but even patients with small hiatal hernia were strongly recommended surgery as a "solution".
It was about this time I started talking about hiatal hernia and its many related symptoms on my YouTube channel. Making the connection between acid reflux, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and anxiety, to name a few, got a lot of attention from those suffering. Individuals were surprised to learn that all the symptoms had a common root cause that could be treated naturally.
As we continued to treat more and more patients with the condition we understand further interrelationships. These included the vagus nerve and its effect of heart rate. blood pressure, dizziness, anxiety, mood swings, hoarseness, trouble swallowing and more.
We also did a deep dive into the diaphragm, realizing that it was truly a forgotten organ and it could be affected by the nerve that traveled to it from the neck, having tightness and loss of motion in the mid-back, having a stiff hip (sounds unrelated but the psoas muscle of your hip is attached to your diaphragm) and so much more.
In 2020, when the world "shut down", I decided to write a book on the topic since we, as a team, had decided that Hiatal Hernia Syndrome was truly taking on epidemic proportions but the inter-relationship between all the symptoms (up to 20) were completely misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Too often individuals were being told their symptoms were all in their head and pushed off as psychiatric cases and given dangerous drugs.
As we heard from more and more people suffering from around the world we worked to develop an online course that included everything we knew on the subject plus our treatment strategies. The goal was to make the information and assistance available to everyone, no matter where they lived while making the financial commitment more affordable.
We are getting great reviews from those who have completed the course.
Feel free to visit our website. Our google reviews are inspiring. www.RootCauseMedicalClinics.com.
If you know someone suffering please share this information with them. We'd be delighte
Send us a text
Do you take PPI medication? If you or someone you know does, please give a listen. There are some significant dangers associated with this drug that you must know about.
It's a very commonly prescribed medication for acid reflux - over 110 million prescriptions annually in the U.S.
A 2014 study published in the International Journal of Cardiology wanted to determine the risk of heart attack with those individuals taking the drug as compared to those who did not. The individuals studied had no prior history of having a heart attack.
This was a Taiwan study and the population was studied from 2000 to 2009 and each group studied had over 126,000 individuals - PPI users and non-users.
They found the increased risk to be anywhere between 1.5 times to 3.5 times depending on the testing methodology used.
Were you warned about this risk? Not likely. Here at Root Cause we identify the root cause of WHY an individual is experiencing acid reflux and treat that cause(s) so that PPI medication is no longer needed.
Too often patients are told that a PPI is their only alternative other than surgery, which is untrue in the vast majority of cases.
The danger to your heart likely comes about due to PPIs annihilating your nitric oxide levels. Nitric oxide is responsible for keeping your blood vessels dilated, normalizing your blood pressure and preventing dangerous clots, thereby protecting your heart. So it doesn't take much of a leap to understand the risk PPIs put on your heart simply from this one effect of PPIs.
Note: please don't stop your PPI cold turkey. There is an appropriate way to wean down and off that won't create a rebound of more acid production.
Please share this video with those you know who take this medication because the risks are terribly concerning regarding increased incidence of heart attacks.
If you need assistance we'd be delighted to help. We can meet with you for a consultation to assess if what we do is a good fit for you. Call us at 727-335-0400.
heartattack #ppi #rootcausemedicine
Send us a text
90% of Americans are deficient in omega 3 fatty acids.
Omega 3s make up your cell membranes, your nervous and brain tissue. They are cardioprotective and are highly anti-inflammatory.
There's an omega 3 index test where a high index is 8% or more, and those with a high index have a higher life expectancy by 5 years over the average American. In Japan, where they have a very high index of 10% due to all the fish they eat, they enjoy a long life expectancy.
They also found that mother's eating so much fish would tend to mean a higher heavy metal load and that is associated with lower IQ in children. But in Japan, despite the high fish consumption. their children had high IQs. Was it the anti-inflammatory effect of the omega 3s, the fact that they also consume a lot of seaweed which tends to chelate out heavy metals, has not been fully elucidated. But the benefits of omega 3s are well appreciated.
A study comparing smokers with high omega index to non-smokers with a low index, found the same mortality rate in both groups. This is definitely NOT a recommendation to smoke and remember the control group had a low index, but it does underscore the strong protective benefits of omega 3s.
Studies estimate that your dosage should be about 1.5 to 2 grams per day, either from your diet or a supplement. The ratio recommended is 2:1 EPA to DHA.
Having decreased inflammation is considered to protect against brain aging, decrease your cancer risk, and alongside exercise, omega 3s are considered most powerful in decreasing inflammation. Finally, the degenerative diseases we're trying to avoid are all inflammation driven, so having a healthy balance of omega 3s in your life is well worth it.
If you want assistance improving your health we're here for you. Give us a call for a consultation: 727-335-0400.
omega3 #inflammationreduction #rootcausemedicine
Send us a text
Silent reflux is vastly different from heartburn, reflux or GERD, but its root cause is the same, which is important to realize.
Silent reflux is also known as LPR, laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), which basically means that acid is flowing up from your stomach to your larynx or voice box.
It can caause the following symptoms:
- difficulty swallowing
- bad taste in your mouth, especially in the morning
- irritation to your vocal cords, affecting your speaking or singing voice
- trouble swallowing
- choking sensation
- increased phlegm
Treatment from conventional doctors involving eliminating a lot of your favorite foods and taking an antacid or PPI daily.
This does not address the root cause, which is a compression of your stomach. It's not difficult to get to the root cause of why the stomach is compressed and resolve the issue for good, eliminating the need for medication and highly restricted diets.
For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400 #acidreflux #hiatalhernia #gerd
Send us a text
Burping is normal until it becomes excessive.
Normally the air we swallow dissolves a little in your stomach acid, but mostly it dissolves in the water contained in your stomach.
In Hiatal Hernia Syndrome the stomach gets compressed and it's pushed up into the diaphragm and air that you've swallowed can get trapped and you'll burp.
GERD (acid reflux) has burping as an associated symptom. When the acid comes up your esophagus you tend to swallow more and that results in more burping.
H. pylori is a common infection associated with Hiatal Hernia Syndrome that is also associated with gastritis and a stomach ulcer. Burping is associated with this bacterial infection. Long-term effects from this infection are severe, so you want to get it properly tested.
If you're taking an antacid (PPI) you are suppressing acid levels and therefore normal digestion and food sits in your stomach too long. Secondary to this bacteria flourish leading to fermentation which causes bloating and gas. You can also be diagnosed with SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) because the small intestine is the next 'stop' for food after the stomach. SIBO results in gas, bloating, and burping.
If you suffer with burping it's important to get to the root cause of why it's happening so that more severe damage to your stomach and/or esophagus is not allowed to progress.
We're here to help if you need it. The best next step is to cal for a consultation to determine if we're a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
Please subscribe to the channel so that more people can see these videos.
I appreciate you! #hiatalhernia #burping #acidreflux #sibo
Send us a text
Are you frustrated with doctors who don't really listen to you, are quick to give you a new drug or insinuate your problem is all due to stress?
Are you tired of hearing that nothing significant is wrong with you despite suffering with heart palpitations, shortness of breath, anxiety and more?
Of course you're happy that your doctor is unable to find a disease, but the frustration comes from their inability or lack of desire to go the next step...
WHY?
Isn't that what you want to know?
Why do you feel this way? How did and it happen, and most importantly, what can you do to fix it?
Unfortunately that's not how our healthcare system works. It leaves too many people suffering needlessly and I'm tired of it.
How about you?
I just want you to know that options DO exist. Root Cause Medicine does what the name implies. We doggedly seek out WHY your body is giving you the symptoms you suffer with and figure out what to do about it. Mostly that involves no drugs at all.
If you or someone you know is suffering and not getting the help they need, reach out for a consultation. We'll let you know if we think we can help. If you're not a good fit for what we do we'll let you know. But if you are we have a very high success rate. Call us at 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
An interesting study evaluated quantity of sleep and bedtime and found interesting risk associations with not only type 2 diabetes but also cardiovascular disease.
Specifically sleep deprivation (less than 7 to 9 hours per night) caused the beta cells of your pancreas (the cells that produce insulin) to become less responsive. The results in blood sugar levels remaining elevated after a meal which then leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Another aspect of insufficient sleep was the alteration of your hunger hormones: more ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and less leptin (the satiety hormone). The result was more hunger and less satiation, which leads to weight gain, insulin resistance and a host of diseases which I will mention below.
Chronic sleep loss raises HgA1c levels - the blood value measured to determine if you have type 2 diabetes. However, this not only coincides the risk for type 2 diabetes but also heart disease because the elevated HgA1c levels siffen blood vessels. A link to cardiovascular disease and elevated blood pressure.
In addition to inadequate hours of sleep, the study also found that a bedtime later than midnight came with the same set of issues even if the number of hours slept was adequate.
In other words the risk we've been discussing correlated to inadequate number of hours AND bedtime.
If bedtime was after midnight AND the hours were insufficient that was double jeopardy, yielding even worse health outcomes.
Insulin resistance which is created by either of these sleep issues is associated with several degenerative diseases including: type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, PCOS, fatty liver, certain cancers (including breast and colon), and metabolic syndrome (defined as elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, low HDL, high triglycerides, and abdominal adiposity).
Prioritizing sleep quantity and bedtime is a valuable step to take to move away from the ill health caused by metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance which is literally plaguing Americans.
Here are some sleep tips to get you started:
1. Get bright morning light when you wake up. Go outside and enjoy a little sun.
2 In the evening use blue light blocking glasses to help your brain get ready to rest.
3. Sleep in a cool, dark room.
4. Eat no food 3 hours before exercise.
5. Prioritize exercise 4 to 5 days per week, especially resistance training.
6. Limit caffeine to a cup in the morning only.
If you need help with you sleep we'd be happy to help you.
