Author: Dr. Christopher Cummins

Peripheral neuropathy may seem like one of the least concerning effects of an illness. But it could be the condition preventing them from doing basic activities – going on walks, carrying groceries, or even hugging the new baby in the family.

For those unfamiliar with the disease, peripheral neuropathy is a form of nerve damage that affects over 30 million Americans (according to The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy).

But what does peripheral neuropathy feel like?

What causes it?

And how can those who suffer alleviate the symptoms?

Dr. Chris Cummins, M.D., Family Medicine takes a closer look at why this disease occurs and how to manage it.

Meanwhile, let’s find out first what a person must look out for.

Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms

Nerves are responsible for feeling sensations, controlling movement, and signaling the organs to think, breathe, digest, etc. However, when nerves are damaged because of peripheral neuropathy, a person can suffer from the following symptoms:

• Tingling or numbness of the extremities.
• Losing balance or muscle coordination.
• A sharp or stabbing pain, especially in feet and hands.
• Dizziness.
• Heat intolerance.
• Excessive sweating.
• Digestive problems (diarrhea, bloating, or constipation).

Fortunately, once a medical professional diagnoses a person with peripheral neuropathy, the physician recommends or prescribes treatments to alleviate the symptoms.

Treatment and Relief

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for peripheral neuropathy. However, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, there are treatments to prevent the symptoms from worsening.

Some of them include medications.

Medications

Doctors prescribe various medications for people suffering from peripheral neuropathy. Depending on the cause and symptoms, a physician can prescribe Pregabalin (Lyrica), Gabapentin (Neurontin), Amitriptyline (Elavil), or Duloxetine (Cymbalta).

Most of these medications work by blocking the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain – or by controlling the brain chemicals and altering its perception of how much pain the body is in.
Moreover, some forms of therapy also work similarly to those.

Therapy

Medications alone can alleviate peripheral neuropathy symptoms. In some instances, however, patients must also undergo therapy.

The most common therapies for alcoholic neuropathy include:

Scrambler Therapy

In scrambler therapy, the machine blocks the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. Instead, it sends non-pain signals to the brain, so the brain perceives the aching body part as functioning normally and not in pain.

Physical Therapy

Those with muscle damage caused by peripheral neuropathy sometimes attend physical therapy to regain strength and mobility.

Furthermore, through physical therapy, medical professionals can determine whether or not the patient needs a wheelchair, cane, or walker.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has long been used to treat different illnesses – including peripheral neuropathy. In a study by The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), they found evidence that acupuncture can alleviate symptoms of the disease.

Like other illnesses, acupuncture stimulates blood flow and nerve pathways, aiding nerve regeneration and preservation.

However, in a journal by Eunwoo Cho and Woojin Kim (published by the National Institutes of Health), they only mentioned acupuncture to be beneficial to those with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

But besides diabetes, what else can cause peripheral neuropathy?

Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy

Fortunately, not every diabetic person develops peripheral neuropathy – but the risk of developing it is higher if they’re over 40 years old, smoke, or drink excessive amounts of alcohol.

That said, alcohol consumption is also one of the main causes of peripheral neuropathy, regardless of whether the person is diabetic or not.

But other causes of peripheral neuropathy can be due to the following health conditions:

• Nerve damage (from an injury or surgery)
• Mercury, lead, or arsenic poisoning
• Hypothyroidism
• Lyme disease
• HIV
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Certain types of cancer
• Kidney disease
• Vitamin B12 deficiency

However, don’t rely on treatment alone. Make lifestyle changes as well.

Coping with Peripheral Neuropathy

Simple lifestyle changes can improve a person’s quality of life – they can prevent peripheral neuropathy complications and alleviate the symptoms.

For instance, individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy must regularly take care of their hands and feet – they might not know if they cut or scraped their feet while walking, as numbness is a common symptom.

Furthermore, regularly exercising can regain strength, balance, and muscle coordination. It also lowers blood sugar levels.

But exercising should always go hand-in-hand with a healthy diet – limiting (or, if possible, avoiding) alcohol consumption.

Lastly, by being optimistic and around supportive people, peripheral neuropathy can be deduced as an inconvenience or challenge – not a life-altering illness that takes away people’s quality of life.

Conclusion

Peripheral neuropathy is an incurable disease that many suffer from. However, plenty of options are available to manage the discomfort and pain it causes.

To anyone who suspects they might suffer from peripheral neuropathy, consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Hormones play a vital role in governing not just our emotions but also serve as the critical signals guiding numerous essential functions within our bodies. Given their significance, staying vigilant about hormone disorders and their treatments is paramount. Understanding and managing these intricate chemical messengers are key to maintaining overall well-being and ensuring optimal health. There are a variety of treatment approaches available to treat such imbalances, such as Biote.

Dr. Christopher Cummins, Family Medicine in Oxford reports that across various studies, almost half of all women are affected by imbalances in hormone levels. However, preventative medicine innovator Biote and medical device pioneer OrthogenRX have developed treatments that can prove revolutionary for physicians treating these hormone imbalances.

In this article, an exploration of hormone imbalances and how physicians can help address them is discussed. We will particularly look into utilizing treatments from Biote and OrthogenRX, and not without first understanding both products. With so much to cover, let’s get started.

Imbalanced Hormones

Hormones are technically chemicals produced in the body. These chemicals create a response in the body from the brain throughout the musculoskeletal and nerve structures. They travel via the bloodstream, take a long time to work, and are involved in just about everything that the human body does.

