Dr. David J Schimp DC LLC


262.673.2341


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FUNCTIONAL medicine






An functional medicine visit starts long before you enter our clinic. I'll review your prior medical records and labs days before you are seen at the clinic. When you do arrive, our first visit will be an hour long introduction - we'll discuss your health care needs in greater detail and formulate a plan to move forward. Usually, additional lab testing is recommended. Once I understand your unique biochemistry, I can formulate a plan that is tailored to your individual needs. This will include dietary and lifestyle recommendations and often specific nutritional and botanical supplemental supports. We'll repeat your labs periodically to monitor your progress and I'll adjust my recommendations based on your lab values and symptom progress. Integrative health care is not one-size-fits-all. It takes time, patience and hard work but I'll be there to support you and help you reach your goals.



adrenal health



We live in a world of toxic stress. Cell phones, jobs, kids and aging parents lead to a constant revving of the adrenal glands. Cortisol levels go high, irregular or low. Blood sugar becomes dysregulated and eventually the bottom begins to fall out. You might start to have problems falling asleep or staying asleep, crave salt, experience afternoon fatigue, dizziness if you stand up too quickly or begin to experience headaches with exertion or stress. You might begin to perspire more easily, gain weight under stress and wake up tired even after 6 or more hours of sleep. All these are symptoms of adrenal stress and fatigue.


Adrenal recovery takes time and effort. First you must identify and remove external stressors including toxins and infections. Then you have to address internal stressors like poor digestion and an imbalance of GI tract flora. A few key areas to promote recovery include a regular sleep schedule, avoidance of stimulants like caffeine and maintaining good blood sugar control. In addition nutritional status needs to balanced and optimized. The use of adaptogenic botanicals can also be useful in promoting healthy and robust adrenal health.



thyroid health



Compromised adrenal health, irregular hormones, environmental exposures and aging are but a few of the causes of thyroid problems. Assessing thyroid health is much more complex than simply running a TSH, the standard medical assessment. If you are tired and sluggish, feel cold all over, require excessive amounts of sleep, gain weight even with low calorie diets, tend to be constipated, lack motivation, experience morning headaches that wear off as the day progresses, have thinning of the eyebrows or other signs of hair loss, notice dry skin and are mentally sluggish then you deserve to have your thyroid evaluated thoroughly. This starts with a physical examination and palpation of your thyroid and includes an array of lab tests that evaluate for autoimmunity (e.g. a "self" attack on the thyroid -this accounts for the majority of low thyroid cases) and further assesses important markers of thyroid health like reverse T3, Free T3, Free T4, Total T4 and iodine. In many cases, I'll also look for confounding factors like iron deficiency and low vitamin D levels.


Restoring thyroid health depends upon the specific needs of each patient. Key areas include lifestyle, diet, exercise and specific nutrient recommendations as well as the use of adaptogenic botanicals.



gastrointestinal health



Digestive problems are one of the most common complaints that I work with. While symptoms of heartburn can often be addressed quickly with dietary changes and digestive support not all patients have it so easy. Irritable bowel disease, Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, diverticulitis, diverticulosis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), leaky gut, chronic diarrhea and constipation require a deeper level of evaluation and willingness on part of the patient to make substantial changes to diet. In my experience, I find food sensitivity testing and comprehensive stool testing are two commonly utilized evaluations.



hormonal health



The impact of xenoestrogen exposure from the environment is one of the factors leading to hormonal symptoms in both men and women. Xenoestrogens are a type of hormone that imitates estrogen and can disrupt normal endocrine function. Women may experience changes in menstrual cycle length, pain and cramping during periods, scant or heavy blood flow, breast pain and swelling, pelvic pain, irritability, acne, facial hair growth, hair loss or thinning, hot flashes, mental fogginess, mood swings, depression, shrinking breasts, disinterest in sex and other frustrating symptoms that negatively influence quality of life. Men can also experience hormonal symptoms associated with imbalances such as low testosterone or high estrogen that effect ability to concentrate, sexual function and interest, weight gain, moodiness, muscle soreness, mental fatigue and sweating. Depending on the situation I will recommend either blood, urine or salivary testing to evaluate hormone levels and balance.



blood sugar



Blood sugar related problems can lead to a myriad of health concerns - diabetes being the most troubling outcome. Early on, however, many patients will first experience symptoms of low blood sugar. Clues that you may be experiencing a blood sugar problem are craving sweets during the day, irritability if meals are missed, depending on coffee to get you going in the morning, light-headed if meals are missed, fatigue relieved by eating, feeling shaky or jittery, easily agitated, nervousness, poor memory, blurred vision, craving sweets after meals, frequent urination, increased thirst or appetite and difficulty losing weight.


Disorders of blood sugar are evaluated through fasting laboratory testing and in many cases I will recommend also evaluating cardiovascular risk factors like cholesterol, triglycerides and other heart disease and stroke risk factors. Many blood sugar disorders can be successfully supported by making strict dietary changes, exercising regularly and utilizing specific supplements.