Give us a call for a consultation: call 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
Both Hiatal Hernia Syndrome and Brain Fog have common underlying root causes and one can cause the other.
Regardless of whether you have one or both, let's delve into what symptoms are associated with brain fog, causes and what you can do to correct it.
Brain fog affects about 28% of the population, more women than men.
Common symptoms include: fatigue, confusion, forgetfulness, trouble focusing, issues with finding words and remembering things.
The causes include: poor sleep (quality and quantity), unhealthy diets (high sugar, ultra-processed foods, fast food) plus eating foods you're sensitive to. Gluten, in particular is very neuro-inflammatory and known to create brain fog.
Stress is another cause, along with insufficient exercise, drinking alcohol, smoking and caffeine in the afternoon or evening. Anxiety and depression along with hormonal imbalance is a cause, as is toxin exposure (including environmental chemicals, heavy metals, mold, viruses). Autoimmune diseases, also more prevalent in women, and rising in incidence is another cause.
What many of the above come down to microbiome imbalance from poor sleep, unhealthy diet, toxin exposure, hormonal imbalance and autoimmune disease. And, your gut produces serotonin, so when your microbiome is imbalance you'll produce less serotonin and the likelihood of brain fog increases, along with anxiety and depression.
How do you fix it? You need to find the root cause of why your body is creating it. There is a reason and it's likely a combination of the above factors that need to be addressed.
Therefore you need to find a clinician who is comfortable evaluating all the above to determine what makes sense in your particular case.
Please don't "fall for" ads that say to take this or that particular supplement. I have nothing against supplementation but it needs to be targeted to you. The odds are low that taking a single supplement is going to address the root cause of your brain fog.
If you suffer with brain fog and want to get to the root cause, my team and I are happy to help!
Call us for a consultation and we can help identify if our programs are a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
Why should you prioritize sleep in your life?
I have a strong interest in everything and anything that affects gut health and inflammation of the gut as that can be the leading source of Hiatal Hernia Syndrome.
Your microbiome affects you brain, immune system and hormonal imbalance, to name a few.
A 2019 study out of Stanford that irregular sleep patterns can lead to changes in the types and abundance of gut bacteria. Specifically more bad bacteria propagate leading to gut inflammation and a lower diversity of organisms. Diversity is very important for optimal gut health.
A healthy gut makes SCFAs (short chain fatty acids) but with poor sleep quality you'll make less of these.
Your microbiome makes neurotransmitters like melatonin, serotonin, and GABA that all influence sleep quality. This has to do with the gut-brain connection which affect each other intimately.
Other systems affected are:
Cardiovascular: sleep deficits damage blood vessels and increase your risk of heart disease.
Brain health: poor quality leads to accelerated brain again, increased risk of stroke, dementia and disruptions in the brain's waste removal system.
Mental health - staying up late negatively impacts your mental health and increases your risk of mental and behavioral disorders.
Diabetes risk: poor sleep increases insulin resistance which not only increases your risk of diabetes but also heart disease, dementia, obesity, fatty liver and PCOS to name a few.
How much sleep do you need? Seven to 9 hours is the sweet spot. Remember that's shooting for 8 hours of sleep, which likely equates to 8.5 hours actually in bed since there is some awake time.
If you're a night owl research from 2024 out of Stanford found that you're more likely to suffer from mental and behavioral disorders if you go to sleep past 1 am.
The "morning larks", as they're called, who like to get up with the sun, had the best mental health.
Try to move yourself to an earlier bedtime gradually if you're a night owl. Gradiently go to bed about 30 minutes earlier every few days.
Don't eat 3 hours before bedtime and enjoy a light stroll after dinner.
Blue light glasses can be helpful, or just dimming the lights in your home is also helpful.
If you need help getting better quality sleep we're happy to help you.
Consider calling us for a consultation: call 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
Maybe you've heard that a hiatal hernia can't be corrected without surgery.
We do feel that we "heal" hiatal hernia and I'll tell you why.
Attend the free live webinar by signing up here: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/20/zmk0vt6
The body can heal itself if you correct the burden that has been causing the problem.
Hiatal hernias do worsen over time and they won't go away on their own. This is true. Of course you have to DO something.
But surgery doesn't work long-term because it's not addressing the root cause of the increased intra-abdominal pressure.
95% of hernias are sliding. It makes sense that if you correct the pressure pushing the stomach upwards and you rebalance the diaphragm, yes you can correct a hiatal hernia.
So what do we see in our patients whose hiatal hernia has been corrected?
They no longer have: acid reflux, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, bloating, gas, constipation, anxiety, trouble swallowing or regurgitation, and more.
And what they can do is: lie flat to sleep, bend over to tie their shoes or pick something off the floor, they can exercise, they are no longer on a highly restricted diet, they can lift heavier objects without their symptoms returning.
This successfully managed hiatal hernia, or "healed" hiatal hernia does need to be cared for. Meaning you've learned in our program what is best for your body as regards diet and lifestyle and you'll continue following those recommendations that allow you to continue to feel great.
If you have symptoms of Hiatal Hernia Syndrome, don't continue suffering. We're here to help and our program is completely natural and not difficult to fix.
Consider calling us for a consultation: 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
Is your doctor prescribing drugs that you don't actually need? Is this a surprising concept or have you already experienced this?
Over 25 percent of doctors admit to prescribing medications that likely won't have therapeutic benefits for their patient.
Over 1 million ER visits and 350,000 hospitalizations take place every year in the U.S. caused by adverse drug events.
We see this a lot with patients suffering with Hiatal Hernia Syndrome. The common symptoms of heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and anxiety are frequently prescribed medications despite the patient's heart and lungs showing no evidence of disease.
Most commonly patients are prescribed heart medications for high blood pressure that they don't have, or asthma medications for asthma they also don't have.
Of course there are attendant side effects associated with all drugs, so taking medications associated with no disease state is concerning.
Anxiety medications have very dangerous side effects so it is again problematic that patients are being told they have a mental problem when their anxiety is stemming from their Hiatal hernia syndrome. It IS due to diaphragm imbalance and vagus nerve imbalance as I've described in earlier videos.
What should you do?
Defend your right to know why a drug is being prescribed to you. If there is no disease process present consider finding a doctor who CAN explain to you why your body is creating the symptom despite the particular organ not having a disease.
The Root Cause Medicine approach is one that analyzes your whole body and doesn't silo each part of your body as if it didn't interact with all the rest of your organs and systems. It understands interrelationships across your entire body and identifies causative factors that are creating your particular constellation of symptoms. It does not just try to band-aid each of your symptoms with drugs the way conventional medicine does.
As we get older we are likely to be put on more and more medication, with no one looking at how all the medications can be creating cross-reactions that are dangerous. Many mental symptoms that are attributed to cognitive decline or Alzheimer's are actually drug side effects: these include: confusion, memory loss, and brain fog.
If you would like to get healthy but haven't been getting the help you need, consider contacting us for a consultation: call us at 727-335-0400. We're here to help!
Send us a text
There have been several studies emerging showing a strong correlation between microbiome diversity (the health and number of good bacteria in your colon) and the strength of your immune system.
The virus that kept us in our homes for 2 years has now been studied extensively, especially in those who got severely ill or have continued to suffer with symptoms years later.
Two "good" bacteria, bifidobacteria and faecalbacteria have been seen to be highly deficient in those patients, while bacteroides (a "bad" guy) are abundant.
Basically there was an inverse association seen between disease severity and the abundance of the good bacteria. Reduced bacterial diversity is associated with a decreased immune response, making it more likely that you will get sick and stay sick.
I bring this up because we all want to maintain our health, but you never know when the next virus or other type of infection will crop up. You need to have a healthy gut beforehand, or you risk infection.
Working a lot with Hiatal hernia syndrome patients, we test the microbiome always. The decreased bifidobacterium mentioned earlier is also seen in the presence of an H. pylori infection which we frequently see in our Hiatal hernia patients as it's linked to gastric ulcers and even stomach cancer.
What steps can you take to build up these healthy bacteria and increase your microbiome diversity?
Eat a diet rich in fermented foods like sauerkraut and healthy yogurt, enjoy an abundance of fruits and vegetables, along with fatty fish and legumes. Bad bacteria "love" sugar, so remove that and highly processed foods from your diet. And, make good sleep a priority and decrease your stress load as much as possible.
A healthy gut truly means a healthy immune system. They go hand in hand.
If you're suffering with a weak immune system or gut imbalance, consider contacting us for a consultation: call 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
I spoke earlier about the Afib link to Hiatal Hernia your Cardiologist may not know about.
In this video I discuss another link to Afib for men, who are more affected with this ailment than women.
Testosterone converts to DHT, the most potent type of testosterone. About 10% converts and this happens in the prostate and liver.
Both elevated and very insufficient levels of DHT have been linked to Afib. So there is a nice normal range we are shooting for in your blood work.
The mechanism of how elevated and very insufficient DHT can cause Afib is not completely understood, but what we understand so far is that it is linked to inflammation, vasoreactivity, or blood vessel elasticity, affecting platelet levels which affect clotting, as well as electrical signalling. A fib is an electrical issue with the heart, so the latter makes sense, but A fib is also seen with heart disease.
High DHT is seen with aging, someone with prostate hypertrophy, prostate cancer, or a person taking anabolic steroids. Lifestyle factors leading to high DHT include smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet and stress.
Low DHT is also associated with age, plus a person taking statins or opioids. Additionally obesity, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and drugs for the prostate can all cause low DHT.
The good news is that much can be done to normalize DHT and thus avoid treatments like ablation for Afib which won't be effective long-term without addressing the true root cause.