Hormones are created in different portions of the body; some are made in the brain, while others are made in the thyroid, for example.

The five main hormones are as follows:

• Estrogen – The female sex hormone that is released in the ovaries and helps development in areas of the body, regulates menstrual cycles, aids in blood clotting and cheerful moods, and even helps form bones. Without it, weight gain, flashes of heat, and low libido are probable; it also affects reproductivity.
• Melatonin – Produced in a gland of the brain called the pineal gland, this hormone is important in regulating cycles of sleep and wakefulness. Without it, sleep quality goes down significantly, and many health problems from mental to physical can follow.
• Testosterone – This is the male sex hormone which is produced in either the female ovaries or male testicles and has to do with everything from bone and muscle mass, to sex drive, to fat cell distribution. Without this hormone, sex drive and ability drops, and so do bone density and muscle mass.
• Insulin – This hormone is released in the pancreas and has everything to do with the metabolic process of the body. It allows vital organs and liver to absorb glucose. Without this hormone messenger, blood sugar rises, and diabetes is soon to follow.
• Cortisol – Known as the stress hormone, cortisol is released to help the body be aware of danger that might be close by and alert everything to begin moving more quickly in preparation for escape. Too much or too little of this hormone can affect anxiety levels, cause migraines, lead to weight gain, and even harm the heart’s function.

How Biote Revolutionizes Treatment Approaches

As is no doubt obvious from the information above, any fluctuation in hormone levels and improper balances can be a big cause for trouble. Therefore, treatment of hormone imbalances should be efficient and done with extreme prejudice.

This is where Biote come in. Biote is an innovative company that makes their name in medicine which is not only preventative of future health issues (including hormone imbalances,) but is precise in dealing with them.

Biote can provide access to essential vitamins which affect hormone production. Some of these include the amino acid L-theanine, such as their “Best Night Sleep” product. L-theanine is naturally occurring, but can help control cortisone levels, and therefore affect stress and improve sleep.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, addressing hormone imbalances starts with understanding what a big deal the regulation of these hormones is; every area of the body is affected. Additionally, the way these hormone imbalances are treated is just as crucial to do efficiently.

Biote, represents many vitamin and supplement products which also directly address hormone imbalances and their symptoms. These two companies are paving the way for a revolution of treatment approaches in hormone imbalances.

Everyone has hormones, and everyone needs them.

Hormones impact everything from reproductive health to mood. They are vital parts of our well-being that tell our bodies how to function.

They also frequently become imbalanced. It is common to experience some form of hormone imbalance in one’s lifetime, especially for women. The signs may be easy to spot but several symptoms can be unexpected for both men and women.

Dr. Christopher Cummins, Family Medicine, in Oxford explains more on what patients should know about hormone imbalances — and how they may be treated.

Hormone Imbalance 101

Broadly, hormone imbalances occur when one has either too little or too much of at least one hormone. Even the seemingly slightest change in levels can wreak havoc on the body and its systems.

These imbalances may also lead to different medical conditions that need to be treated.

Like many other medical conditions, hormone imbalances can either be short-term or long-term, or chronic. An imbalance can impact people in a variety of ways. Some require extensive treatment while others may impact some quality of life but not majorly affect one’s health. Some symptoms are temporary and vanish on their own.

Hormone imbalances and other issues cause dozens of different conditions. The most common related to hormone imbalances include infertility and irregular menstrual cycles, obesity, acne (both in adults and young people), thyroid diseases such as hyperthyroidism, and diabetes.

Symptoms and Signs

Perhaps the most common sign of a hormone imbalance is an overall effect on one’s metabolism, or how the body’s cells convert food to energy.

Imbalance tied to metabolism alterations commonly include irregular heartbeat, fatigue, weight loss or weight gain, high cholesterol levels, depression, and constipation. Generally, mood swings are also common.

• Indicators in Women

Irregular periods are frequently seen in women with hormone imbalances and often begin to display in early adulthood through the condition polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS may lead to enlarged ovaries or the ceasing of ovulation entirely.

Doctors advise women to be on the lookout for night sweats and hot flashes, persistent and unexpected weight gain, pelvic pain, colder-than-normal feet and hands, and menstrual periods that are unusually heavy.

Women report hormone imbalances that cause the growth of excess body hair, atrophy of the vagina, and loss of sex drive.

• Symptoms in Men

Men may experience an imbalance of testosterone and other sex hormones. This frequently leads to infertility and loss of interest in sex as well, but also a decrease in muscle mass, loss of body hair, and erectile dysfunction. They may also see gynecomastia or an enlargement of the breast tissue.

Hormone imbalances may be the natural result of pregnancy, puberty, or menopause, but can also stem from various medications, using steroids, or experiencing stress.

Treatment Options

No two cases of hormone imbalance are treated in the same way. Many medications have been developed for men and women that promote hormone balance and improved well-being, such as biote or other products.

Other popular treatment options for both sexes include hormone replacement therapy, especially for conditions seen after menopause or for men who naturally experience low testosterone due to advanced age. Women may opt for vaginal estrogen.

Certain conditions related to hormone imbalance come with their own treatment options, such as taking Metformin for PCOS or diabetes or Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism.

Another therapeutic route is using natural supplements, but such remedies have not been proven or officially approved to treat hormone imbalances.

Primarily care doctors may also recommend changes to lifestyle to reduce the chance of developing imbalances or lessen symptoms. This includes regularly exercising, eating a balanced diet, managing stress and practicing good hygiene.