ADHD



Children and adults with a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may benefit from a thorough functional medicine evaluation to identify potential imbalances and underlying drivers. For example, an individual with genetically induced high histamine levels may experience an increase in symptoms of ADHD after consuming foods high in histamines. Evaluation may include food sensitivity testing, micronutrient analysis, organic acids testing from Great Plains labs, heavy metals, comprehensive stool analysis, mold testing, genetic testing for MTHF, COMT, CBS and other variations that influence metabolism, detoxification and biochemistry.





brain and cognitive health



Comprehensive cognitive health assessments for mild cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer's disease are based on the extensive research of neurologist Dale E. Bredesen MD and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Recommended reading for family and support members is Dr. Bredesen's book, The End of Alzheimer's. In his book, Dr. Bredesen describes a program of assessment and management that has been shown to prevent and reverse cognitive decline. My work in this area is patterned after Dr. Bredesen's program. It does involve extensive laboratory evaluation and cognitive testing to identify key areas that contribute to mental decline. Evaluation includes genetic risk (ApoE4), tests for blood sugar dysregulation and insulin resistance, thyroid hormones, sex hormones, adrenal hormones, nutrient deficiencies, homocysteine, heavy metals, molds and other parameters to be determined on an individual basis. Once risk factors are identified, I formulate a specific program that includes lifestyle, dietary and nutriceutical considerations. Cognitive assessments are repeated periodically to monitor progress and response to the interventions.



long-covid (post covid long-haul)



Long haul COVID-19 may be associated with a myriad of clinical symptoms. These include neurological changes like mood, cognition, sense of smell and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)​. Other associated conditions include cardiac and blood clotting disorders, rheumatologic or musculoskeletal problems, fatigue and exertional intolerance, mast cell activation, immune dysfunction and autoimmunity.


Support options may include further laboratory evaluation to study terrain markers of inflammation, immunity, blood sugar and more. Lifestyle and dietary changes to reduce inflammation, modulate blood sugar and obesity/over-weight are essential. These include discussions regarding Mediterranean or anti-inflammatory diet, reducing processed carbohydrates and sugar, intermittent fasting, detoxification and avoidance of unhealthy fats. Supplement recommendations are specific to individual needs based on your history and laboratory evaluation.



lyme disease



Lyme disease is known as the great imitator and can progress to a chronic disease if inadequately treated in the early stages. Late Lyme can cause a diverse set of complications that may include neurological, heart and arthritic symptoms. Routine testing is performed using Labcorp diagnostic laboratory. Advanced Lyme and other tick-borne disease tests are completed using IgeneX, the global leader in the research and development of tests that accurately detect Lyme disease, Relapsing Fever and other tick-borne diseases.





CANCER RISK REDUCTION



Cancer patients want to know more. Many cancer patients are not given specific information regarding supplement use, lifestyle and diet. Common questions: What else can I do to help myself? What should I eat? Can I exercise? What supplements or nutritional supports should I be taking to improve my health, improve the efficacy of my medical treatments, reduce side effects from the medical treatments and minimize my risk for recurrence while improving my overall quality of life? What can I do to minimize my risk of cancer or cancer recurrence?


Comprehensive laboratory biomarkers are used to assess the individual's immune fighting capacity, modify internal biochemical characteristics that promote cancer progression and identify tumor characteristics that help support the choice of immunonutrition and cytotoxic botanicals that promote cancer cell death and inhibit progression. For those undergoing conventional cancer treatment the use of natural strategies can augment those treatments while providing necessary support to reduce side effects from chemotherapy and radiation enabling individuals to complete the course of therapy.



AUTOIMMUNITY



Autoimmunity is condition that cannot be cured. Instead, the goal is to achieve symptomatic control and hold the condition in a relative state of clinical silence. Identifying primary drivers and living a healthy lifestyle can minimize flares. For some, oral pathogens can be triggers and dental hygiene will be essential to minimize flare-ups.


In general, some key considerations are: A routine blood count (CBC) provides important insights to immune function. Other routine measures include evaluation of blood sugar, hormones, food and chemical sensitivities, vitamin deficiencies, detoxification efficiency, gastrointestinal health and microbiome evaluation including consideration of pathogens (i.e. Epstein Barr, mycoplasma, cytomegalovirus, herpes virus and others) and parasites. Advanced evaluation includes tests for autoantibodies against self-tissues, cytokine (inflammatory markers) panels, complement C3/C4, T and B lymphocyte and natural kill cell profiles among others. Understanding the landscape through laboratory evaluation helps guide more informed treatment and support strategies. For more information on advanced specialized testing visit Cyrex Laboratories.


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Tuesday, Thursday 8:00am - 12:00pm

Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm


262.673.2341

Fax 262.673.2131

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Dr. David J Schimp DC LLC



937 E. Sumner Street, Hartford WI 53027