If you're suffering with Afib consider contacting us for a consultation: call 727-335-0400. We're here to help!
Send us a text
Afib, short for atrial fibrillation, is a common irregular heart rhythm affecting millions of Americans.
It is typically associated with the following comorbidities: high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, thyroid disease (hyper thyroid), and heart disease.
A fib puts you at risk for stroke or sudden death.
Why I want to discuss it is that here at Root Cause we see Afib resolving on a Hiatal Hernia Program.
The key datum is that there is more than one type of Afib and it is this latter type that we see responding to a Hiatal Hernia program.
Your heart rate is controlled by your autonomic (automatic) part of your nervous system. There are 2 parts to your autonomic nervous system: the sympathetic side (think fight or flight) and the parasympathetic side (think, rest, digest, relax).
When you think of the parasympathetic side, think of your vagus nerve which controls it predominantly.
There is such a think as vagal AF, or vagal Afib. What's different about vagal AF is that it acts in a contrary fashion to typical Afib which is driven predominantly by the sympathetic nervous system.
Those with heart disease, high blood pressure & all the symptoms I mentioned above has an AF that is sympathetically driven.
Now vagal AF happens 4x more often in men, it tends to start in their 40s or 50s when they are generally healthy. It begins very infrequently but gets more persistent with age. It typically occurs between 9 pm and 9 am or when the body is in a parasympathetic mode: meaning you are digesting a meal or are lying down or reclining at rest.
Vagal AF does not tend to spike your heart rate, in fact it's more associated with a slower heart rate. Vagal AF will not occur during exercise or during stress as those are sympathetic activities.
In Hiatal Hernia Syndrome, the vagus nerve gets involved due to the stress being put on the vagus nerve when the stomach pushes up against the lower part of the esophagus plus the digestive upset generally also irritates the vagus.
The triggers for Hiatal Hernia Syndrome are mimicked in the triggers of vagal AF. Bending over, lying down, eating a large meal, eating and lying down, eating late, constipation.
Hopefully you are starting to see why treating a Hiatal Hernia affects this type of AF. And we do frequently see it with our patients.
Important note: the medications typically used to treat "classic" AF would not work for vagal AF. It only makes sense since one is sympathetically-driven and the other parasympathetic in nature. They have opposing actions so a drug for one would not work well for the other.
I have found that cardiologists don't appreciate the vagal AF as a condition. They've only been taught one type of AF and treat it all the same.
I'm not saying that your AF should not be evaluated by a cardiologist. It's a potentially serious condition so be mindful of that. What I am saying is that if you seem to fit the profile of a vagal AF patient, then there's good news in our ability to help you.
In the video I also mention the CHADS2 Vasc Score; a test you can take yourself. You score 1 point for every "yes" answer, but get 2 points if you're age 75 or older.
Here's the "test". Do you have:
Congestive heart failure
Hypertension
Are you age 65 to 75 or older
Diabetes
Stroke
Vascular disease
If you score 2 or more that's considered high risk and you want to get evaluated for need of medication. Even a score of 1 puts you at moderate risk, so speak with your doctor.
AF can be quite debilitating and exhausting and if you have vagal AF, we have seen good results in getting to the root cause.
Consider contacting us for a consult
Send us a text
I wanted to share a case study of a 42 year old female who came to us with unrelenting pain and cramping in her intestinal tract. The pain was so terrible she was doubled over from it, and needless to say, was completely miserable.
She also suffered from bloating, constipation (which was chronic throughout her life) and was 30 lb overweight. She awakened 3x/night, and had a very stressful job.
Her husband had been a patient and he frequently mentioned the need to bring in his wife, so I was very happy to finally meet her.
She had access to many doctors and had utilized that ability but still received no answers. Her blood testing from previous doctors showed elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, poor pancreatic function, and low vitamin D. But still she suffered.
We started her program and discovered a variety of issues including a food sensitivity, a gut infection, and other imbalanced.
By the end of 3 months her symptoms resolved entirely. She no longer had any gut pain or bloat and she was moving her bowels every day. Her sleep had improved also.
BUT... she hadn't lost any weight. While she was delighted about her improvement, she wanted to address weight loss as well.
Our registered dietitian (RD) met with her and discovered that her macros were imbalanced and she really wasn't consuming enough protein. The RD also addressed stress management as that was driving up her hormone cortisol which is associated with weight gain.
Three weeks later she had lost 7 pounds! Now that is a bit more weight than we like to see in that period of time, and it will likely slow down to a more standard rate of 1.5 to 2 pounds per week, but it indicated that we had discovered the reasons underlying her weight gain.
These types of case studies and beautiful results are pretty much daily occurrences here at Root Cause. I don't typically share them on this channel so let me know if it's something you like or not.
If you need to improve your health, call us for a consultation today! Call 727-335-0400. We have an 85% success rate and would be delighted to help you.
Send us a text
If you've stopped consuming any honey because it's a carb and a sugar, I ask that you give me a few minutes to share 6 amazing information about honey. You'll be glad you learned this!
There is an abundance of research on both rodents and humans to be found in journals such as:
Letters in Drug Design & Discover, Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Frontiers in Nutrition, Journal of Medicinal Food, Food Research, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, and Biochemistry Research International.
Honey decreases the size and number of fat cells.
Honey decreases inflammation by decreasing inflammatory cytokines.
Honey decreases visceral fat. One mechanism is that honey decreases cortisol (a stress hormone) that causes deposition of fat around your organs, despite the presence of fat.
Honey helps in weight loss.
The bottom line is that honey contains some special substances, antioxidants and flavonoids, that allow it to perform all these incredible benefits.
Honey stabilizes blood sugar, allowing your glucose to be utilized efficiently.
[NOTE: At 6:08 I misspoke: I meant to say that the hormone PYY INCREASES, not decreases. Ghrelin does decrease, but PYY, which regulates appetite and energy balance increases. Apologies for the error.]
Stable blood sugar allows these good compounds to get deep into your colon acting as a prebiotic and enhancing your gut microbiome.
Dosage and Quality are everything!
Think about honey as a supplement.
The two best varieties are buckwheat and manuka. They are expensive so think of the honey like a supplement.
Dose is anywhere from 1 teaspoon, to 1 to 4 tablespoons. Start with 1 tablespoon and see how you do.
If you're keeping your carbs very low, take your honey immediately before exercise.
Enjoy and let me know what effects you notice.
If you want to improve your health and you like the idea of getting to the root cause of your symptoms naturally, contact us for a consultation. Call 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
In this video I explain in great detail why autoimmune disease develops, there are several reasons and the great news is, something can be done about it.
The causes of autoimmune disease which have created stress on your immune system to the degree that it mistakes self tissue (you) from a bad guy, are as follows:
1. Leaky gut or inflammation
2. Gluten sensitivity
3 Toxins
4. Infections
5. Stress
Autoimmune disease is increasing dramatically in our society, but that trajectory doesn't have to continue. There are workable solutions and I discuss them in depth here.
If you are suffering with an autoimmune disease and like this approach, we'd be delighted to help. Consider contacting us for a consultation: call 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
Why do you feel dizzy or nauseous when you poop and is it normal?
It's not normal and it's called a vasovagal response.
Your vagus nerve gets irritated when you bear down and in response your heart rate goes down, your blood pressure goes down and you can feel nauseous or faint.
The reason why is constipation, even though you perhaps you haven't realized it. Many Americans are constipated and don't know it because their doctor has told them that skipping days is probably "normal" for them.
This isn't true. Normal bowel rhythm is 1 to 3 times per day of a soft, formed, easy to pass bowel resulting in full evacuation.
Bearing down is troublesome as it can irritate the vasovagal response we've just discussed but it can also cause a hiatal hernia which in itself further irritates your vagus nerve as it encircles your esophagus. This can cause acid reflux, heart palpitations, mood swings, anxiety and more.
It's a combination of factors which must all be addressed to not only take the pressure off your vagus nerve, but to normalize your digestive tract, which in turn will handle the symptoms we've just discussed.
If you've been trouble with this and want to feel good again, consider calling us for a consultation: call 727-335-0400. We're here to help!
Send us a text
Regarding your healthcare, are you a lion or a lamb?
A lamb goes docilely along taking whatever drugs your doctor gives you, never questioning if there's a better way, or more importantly, WHY you got this way and what can be done to resolve it.
A lion is more aggressive, asks questions, doesn't take advice on face value.
Our healthcare model is pharmaceutically drives, very siloed, meaning every symptom is treated individually with individual drugs.
No one is looking at the root cause of why your various symptoms have occurred.
In Root Cause Medicine we appreciate your body's ability to heal and we feel that it is our job to unburden your body from whatever is preventing healing from occurring. That is very different from "managing" symptoms, or band-aiding them with drug after drug after drug, never identifying the reason underlying your symptoms.
Now a lion would ask questions about the drugs and the lion wouldn't just take every drug handed out but instead try to find a clinician who listened and agreed that a solution needed to be found. And platitudes like "you're just getting older", or "you're under stress" wouldn't be accepted as reasons - because they aren't.
Stop being a lamb. Demand the right to know what's happening and your body and what can be done about it.
Your body is strong and it loves to heal. It just has to be given the chance to.
If you're tired of feeling terrible and you're ready to improve your health, we'd be happy to meet with you for a consultation: call us at 727-335-0400. We're here to help!
Send us a text
Hiatal Hernias are common, but certainly not normal and not innocuous.
They typically begin with acid reflux and when that continues, the ongoing pressure on your stomach causes the stomach to elevate and push upwards on your diaphragm until the opening where your esophagus passes through widens, thus allowing your stomach to move upwards - the definition of Hiatal Hernia.
Treatment for reflux is antacids of various types, perhaps starting out with over-the-counter and then moving towards stronger PPI medications which are prescribed.
