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We receive many questions this time of year from patients about normal energy levels in the winter. It is natural for sleep to increase in accordance with the lack of light we experience, especially here in the Northwest. Our circadian rhythms respond to the change in light and our pineal gland is affected, which may trigger a feeling of sleepiness earlier in the evenings.  This is a normal phenomenon.  It is often when people are not heeding this need for an average of one more hour of sleep per night  (or when they have been under long term stress or not practicing good sleep habits for a period of time) that daytime fatigue and a general feeling of depletion result.   In this scenario, either people notice they don’t feel rested after sleep, or they experience an energy crash at either 2-3 pm or 6-8 pm. This type of fatigue has a different cause than the normal winter desire for a bit more rest.

April is Autism Awareness Month and the physicians at Insights To Health would like to share what we have gleaned from our experience treating autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism affects 1 in 48 boys in Oregon and isn’t so much a disease as a cluster of symptoms. The causes are not generally understood and very controversial. In our experience ASD is still commonly missed as a diagnosis and recognizing the problem is important. Recent studies found that large numbers of undiagnosed children displayed autistic traits. »

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 At a recent American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting Douglas Smith, MD a professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania basically said there is not such thing as a mild head injury. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) affects over 1 million Americans every year. While the usually treatment is observation and release, we are now learning that these injuries are not so mild. Patient's persists in neurological and cognitive deficits and may also experience anxiety, insomnia, depression, headaches and gastrointestinal problems.  Even more disturbing is that one does not have to hit one's head to have a head injury!

What can be done about it? Noticing there is a problem is the most important thing. If you or someone you know has been in an accident or diagnosed with a mild concussion, pay attention. Notice if there have been changes in the person (or yourself). If you aren't sure, get to a clinician who is adequately trained to assess the situation. If you have any of the above problems see your doctor even if the incident was many years ago.   Neurofeedback, vitamin D, homeopathy, and fish oil are amazing at not only reducing brain injury but helping the brain recover from the injury. In particular, LENS or Low Energy Neurofeedback System is showing great promise in improving symptoms of 80% of patients with TBI!

Migraine headaches are often debilitating.  They are also extremely common in the United States. Estimates vary between 10-20% of the population suffer from this condition, costing consumers approximately $12.7 billion a year in medical costs (with another $12 billion in lost work days!). Migraineurs lose valuable work and family time, have increased stress levels, and are at double the risk of a heart attack versus people who do not get migraines.

Many people manage their migraines through either polypharmacy (multiple drugs), or understanding the triggers associated with their particular headaches. Chocolate, stress, lack of sleep, alcohol, caffeine, bright sunlight, menses, and barometric changes are all possible triggers. But knowing the a trigger and addressing the cause are not the same thing. Once the cause is addressed, former migraine sufferers can tolerate their previous triggers, without medication,  and live life fully, without the constant threat of severe pain.

At Insights to Health, we categorize migraines into one of the following causes: 

Head Injury: One of the most common causes of migraines is previous head trauma. Between 1.5-3.5 million people each year sustain an injury that could later cause migraine headaches. Even minor bumps on the head or whiplash injuries can add up and lead to headaches later in life. 

Female Hormonal: Imbalances in a women's hormonal cycle can lead to headaches that appear either right before or during menses.