While antacids can diminish the symptoms of acid reflux, their trickle down effects are severe. Let's review:
Antacids decrease the acid in your stomach, thereby preventing the transformation of inactive enzymes into their active form - it requires acid to perform this transformation and activation. The result is that you are unable to digest proteins properly, which will cause you to experience gas and bloating.
Additionally, the reduction of acid allow bacteria to grow. This can cause SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and other infections which put a strain on your immune system. This scenario also creates a leaky gut, basically a severe weakening of your gut immune system that is designed to protect you from dangerous organisms entering your bloodstream.
These are all very serious consequences for long-term health because inflammation and a leaky gut IS linked to the development of all the diseases you're trying to avoid: diabetes, obesity, heart disease, autoimmune disease, dementia and cancer.
What symptoms might indicate such changes. Along with reflux you can experience bloat, gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and/or constipation.
What I want to convey is the importance of not ignoring early symptoms of acid reflux or being diagnosed with a small hiatal hernia.
Handling the root cause of these imbalances is critical to protect your long-term health.
If you'd like help restoring your health to its optimal status, consider calling us for a consultation: call 727-335-0400. We're here to help!
Send us a text
Are GERD and Hiatal Hernia the same thing? Does on cause the other? Let's discuss.
First let's define our terms: A Hiatal Hernia is when part of your stomach moves upwards above your diaphragm.
GERD, or gastro-esophageal reflux disease, is when your stomach moves its contents, acid, up your esophagus.
When the stomach moves acid up into your esophagus you'll often feel burning, the classic acid reflux or heartburn. Can you have reflux without a Hiatal Hernia - yes and no.
You can have very rare reflux which occurs from overeating or eating a large meal and lying down, as an example. If this is something you feel a few times per year, the odds are you would not have a Hiatal Hernia
But you can have chronic reflux and be "living" on TUMs or some other antacid. Now you are at risk. The chronicity or frequency of your acid reflux means that your stomach is frequently under pressure and that pressure is forcing acid to move up your esophagus.
That pressure is, by definition, what causes a Hiatal Hernia over time. The upward pressure, over time, causes a widening of the opening where the esophagus passes through normally. The stomach, which has a larger diameter at its top than your esophagus, is slowly widening the opening, creating a textbook Hiatal Hernia.
Therefore, if you have a Hiatal Hernia you DO have GERD. But, despite what conventional medicine says, when you have GERD, chronically, I have found that you are moving toward, or already have, a Hiatal Hernia, for the reasons I've just explained.
As a note: 50% of GERD is "silent", meaning you can't feel it. So it can be happening due to a Hiatal Hernia, or better said, Hiatal Hernia Syndrome, and you won't know it. The symptoms associated with silent reflux are higher up in the esophagus and include: hoarseness, a cough, trouble swallowing, regurgitation, and more.
Because Hiatal Hernia Syndrome has so many symptoms associated with it, I do recommend that you get to the source of your GERD as soon as possible. This will avoid things like bloating, gas, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, anxiety and panic attacks.
In summary, it's not difficult to get to the root cause of GERD or treat Hiatal Hernia Syndrome, if you already have it.
We are here to help so consider contacting us for a consultation: call 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
Burping is normal until it isn't. It isn't normal to have a lot of burping and it isn't normal to feel uncomfortable such that you wish you could burp. And it's definitely not normal to have burping that lessens symptoms of heart palpitations, anxiety or panic attacks.
There's a nervous system connection that I think you'll find fascinating, especially if you suffer from Hiatal Hernia Syndrome symptoms: including reflux, gas, bloat, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, anxiety or panic attacks.
The specific nerve I'm referring to is the vagus nerve - your longest cranial nerve. The vagus nerve is all about relaxing and calming. So if your esophagus has trapped gas, your short of breath, having heart palpitations or anxiety, those are all symptoms of a sluggish, irritated vagus nerve.
The vagus nerve can get irritated secondarily to acid reflux because the stomach is pushing up against the base of your esophagus where the vagus nerve is located in a web-like fashion. The vagus nerve travels to most of your organs, but many of its symptoms are digestive and mood related.
The diaphragm is also irritated in Hiatal Hernia Syndrome due to the stomach elevation pushing on it and creating some spasming. Again, you'll find it interesting that a branch of the vagus nerve becomes the nerve that travels to the diaphragm (your phrenic nerve). It is lack of normal diaphragmatic movement that can create not only shortness of breath, but panic attacks and anxiety.
If you suffer from a lot of burping, you may never have made the correlation between your burping and the other symptoms I've mentioned. But they very much can be related and the root cause is not difficult to treat.
If this sounds like you or someone near and dear to you, consider giving us a call for a consultation: call 727-335-0400. We're here to help!
Send us a text
Are you taking a beta blocker? It's one of the most prescribed drugs in the U.S., so you're in very good company. But perhaps you don't have heart failure or high blood pressure. Perhaps you were prescribed the drug due to heart palpitations or anxiety.
If so, please listen. You truly may be able to avoid the dangerous side effects of this drug while restoring your health naturally.
What do beta blockers do? Beta blockers are used to reduce your heart's pumping force, decreasing the number of times if beats per minute.
Beta blockers also block the effect of adrenaline on your nervous system, so are used to reduce anxiety.
Primarily the drug is used for high blood pressure and heart failure, but also for irregular heartbeats and anxiety.
The drug is not without side effects - no drug is. You can expect side effects of include: shortness of breath, decreased blood pressure to the point that you're dizzy or lightheaded, irregular heart rhythm (yes, perhaps the reason you were given it!), fatigue, nausea, insomnia, ED and sexual dysfunction, along with hypoglycemia that results in passing out, confusion and/or seizures.
What if you could get to the root cause of your heart palpitations (arrhythmias) or anxiety and treat it naturally, making it unnecessary to continue the beta blocker?
We see this often with our patients suffering from Hiatal Hernia Syndrome. It's the pressure on the stomach which spasms your diaphragm and elevates both organs up into the area where you heart sits. The result? Heart palpitations and/or anxiety. The root cause is actually digestive in nature and the treatment is natural, no drugs or surgery.
And if you do have high blood pressure, please know that we are very successful getting to the root cause of it as well.
The summary is that beta blockers are commonly prescribed but not always necessary - there is a natural alternative.
Do you want to learn more?
Contact us for a consultation: call 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
The connection between your stomach and your heart (called gastro-cardiac reflex) is a real one that's been well documented. Even though the connection is understood, you may very well have been told by your doctor, cardiologist or gastroenterologist that no such connection exists.
You've perhaps felt the connection between your heart and your digestion, but not gotten any validation from your doctor.
Symptoms include bloat, gas, acid reflux, regurgitation, shortness of breath, anxiety, and heart palpitations, to name a few.
Treatment involves a number of medications to treat both high and low blood pressure, anticonvulsants, and antacids, of course. The side effects of these drugs include many of the same symptoms of hiatal hernia including dizziness, constipation, nausea, fatigue, rapid heart rate, and cognitive decline, to name just a few.
These drugs do nothing to treat the root cause and in fact can create more of the same symptoms.
I'm assuming when I share this with you that you have had your heart checked and you do not have heart disease. That should always be ruled out. But when it is and you continue to suffer with heart palpitations, please know there IS a root cause and it's generally treated successfully, naturally.
If you've been suffering with this and you're frustrated as to what you can do to really fix it, consider reaching out for a consultation. We're here to help! Call us at 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
If you suffer from Hiatal Hernia Syndrome and its attendant symptoms of reflux, GERD, bloating, burping, stomach pressure, heart palpitations, shortness of breath and anxiety.... yes, a very long list - I don't need to tell you how miserable it is.
With the Holidays fast approaching I wanted to give you some tip to help you get through the Holiday meals with less discomfort.
- Stick with real food. Avoid the overprocessed, high sugar and preservative foods.
- Use box breathing before meals or whenever you're feeling anxious. (I describe how to do this in the video).
- Eat slowly - chew, chew, chew and put down your fork between bites and engage in conversation.
- Don't overeat. Your hiatal hernia symptoms will really flare up with an overfull stomach.
- Between meals, hydrate.
- Take a 20 minutes walk/stroll after meals.
- Stay upright for 3 hours after a meal. Either walking or at least sitting upright to help digestion.
- If you are getting heart palpitations, try changing position - bending left or right, stretching your arms overhead, strolling - see what abates your symptoms.
- Finally, consider bringing some of your own 'safe food' to a dinner to ensure you have something to eat that you know you do well with.
And enjoy the time, conversation and relaxation time the holidays bring vs focusing on the "bad food" too often present.
Let me know how this works for you!
When you're ready to improve your health, consider reaching out to us for a consultation. Call 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
The human body is an incredible machine. Did you know that you have something called the migrating motor complex (MMC) which is a pattern of rhythmic contractions that occur in your stomach and small intestine between meals? It starts 3 hours after you stop eating and lasts for 90 - 115 minutes.
Its purpose is to cleanse your stomach and propel undigested food, bacteria and other waste products towards your colon where you can then excrete them.
Disorders linked to a problematic MMC are SIBO, IBS and gut infections.
Treatment to optimize your MMC involves decreasing stress, waiting 4 to 5 hours between meals, having a 12-14 hour overnight fast, and normalizing vagus nerve function.
Hiatal hernia syndrome is associated with SIBO, IBS and gut infections. Plus it is also associated with an increased stress response and vagal nerve irritation. I thought the association was fascinating and wanted to share how treating Hiatal Hernia Syndrome in the way we do will also optimize your MMC.
If you need help optimizing your health please consider contacting us for a consultation: 727--335-0400.
Send us a text
If the symptom has occurred concurrently with heart palpitations or a panic attach, you've likely ended up in the ER or Urgent Care, worried for your life. Once tests have been done and you're told your heart and lungs are fine, you were likely sent home with the diagnosis of a panic attack.
You know yourself; if you're not an anxious person, this diagnosis just doesn't make sense. You are now in the dilemma of knowing something is wrong but you're not getting any corroboration from your doctors.
Perhaps you've sought out a pulmonologist (lung doctor), only to be told that your lungs are normal.
What is it? The answer lies in your stomach. It sounds odd but your shortness of breath is coming from a spasm of your diaphragm which doesn't allow for normal air flow. The reason your diaphragm is spasmed is due to your stomach pushing up on it. And the reason your stomach is elevated and spasmed has to do with digestive imbalance that you may or not be aware of.
Let's face it. Not being able to breathe normally is stressful. Add in some heart palpitations and/or a panic attack and it's down right frightening. You don't need to continue suffering. There's an answer and the treatment is natural - no drugs or surgery.
Consider contacting us for a consultation and we can discover the true root cause of your breathing issues.
Call 727-335-0400. We treat patients across the country.
Book your consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
Send us a text
The body fat you can’t see is making you sick!
We know that excess body fat is a problem, but I think you'll be amazed to learn of a type of body fat that only involves a small amount of fat yet it's the most dangerous when it comes to your health.
There are 3 depots or storage areas for fat. The first is subcutaneous which simple means beneath your skin. This is the fat you can see on your body, excluding belly fat.
You can develop a fairly large amount of subcutaneous fat before it "spills out" of the fat cells and starts to create a burden on your body.
Per Dr Robert Lustig, the amount is 22 pounds or 10 kilos. It takes that much subcutaneous fat to overburden your body and move you towards diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease and cognitive decline and dementia. The location of this fat is usually in the butt or thigh or even arms.
The second type of depot if visceral fat. This is belly fat and it takes about 5 pounds of this before the overflow burdens your body causing inflammation and leading to disease. The cause of body fat is stress. We're talking about chronic stress that elevates your hormone cortisol and causes you to lay down belly fat.
I review some strategies to deal with this type of fat in the video.
The third and most dangerous depot is liver fat. When your liver is overburdened, insulin rises and you get the diseases of inflammation mentioned above. Why is this the worst? Because it only take 1/2 pound of fat to overburden the liver and begin the cascade of inflammation. The cause of liver fat is sugar and alcohol.
I discuss the dangers of artificial sweeteners so don't substitute one for the other.
If you need help to diminish the fat levels in your body and to reverse the diseases of inflammation, my team and I are here for you.
Call us for a consultation: 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of your body's adaptive capacity and resilience to challenge or stress. Specifically it is a sign of resilience of your autonomic nervous system - the part of your nervous system counterbalanced by the sympathetic, fight or flight nervous system. While the sympathetic nervous system gets you going, the parasympathetic is the rest, digest and relax part of your nervous system.
It is your vagus nerve, as part of your parasympathetic nervous system which slows your heartbeat and elongates the time between beat of your heart. The sympathetic nervous system does the reverse. You can think of it like your car - for an ideal driving experience you need to both accelerate and slow down as appropriate.
HRV, when healthy is the variation of time intervals between each heartbeat. Your heart should not beat like a metronome at a steady beat, but variations between the beats are ideal. Your HRV is influenced by physical activity, breathing, emotions and hormonal change.
The higher/healthier your HRV, the lower your risk of heart disease, the greater your emotional well-being, the better your recovery from illness and injury and the more enhanced your exercise performance.
You can go online to see what your HRV range should be based on your age. There are several devices that measure your HRV: apple watch, or Fitbit or Oura ring or Whoop band. If you don't have access to any of these you can try this exercise:
Sit comfortably and the do a 60 second sprint (if this is appropriate for your health status) and then sit back down and see how fast your heartrate slows back down and you can concentrate and easily get back to work. Was this easily done or did you have a hard time either revving up or slowing down? This will pinpoint the part of your nervous system which needs support.
If your resting heart rate (HR) is greater than 70 beats per minute it indicates your sympathetic nervous system is too dominant and your vagus nerve, a major component of your parasympathetic nervous system, is not signaling correctly.
This is correctable naturally.
Hopefully you found this information helpful. Optimizing your HRV is something we help each individual to do based on their health history and what they're experiencing. It is very worth your while to get your HRV in a good range.
If you need assistance improving your health, reach out for a consultation. Call 727-335-0400.
Send us a text
There are a variety of symptoms that could be caused by an imbalance of your vagus nerve. Your vagus nerve is not only your longest cranial nerve, but it more parts of your body than you can imagine!
The symptoms of an imbalanced vagus nerve include:
- Heart palpitations
- Increased blood pressure
- Anxiety or Stress
- Acid reflux, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea
- Diseases of inflammation including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and autoimmune disease
Treatment of the vagus nerve is natural and gentle. No harsh drugs or surgery required.
To give you some more data about the vagus nerve, it works to balance your sympathetic, fight or flight nervous system. In fact it is the balance between the two which prevents the symptoms I list above from developing.
The sympathetic nervous system speeds up your heart; the vagus, as part of the parasympathetic nervous system, slows it down.
You've likely heart of the gut-brain connection. When it comes to the primary pathway whereby your body is communicating to your brain, the one from your gut (microbiome) to your brain is the most prevalent one used and it passes through your vagus nerve. Your microbiome is estimated to contain 80 to 100 trillion bacteria plus parasites, viruses and fungal species. Your body, as a comparison, contains 40 to 60 trillion cells.
The relationship between your gut and your brain is very interesting. Your microbiome contains both beneficial and hostile bacteria and 70% of your immune system is housed in your gut to prevent hostile bacteria from gaining entry intro your body's bloodstream. But enough hostile bacteria create toxins which produce lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and they overwhelm the immune system triggering inflammation and leading to the inflammatory diseases killing most Americans.
Here's where the vagus nerve comes in: How responsive your body is to the early triggers depends on how burdened your vagus nerve is from other sources. In other words, a healthy vagus nerve will enhance immune function and your body will be robust in its response to the bad organisms.
Further, the vagus nerve can be involved in gastroparesis or slowed digestion. If you feel like your food just "sits there" in your gut for hours, this is a symptom of slowed digestion.
The vagus nerve also influences the release of enzymes from the pancreas, crucial to digestion of all types of food.
Your vagus supports lung function - breathing and respiration. And the vagus is involved in detoxification through your liver and kidneys.
The vagus also manages fluid and electrolyte balance affecting your blood pressure.
Finally, your vagus nerve involves emotional regulation - how you perceives the world around you and whether you react to it feeling stress, anxiety, moodiness and more. The vagus nerve is like a sixth sense, creating homeostasis when functioning normally and emotional instability when malfunctioning.
I hope you've gained a new found respect for your vagus nerve! Simple exercises such as humming, belly breathing (box breathing), gargling, and other relaxation techniques can help take the edge off an imbalanced vagus nerve.
There is also a vagus nerve stimulator the is quite affordable that you can use at home. Contact my office for more information on it: 727-335-0400. The device is simple to use but it would be part of a coordinated program, not a "magic pill" as it were.
Vagus nerve imbalance is common yet very treatable as part of a program that addresses gut and immune and hormonal health naturally.
If you'd like assistance improving your health, we're here for you. Contact us for a consultation. 727-335-0400
Send us a text
Is you're a woman and losing muscle tone and strength I've got some good news for you. If you've been noticing a decrease in your muscle tone along with an increase in fat gain with age, this isn't inevitable, meaning you CAN do something about it.
Muscle protein synthesis, the repair and growth of muscle which is the opposite of muscle wasting and loss of strength is dependent upon protein.
In order to start building and repairing muscle you need protein, but specifically an essential amino acid, leucine, in the quantity of 2.5 to 3 grams 2x/day. Leucine, an essential amino acid, is the specific one you need to ensure you get enough of. Now, you don't want to take only leucine, but rather ensure the protein you're consuming has a good amount of it along with the other 9 essential amino acids. The 11 non-essential ones can be gotten easily as your body makes them.
As we get older we need more protein but less calories and more intense exercise - resistance training. That's a lot to confront but I'm happy to help you figure it all out. It turns out that we are less efficient at extracting protein from the food we eat as we age. Add that to a slower metabolism and it's critical for long-term health that we understand the nuances of aging and our strength of overall body composition.
So when designing protein intake with a mindset of adequate leucine, high quality protein and moderate to low calories you need to know some specifics.
Let's talk about a few common foods and how much you need to consume of each to get adequate leucine.
Whey protein isolate is number 1 with a single scoop providing great protein and leucine balance with only 100-120 calories.
Lean ground beef comes in second with 1/4 pound providing enough leucine at about 155 calories.
Salmon, about 7 ounces has a calories account of about 300 depending on the type of salmon.
Eggs are next but it takes 5 eggs to get adequate leucine with a calories count of 368.
Soy beans are 4th with less than 1/2 cup getting the leucine in but the calories are now mounting - 443 calories.
Pumpkin seeds require 3/4 of a cup with calories of 446.
Hemp seeds need more than a cup and calories are 573.
Peanuts require over 120 peanuts and 600 calories.
As you can see, while plant protein can still provide the needed leucine and balanced amino acids, we start "paying' for it in calories, so something to consider.
I hope this provided some valuable information for you.
If you need assistance in this area, please call my office at 727-335-0400 for a consultation.
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of your body's adaptive capacity and resilience to challenge or stress. Specifically it is a sign of resilience of your autonomic nervous system - the part of your nervous system counterbalanced by the sympathetic, fight or flight nervous system. While the sympathetic nervous system gets you going, the parasympathetic is the rest, digest and relax part of your nervous system.
It is your vagus nerve, as part of your parasympathetic nervous system which slows your heartbeat and elongates the time between beat of your heart. The sympathetic nervous system does the reverse. You can think of it like your car - for an ideal driving experience you need to both accelerate and slow down as appropriate.
HRV, when healthy is the variation of time intervals between each heartbeat. Your heart should not beat like a metronome at a steady beat, but variations between the beats are ideal. Your HRV is influenced by physical activity, breathing, emotions and hormonal change.
The higher/healthier your HRV, the lower your risk of heart disease, the greater your emotional well-being, the better your recovery from illness and injury and the more enhanced your exercise performance.
You can go online to see what your HRV range should be based on your age. There are several devices that measure your HRV: apple watch, or Fitbit or Oura ring or Whoop band. If you don't have access to any of these you can try this exercise:
Sit comfortably and the do a 60 second sprint (if this is appropriate for your health status) and then sit back down and see how fast your heartrate slows back down and you can concentrate and easily get back to work. Was this easily done or did you have a hard time either revving up or slowing down? This will pinpoint the part of your nervous system which needs support.
If your resting heart rate (HR) is greater than 70 beats per minute it indicates your sympathetic nervous system is too dominant and your vagus nerve, a major component of your parasympathetic nervous system, is not signaling correctly.
This is correctable naturally.
Hopefully you found this information helpful. Optimizing your HRV is something we help each individual to do based on their health history and what they're experiencing. It is very worth your while to get your HRV in a good range.
If you need assistance improving your health, reach out for a consultation. Call 727-335-0400.
Your Shortness of Breath IS a stomach issue!
If you've suffered from labored breathing, air hunger, breathlessness and the like, you know how concerning it can be. You may have difficulty getting a deep breath and find yourself breathing shallowly from your chest instead of nice belly breaths.
If the symptom has occurred concurrently with heart palpitations or a panic attach, you've likely ended up in the ER or Urgent Care, worried for your life. Once tests have been done and you're told your heart and lungs are fine, you were likely sent home with the diagnosis of a panic attack.
You know yourself; if you're not an anxious person, this diagnosis just doesn't make sense. You are now in the dilemma of knowing something is wrong but you're not getting any corroboration from your doctors.
Perhaps you've sought out a pulmonologist (lung doctor), only to be told that your lungs are normal.
What is it? The answer lies in your stomach. It sounds odd but your shortness of breath is coming from a spasm of your diaphragm which doesn't allow for normal air flow. The reason your diaphragm is spasmed is due to your stomach pushing up on it. And the reason your stomach is elevated and spasmed has to do with digestive imbalance that you may or not be aware of.
Let's face it. Not being able to breathe normally is stressful. Add in some heart palpitations and/or a panic attack and it's down right frightening.
You don't need to continue suffering. There's an answer and the treatment is natural - no drugs or surgery.
Consider contacting us for a consultation and we can discover the true root cause of your breathing issues. Call 727-335-0400. We treat patients across the country and internationally.
Book a consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
If you have acid reflux or GERD and also suffer from heart palpitations, this data is for you.
Back in the early 1900s, Ludwig von Roemheld coined the Roemheld Syndrome where he described a cluster of cardiovascular symptoms (think heart palpitations, tachycardia, dizziness, vertigo and elevated blood pressure) that were stimulated by gastrointestinal (gut) changes. The gut symptoms included gas, bloating, constipation, hiatal hernia and more.
Roemheld explained how gut imbalance compresses the vagus nerve (your longest cranial nerve) slowing your heart. The slowed heart then stimulates the "fight or flight" part of your nervous system in order to prevent your heart rate from diminishing too much. The result is heart palpitations, sometimes elevated blood pressure and/or tachycardia.
The patient's heart is fine. You may have experienced this after an ER visit where you have worried you were having a heart attack. But the heart is not diseased.
It is worth noting that Roemheld lived in the early 1900s and today his Syndrome is considered obsolete, which is why your doctors give no credence to the association between gut imbalance and heart symptoms.
Even more annoying is the direction to doctors stating that once the heart tests normal, the next step for the patient is a psych evaluation. If you've ever been told it's "all in your head", you now know why.
Call 727-335-0400 to book a consultation. Check out the website here: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/
We know that being hydrated is a good idea, but where did the recommendation for 8 glasses of water come from?
How much water do we really need and does it affect your weight?
Drinking water causes your to burn more calories for about an hour. We can be strategic and us this data, but let's look at some more research first.
A study had individuals drink 2 glasses (1/2 litre) of water before a meal and they burned 24% more calories despite being completely inactive during the time evaluated. Participants lost 2-5 pounds per month over the several months they were observed.
Another study had participants either drink 1 glass of water before a meal or no water. Those who drank the water ate 24% less calories at their meal and were completely satisfied as compared to the control group who ate more.
A very exciting study out of Germany published in April 2023 in the Journal Children evaluated what happened when some secondary schools had water fountains installed. In addition to the presence of the fountains, the children were educated as to the importance of drinking water. The control group consisted of several other secondary schools that didn't have the fountains installed and similarly received no pro-water education.
The results were rather outstanding. The children, followed for a year, drank, on average an extra 1.1 glasses of water AND their obesity risk dropped 31%!
It turns out the 8 glasses of water recommendation stems from a 1945 dietary paper that included not only how many water an individual drank but also the fact that food contains water. Watermelon is more than 90% water. Many fruits and vegetables also contain high percentages of water and even animal protein contains some. Therefore, the recommendations were misunderstood to mean ONLY water consumption as a beverage instead of including food sources
Where does that leave us? The sweet spot seems to be about 5 1/2 glasses of water with the rest coming from a healthy diet.
Those who need more water include the following:
If you suffer from UTIs (urinary tract infections)
Constipation
Kidney stones or cysts - these individuals are often recommended to consume up to 12 glasses.
A pregnant or nursing woman
Diarrhea.
If you're having trouble losing weight, feel free to reach out for a consultation.
For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400
Can you really "cure" type 2 diabetes? Can you keep your blood sugar stable and "wake up" your pancreas even if you've had the disease for a decade?
The answer is "yes" per Dr Roy Taylor who wrote a book on it.
The mechanism of how he reversed type 2 diabetes is what is so interesting.
If you have type 2 diabetes, have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or have had gestational diabetes, this data is for you.
Here's some data:
Your liver helps to maintain your blood glucose levels in response to pancreatic hormones.
When you eat a meal with glucose it enters the liver and your blood glucose rises. Excess glucose is dealt with by converting it into glycogen which is stored in the liver.
Dr Taylor realized that most people with type 2 diabetes have a fatty liver, and pancreas for that matter.
He postulated that is was the fat buildup that was causing the type 2 diabetes.
When he put people on a very low calorie diet (I don't think you have to go this route - more on this later) their liver fat normalized in just one week! The fat in the liver is "eaten" preferentially first when the body is on limited calories. The pancreas also lost its fat, albeit more slowly.
What was very exciting was the pancreas' insulin producing cells "woke up" and started producing insulin again - the mark of reversal of the disease.
The key was found in an individuals personalized fat threshold. Interestingly, this is different in each person, but it's a level that once you go above it you start developing fat infiltration of your liver and pancreas.
Here's what you can do to make this exciting change:
Eliminate or limit drastically any refined sugar intake.
Also eliminate or limit drastically alcohol consumption.
Say "no" to ultra-processed foods and junk foods.
Say "no" to processed meats.
Limit your saturated fat intake to about 7% or less of your total calories.
Say "yes" to fruits and veggies.
Say "yes" to beans and legumes and whole grains (think quinoa, gluten-free oats)
Say "yes" to good fats - mono and polyunsaturated fats.
I recommend you exercise but avoid falling prey to "compensatory eating" where you burn calories exercising and decide you can then eat more calories.
Don't starve yourself but try the above formula and see how you do.
Let me know!
For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400
Is your stomach causing your heart palpitations? Probably yes. Finally a cardiologist confirms the association between hiatal hernia and heart palpitations. Watch Dr. Vikki new video on the topic.
Summary of the video
Stomach-related palpitations can be caused by a hiatal hernia or inflammation of the gut, and can be treated through natural modalities to address root causes without drugs or surgery.
00:00
If you've experienced heart palpitations, pressure in your chest, and visited the ER only to be told your heart is fine, it may be related to hiatal hernia syndrome.
01:23
Stomach bloating and inflammation can cause the diaphragm to pinch the heart, leading to palpitations, a condition called gastric cardio syndrome.Expand
03:32
The vagus nerve, which goes to both the heart and stomach, can cause palpitations if overly stimulated or irritated, but is also responsible for slowing the heart and needs to function in a balanced way.
04:37
The natural pacemaker in the heart keeps the pace right, but if the vagus nerve is irritated and heart rate goes too low, other parts of the heart will stimulate and cause heart palpitations or ectopic beats.
05:39
The program deals with anatomical changes, inflammation of the gut, positioning of the diaphragm, and normalization of vagus nerve function through natural modalities to treat stomach-related palpitations without drugs or surgery.
06:55
Aspirin can cause inflammation in the gut and proton pump inhibitors can prevent absorption of key minerals and vitamins important for regular heart rhythm, so it's important to consider alternatives and address root causes.
08:36
The root cause of stomach-related palpitations is often a hiatal hernia or hiatal hernia syndrome, which can cause pinching on the heart and change its location.
09:34
People with stomach issues may experience palpitations that are often misdiagnosed as anxiety and treated with psychiatric medication, when in reality there is an easy solution.
For a hiatal hernia consultation, contact our doctors at the clinic at 727-335-0400.
You can also visit: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-naturalsolution/
Hiatal Hernia Syndrome can be composed of a variety of symptoms that are severe and can result in visits to the ER. Most often patients I meet have had one or more ER visits because they were convinced they were having a heart attack.
Once that's ruled out, patients are often then diagnosed with anxiety and put on dangerous medications.
Almost standardly the patient is minimally given an acid blocker like omeprazole, which unfortunately can be the exact wrong treatment since their problem isn't due to true excess acid.
Some of the symptoms found in Hiatal Hernia Syndrome are as follows:
Acid reflux or GERD
Bloating, Gas
Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Heart palpitations and chest pain
Pressure in chest
Fatigue
Insomnia
Constipation or Diarrhea
Shortness of breath
Trouble swallowing or a sore throat
Tingling in hands or feet
Burping
Symptoms worsen when bending over
and more...
What's important is to get to the true root cause of the problem and with that accomplished the problem can be fully remedied.
For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400
No matter your age, it's not too soon.
7 Steps:
1. Physical activity - especially resistance training to build lean muscle
2. Healthy diet - think Mediterranean diet and especially avoid highly processed foods. Ensure you don't have a gluten sensitivity.
3. Little to no alcohol - recent research has revealed there is no healthy level of alcohol.
4. Don't smoke. Nothing more needs to be said.
5. No sugar - it's inflammatory, weakens the immune system and has no redeemable qualities.
6. Social interaction
7. Normalize sex hormones.
If you have brain fog, memory issues, dementia or Alzheimer's in your family, please reach out for a natural program that is tailored to you and works!
For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400
Ozempic, Wegovy - both are weight loss drugs who's active ingredient is semiglutide.
Fast weight loss has always been a bad idea and these drugs continue to prove the point.
Weight rebound is common, not to mention the risk of kidney failure, pancreatitis and gall bladder issues.
A recent study (remember these drugs are fairly new) showed that once people stopped the drug their rebound weight loss for 2/3 of what they had lost in the first year. Likely, as they are followed longer, the typical weight gain of more than they lost will be seen; we'll see as further studies occur.
It "sounds" great to lose weight fast, but the side effects are a very bad idea.
For appointments, call the front desk at 727-335-0400
RootCauseMedicalClinics.com
Green drinks can be great to augment your veggie consumption, but I have a BIG warning for you if you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
The particulars are in the video, but suffice to say if your green drink contains wheat grass or barley grass, the potential for getting "glutened" is too high to chance it.
The companies who manufacture these products are doing their best, but unfortunately "grass" can become gluten in just a matter of days. I caution my patients away from these products.
For appointments, call us at 727-335-0400 or visit: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/contact/
Hiatal Hernias are interesting in that larger hernias don't necessarily cause more intense symptoms. Factually, small hernias can still cause misery with everything from shortness of breath, acid reflux, heart palpitations, panic attacks and more.
In this video I explain why a small hiatal hernia can result in miserable symptoms.
The good news is that you don't need to continue suffering.
Reach out for a consultation: www.RootCauseMedicalClinics.com or call 727-335-0400.
A sliding hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. It is the most common type of hiatal hernia. Sliding hiatal hernias may cause symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing.
If this sounds like you, call us at 727-335-0400.
Antacids are medications that are commonly used to neutralize stomach acid and provide relief from symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux. While antacids can be effective in relieving these symptoms, they can also have some potential drawbacks:
1 Masking underlying conditions: Antacids can temporarily relieve symptoms caused by underlying conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcers. By masking these symptoms, antacids may delay the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, which can lead to more serious health problems in the long run.
2 Acid rebound: Antacids work by neutralizing stomach acid, but this can actually trigger the body to produce more acid in response, leading to a phenomenon called “acid rebound.” This can cause a cycle of using more and more antacids to alleviate symptoms, which can lead to overuse and potential complications.
3 Nutrient deficiencies: Long-term use of antacids can interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B12. This can lead to deficiencies, which can cause a range of health problems.
4 Interaction with other medications: Antacids can interact with other medications, including prescription drugs and over-the-counter supplements, leading to reduced effectiveness or potential side effects.
5 Side effects: Antacids can cause side effects such as constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and headache, heart disease, kidney failure, and dementia.
Book your health consultation at 727-335-0400
antacids #holistichealth #alternativemedicine #health
In this webinar by Dr. Vikki Petersen, you will get a deeper understanding on what a hiatal hernia is, how we have had success treating it and the best solution for you.
Get lasting relief from your symptoms through treatment at Root Cause Medical Clinic - the #1 Clinic Treating Hiatal Hernia Syndrome Naturally
Call us at 727-335-0400 to schedule a consultation or visit www.RootCauseMedicalClinics.com
hiatalhernia #acidreflux #GERD #rootcause
Sleep is incredibly important for our overall health and well-being. During sleep, our body goes through important restorative processes that help us function at our best.
Some key reasons why sleep is important are restoration, repair, physical health, Mental clarity, and performance.
Overall, getting adequate sleep is essential for our physical and mental health, and it is important to prioritize getting enough rest each night. The recommended amount of sleep varies depending on age, but most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
Book your health consultation at 727-335-0400
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a molecule that is essential for many biological processes in the body.
Some of the key benefits of NAD+ include:
Energy production: NAD+ plays a key role in the cellular energy production process, helping to convert the food we eat into energy that our cells can use.
DNA repair: NAD+ is involved in the maintenance of DNA stability and plays a crucial role in the DNA repair process. Anti-aging: NAD+ levels decline as we age, which is thought to contribute to the aging process.
Boosting NAD+ levels has been shown to improve cellular function, slow the aging process, and improve overall health and well-being.
Cognitive function: NAD+ is important for maintaining healthy brain function and has been shown to improve cognitive performance in aging individuals.
Metabolism: NAD+ is involved in the regulation of metabolism and has been shown to improve metabolic function and help with weight management.
To book your NAD+ Appointment call: 727-335-0400
Stool tests can provide important information about a person's digestive and overall health. Some of the key benefits of stool tests include:
Detecting gastrointestinal disorders: Stool tests can help detect conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, and infection with parasites.
Identifying nutrient deficiencies: Stool tests can reveal if a person is deficient in certain nutrients, such as iron or vitamin B12, which can impact their overall health.
Screening for colon cancer: Some stool tests can detect blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of colon cancer.
Monitoring treatment effectiveness: For people with digestive disorders, stool tests can be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and detect any potential complications.
Improving gut health: Stool tests can provide important information about the balance of bacteria in the gut, which can help identify imbalances and suggest ways to improve gut health.
Book an at 727-335-0400 at Root Cause Medical Clinic
The distinction between Hiatal Hernia and Hiatal Hernia Syndrome is critical to your health.If you don't have a visualized hiatal hernia on a scope, you can be told you don't have Hiatal Hernia Syndrome.
You're told you symptoms like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, panic attacks, pressure in your chest and more, are "all in your head" because they couldn't possibly be caused by a Hiatal Hernia.
Hiatal Hernia Syndrome ruins lives.
Get out of the trap of misdiagnosis.
Watch this video and please share it with others.
Sign up for your personalized consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-naturalsolution-2/
Do you struggle with PCOS? The solution is a natural one.
PCOS affects about 20% of women in child-bearing age. Symptoms of PCOS include infertility, cysts on the ovaries, hair loss (male pattern baldness), facial hair, weight gain and more.
In this video we review exciting research that truly uncovers the root cause of PCOS, excluding the use of the dangerous drugs so often prescribed.
This video is also one to share with you male friends, listen to find out why!
This is a very common situation that I find a lot of our patients in. Depending on your symptoms whether it be heart palpitations, anxiety, stomach issues, feeling out of breath - there is one root cause to all of these. That's the Hiatal Hernia Syndrome.
Doctors tend to tell you that it's all in your head. This is not the case. Listen to the video and comment below your questions.
Book a consultation by calling: 727-335-0400 or visit our website https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-naturalsolution/
There's a reason why so many are confused about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Doctors wrongly assess their patients and you deserve better. If you are feeling symptoms after eating gluten, you are right in thinking you are sensitive. Have a listen to learn the specifics about this test and how you can make sure you're diagnosed properly.
Learn more: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/blog/category/digestion/celiac-gluten-sensitivity/
Contact us for a consultation: 408-733-0400
info@rootcausemedical.com
Research shows that some hours of fasting (not starving!) can create great health benefits for heart disease, diabetes, obesity and degenerative brain diseases. Is it right for you? Find out from a doctor.
Contact us for a FREE consultation: www.RootCauseMedicalClinic.com
Give us a call to schedule directly: 408-733-0400
What we put in our mouths affects our mood.
Certainly, many have experienced this if they have over-indulged in sugary foods. Case in point: kids who've had too much sugar tend to get really hyperactive and cranky at the same time.
What are the foods that are good for your mood? Watch the full episode to find out!
Contact us at 408-733-0400
Visit us at: www.RootCauseMedicalClinics.com
Migraine is a genetic neurological condition that causes some brain cells to fatigue much easier than they are supposed to. When brain cells fatigue they can no longer appropriately do their job, which leads to symptoms. The most common migraine symptom is headache, but some never experience migraine-type headaches. Some migraine sufferers may only experience dizziness, nausea/vomiting, visual disturbances, numbness, weakness, light/sound/smell sensitivity, or fatigue. Oftentimes a migraine patient may experience a combination of these symptoms.
While migraine is a neurological issue, there are 4 primary triggers that will fatigue your brain and increase the likelihood of having a migraine. These triggers are nutritional stress, hormonal stress, musculoskeletal stress, and psychological stress.
We aim to identify which brain cells are dysfunctional and carefully rehabilitate them so that they can get stronger. We also work to identify and treat any triggers that are contributing to your migraines. We accomplish this through consultation and assessment, teaching you at-home therapies, managing your nutrition/hormone balance, and guiding you to additional practitioners and services near your home that may also be beneficial for you, if necessary. Our primary goal is to help you live your ideal life, without symptoms!
Visit our website to learn more: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.c...
Schedule a consultation by calling: 408-733-0400
Suffering from mysterious symptoms and your primary care physician just can't seem to figure out why? Find out what Dr. Vikki has to say about Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and see if this autoimmune condition can be reversed!
Want to learn more? Give us a call to schedule your free consultation directly: 408-733-0400
Visit our website at: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com
We've learned a lot about the importance of balancing our vitamin D3 and K2 levels. Find out the best form of vitamin K2, what foods contain it naturally, the difference between vitamins K1 and K2 and why taking D3 without K2 can create dangerous health conditions.
Want to boost your Vitamins D3 and K2? One day left in our immune mega-boost supplement sale! Shop now at https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/store
Give us a call to schedule directly: 408-733-0400
The term "Menopause" simply means a "pause" to a woman's menstrual cycle: and that's what it should just be!
Just because a woman is in this stage of her life, it doesn't mean that it's inevitable for her to experience the symptoms that come along with menopause.
This is something that Root Cause Medical Clinics has a lot of experience on. Watch the full video to discover how we help our patients overcome this much-dreaded stage in a woman's life.
Change your health by contacting us for a consultation.
Contact us at: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/our-unique-clinic/
408-733-0400
We are experiencing more and more patients coming in with symptoms of hiatal hernia syndrome who have a history of trauma or injury. Injury to the diaphragm, such as trauma from a fall or traffic accident, can lead to a hiatal hernia.
Many healthcare providers get all caught up with taking a look at the internal factors, when in fact a thorough dissection of a patient's health history might just be the key in getting into the root cause of their hiatal hernia.
Are you wondering if you have a Hiatal Hernia? Visit our website at: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-naturalsolution/
Give us a call to schedule directly: 408-733-0400
In this episode, Dr. Vikki reviews the 3 types of hiatal hernias she sees in the clinic and the protocol she uses to fully handle it.
There is a great deal of confusion in the medical community regarding hiatal hernia and the result is that patients are suffering needlessly.
If you've been diagnosed with acid reflux, GERD, panic attacks, heart palpitations and more, you'll learn a lot in this video.
Should you know someone with these symptoms please share this episode with them. There truly is hope to remedy this problem without drugs or surgery.
Contact us for a free consultation.
(408) 733-0400
Check out more information on Hiatal Hernia Syndrome and our free e-book here:
https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-naturalsolution/
As we know the Coronavirus is one that attacks your lungs. When faced with a virus for which there is no treatment, you must rely on your immune system.
In this video, I review an exciting historical study that decreased deaths by 80% for those hospitalized with respiratory disease. And the dose used was quite minimal.
There's a lot more in this video about vitamin C, Zinc, and taking back the health of your immune system.
Give a listen to learn more.
Inflammation is natural and protective against infection. There are two sides to inflammation; it has a dark side when it gets over-vigilant.
While "in control" inflammation is required to maintain health, chronic inflammation weakens your body and puts you more at risk for infection, particularly to viruses and autoimmune diseases.
I review both types of immunity in this video, plus how to lower your risk of repeated infections and poor vaccine response.
Give a listen to learn more.
In this podcast, I review some very interesting data about your sleep quality and brain health.
We discuss the link between deep sleep and memory, plus the connection between deep sleep and Alzheimer's disease.
How can your sleep quality affect your brain's ability to "cleanse" itself, ridding itself of toxins? I'll tell you.
Plus, if you suffer from poor sleep quality, what you can do about it.
To learn more click here.
In this podcast, I review fascinating research of how optimizing your vitamin D will inhibit the ability of viruses to activate damage within your cells.
Many studies, over 25, reveal vitamin D's protective response of lung tissue, but this research shows that specifically with corona viruses, D is able to suppress the negative effects the virus can cause on your lungs.
Further, I review how obese individuals are compromised over 50% in their ability to absorb vitamin D and make it bio-available.
Give a listen to learn more. https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/
New information regarding the lung inflammation associated with COVID-19 brings us some pro-active steps you can take right now to lower your inflammatory potential.
The "cytokine storm" that leads to the destructive damage associated with the virus is specifically linked to inflammation that can be controlled via a pathway in your body. It's called NRF2 (yes, pronounced like a "NERF" ball).
This pathway quells the inflammation and can be supported and empowered with some specific dietary choices.
I review them in this video.
I hope you find this helpful. Please let me know.
Contact us at: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/contact/
https://youtu.be/0phH1hTvavM
The internet is littered with opinions on sourdough bread and whether or not it's safe for those avoiding gluten.
In this video I clear up the confusion and let you know where the false data likely arose from.
If you or a love one need to avoid gluten, please listen to this video.
Eating gluten when you shouldn't is very dangerous.
Too often doctors only measure Vitamin D3 in your blood and neglect Vitamin K2.
The rate of deficiency of both vitamins is extremely high.
Even more important is the risk of taking vitamin D3 without vitamin K2. You could be putting yourself at risk for heart disease, not to mention brittle bones.
Unless you're on a blood thinner, vitamin K2 is something you should know about and not miss as a part of your daily nutritional routine.
Listen to learn more.
Do you have a picky eater at home? Have you heard "greens are gross" or other such complaints?
If you've heard that it doesn't matter what your child eats as long as they're not overweight or get a lot of activity, please watch this video.
Learn the importance of certain key nutrients and how food can shape your child's health future.
Call 408-733-0400 for a consultation and a meeting with our Registered Dietitian.
Regret is unfortunate. While I believe it's never too late to get healthy, patients regularly tell me they wish they had gotten healthier sooner.
The human body is capable of healing to some degree no matter what your age, which is great news.
The bad news is that the things in life you missed because your health wouldn't allow you to fully participate or enjoy them, cannot be gotten back.
The promotion you didn't get, your child's sports event or play you missed or couldn't enjoy, a night out dancing; none of that can be retrieved.
We won't regret yesterday, that's fruitless, but let's make a change in your health today so tomorrow is more enjoyable. Give a listen.
Contact us for a free consultation:
(408) 733-0400
____________________________________
Website: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/
Contact Page: https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/contact/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootcausemedicalclinic/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootcausemedicalclinic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rootcausemed
Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, IS found in rat poison. But does that mean humans shouldn't take vitamin D?
Learn the facts in this short video with Dr Vikki Petersen.
Contact me for a free consultation:
(408) 733-0400
https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/
Do you wonder if gluten is bothering you?
There is a lot of confusion as to how best to test for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
The good news is that we can clear up the confusion for good and answer your questions.
Give a listen.
Website: http://www.rootcausemedicalclinic.com
Contact Page: http://rootcausemedicalclinic.com/com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvikkipetersen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootcausemedical
Twitter: twitter.com/rootcausemedical
"Carb" - it's a 4-letter word. Or is it? Turns out there's good and bad associated with carbs and while the "bad" ones are very bad, the "good" ones are absolutely mandatory if you're going to enjoy good health. Do you have carb confusion? Is so, you're in good company, but this podcast will resolve the confusion easily and your body will thank you!
The ketogenic diet is truly popular and a current fad in nutrition.
Are you following it? Are you "doing" a ketogenic diet correctly?
I agree with Dr David Perlmutter who warns against avoiding carbohydrates, eating a lot of animal based protein, and eating a lot of red meat and eggs. He also urges everyone to eat certain types of carbs.
www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com
Dr. Vikki on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/drvikkipetersen
Root Cause Medical Instagram:
www.instagram.com/rootcausemedicalclinic
Have you ever felt that Functional Medicine was financially difficult for yourself or your friends?
Has personalized medicine seemed out of reach because it was too expensive?
How does about $7 per day sound? Affordable? We think so too!
Root Cause Medical is happy to announce Membership Programs
Affordable, personalized care
Year-long models to ensure you achieve full correction
Separate plans for functional medicine, chiropractic and physical therapy care
Programs are tailored to your unique health needs
Membership perks including discount on supplements and more
Root Cause Medical Clinic
(408) 733-0400
20398 Blauer Dr.
Saratoga, CA 95070
rootcausemedicalclinic.com
It can be tempting to give boxes of candy and fudge for the Holidays. Such temptations are everywhere and easy to send to friends and family.
In this podcast I want to give you some suggestions of other gift ideas that are healthier and ultimately your friends and family will find more enjoyable.
I focus on the fact that what we really want for ourselves and our friends and family is health and happiness.
Let's truly enjoy the Holiday season with good health and energy to enjoy all the fun and joy this time of the year can bring.
In this second podcast I tell the story of how Root Cause Medicine came to exist. The concept began while I was still in college but my love of healthcare and the reason I chose to dedicate my life to it began even earlier. I hope you enjoy my story and continue to join me as we explore the best of healthcare and how you can enjoy your best health ever.
Website: www.RootCauseMedicalClincs.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootcausemedicalclinic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootcausemedicalclinic/
Contact: 20398 Blauer Dr. Saratoga, CA 95070
408-733-0400
Welcome to The Dr. Vikki Podcast! I'm a Doctor of Chiropractic, Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and am co-founder of the renowned Root Cause Medical Clinic in Saratoga, California.
I'm passionate about bringing you cutting-edge information on health, wellness and how to get to the Root Cause of your symptoms. I wanted to bring you another resource for getting information you can trust. I talk all things health from women's hormones, celiac disease and much more. Please let me know any topic you want me to talk about.
I hope you enjoy!
YouTube: @DrVikkiPetersen
Instagram: @DrVikkiPetersen
Facebook: @RootCauseMedicalClinic
Website: www.RootCauseMedicalClincs.com
Phone: 408-733-0400