Our stomach is an amazing organ but it has an Achilles heel – it can develop a problem called a hiatal hernia. This occurs when the stomach slides up (or herniates) through the diaphragm and into the chest cavity. This puts the stomach in close contact with the heart, and the heart doesn’t like this situation very much. This can lead to severe and bizarre symptoms that make sleep impossible and may even send you to the hospital.
When the hiatal hernia happens it can cause symptoms ranging from GERD, reflux, bad breath, burping, hiccups, to chest pain, difficulty breathing, arrhythmia and even heart attack symptoms. In fact, people go the emergency room every day thinking they are having a heart attack, when in fact it is just a hiatal hernia. Often the symptoms of a hiatal hernia only show up when you are lying down such as sleeping or napping.
Medical doctors may recommend surgery for severe cases (and in some cases surgery is necessary), but for most people the hiatal hernia is treatable with conservative care. Hiatal hernias can persists for years and they are a contributing factor for people with SIBO, anxiety, IBS and many other chronic problems. Since digestion is the foundation of health, it is very important to treat and fix the hiatal hernia. If you are living with a hiatal hernia you are living below your potential! Anything that interferes with the function of the stomach and of our digestive system needs to be treated for us to heal and enjoy life-long wellness.
Many chiropractors, naturopaths, osteopaths and select integrative doctors are trained to fix or “reduce” the hiatal hernia without drugs or surgery. In this video I share with you the science and some of the exercises we give to our patients to help fix this common, digestion-destroying problem.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a hiatal hernia and chronic gut issues, please share this video with them! For help optimizing your gut, your brain and your genetic expression, so you may experience more abundant health in your life…you may contact Dr. Rostenberg directly. Phone 208-322-7755. Email care@redmountainclinic.com. Website http://www.redmountainclinic.com and https://www.beyondmthfr.com
Hello,
I recently read the following from Pamela Popper, ND, PhD (www.wellnessforum.com) and would greatly appreciate your feedback on the article. After reading it, I’m confused as to what to believe.
Thanks,
Aaron
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Medicine’s Shiny New Thing: the MTHFR Gene Mutation
While there have been many medical discoveries that have saved lives (like antibiotics), and improved lives (such as joint replacement), many medical discoveries have proven to have little usefulness. An example is genetic testing. Even advocates for the practice acknowledge that we don’t know what to do with most of the information learned from genetic testing, and that in many cases we are just turning healthy people into worried healthy people after they find out that they have an abnormality. If we look hard enough we can find something wrong with almost any human, but this does not mean that the human benefits from knowing about it.
It appears that this is the case with the MTHFR gene mutation. More and more doctors are testing for it, but it is not clear that anyone other than the labs that run the tests are benefitting from this practice.
The MTHFR gene, or methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene, produces an enzyme that assists in the regulation of homocysteine levels in the body. Homocysteine is a byproduct of the breakdown of methionine, an amino acid concentrated in land animals, dairy, and fish. High homocysteine levels are associated with increased risk for atherosclerosis, blood clots, heart attacks, and stroke.
It is estimated that as much as 50% of the population has a mutation of the MTHFR gene. Humans have two MTHFR genes, one inherited from each parent. In order to cause any detrimental effect on health, mutations must be present in both copies of the gene. But even when mutations are present in both copies, studies have not shown that those with the mutation have reason to be concerned. Research shows that as long as homocysteine levels are normal, having the gene mutation does not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Some studies have shown a slight association between the mutation and venous blood clots, but most have shown no association.
For people who do have high homocysteine levels, with or without the gene mutation, the best remedy is to increase dietary folate. Folate is found in plant foods, so a plant-based diet that includes lots of green vegetables is the best treatment. In addition to lowering homocysteine levels, a plant-based diet can improve other markers for cardiovascular disease and lower the risk of a cardiovascular event.
Women are frequently tested for the mutation, a practice justified based on the claim that women with the mutation have an increased risk of having a baby with neural tube defects. But most people who have the mutation do not have neural tube defects and their children are almost never affected. According to the National Institutes of Health, the nutritional status of the mother (specifically folate intake) and homocysteine levels (with or without the gene mutation) are much more important factors than the gene mutation.
As for the claim that the mutation can increase the risk of complications of pregnancy such as preeclampsia, placental abruption, miscarriage, and intrauterine growth restriction, a meta-analysis showed that there was no association between the gene and miscarriage, and a only small increase in the risk of preeclampsia and placental abruption.
Overall the consensus seems to be that there are many factors that can increase risks associated with pregnancy, and more research is necessary in order to determine just how much (if at all) the MTHFR gene actually increases those risks.
There are no guidelines at this time as to who should be tested for the mutation, but The American Heart Association says that “In the absence of elevated homocysteine levels MTHFR mutations appear to have no clinical relevance.” Therefore one could argue that there is no indication to perform MTHFR genetic testing.”
In light of this information, why are so many people being tested for this mutation? There are several reasons – the same reasons why medicine invests so much money, time, and effort in so many other useless and harmful practices:
* Money. As long as doctors are paid for doing things instead of producing results, they are going to continue to look for more things to do.
* Fascination with almost anything new. Some doctors think that almost anything new must be a good idea, which is rarely the case (see the next point).
* Failure to demand evidence of efficacy before adopting a new practice. The history of medicine includes hundreds of years of adopting new practices without evidence that they are effective or safe, and refusal to discontinue those practices even when evidence is overwhelming that they are useless and/or harmful.
* Failure to consider the consequences of getting more information BEFORE recommending a test. The MTHFR mutation is common – as many as 50% of Americans have it – but having the mutation does not change anything for most people. Therefore knowing about the mutation is useless for most people. Humans have difficulty forgetting about an abnormality, however harmless it may be, once it is discovered. This means that knowing more is sometimes not better. There are times when ignorance truly is bliss.
It appears that the “MTHFR craze” is here to stay. A colleague recently informed me that a naturopath in her town tests all patients for it. I receive at least one email per week from someone who has the mutation, is concerned and wondering what to do about it. And a growing number of members are reporting that they have tested positive and are also seeking information.
I encourage you to stay away from doctors unless you have a good reason for seeing them, such as symptoms that do not resolve after a few days, injury, or the need for emergency treatment. Unless you are in need of emergency treatment, refuse any and all tests until you know how the test will benefit you, the risks of having the test, and what you will do differently once you have the test results. Enthusiasm for most tests usually lessens after reviewing this information
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Ray JG, Shmorgun D, Chan WS. “Common C677T polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene and the risk of venous thromboembolism: meta-analysis of 31 studies.” Pathophysiol Haemost Thromb. 2002; 32: 51-58.
Klerk M, Verhoef P, Clarke R, Blom H, Kok F, Schouten E. “MTHFR 677C-T polymorphism and risk of coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis.” JAMA. 2002; 288: 2023-2031.
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/MTHFR
Rey E, Kahn SR, David M, Shrier I. “Thrombophilic disorders and fetal loss: a meta-analysis.” Lancet. 2003; 361: 901-908.
Varga E, Sturm A, Misita C, Moll, S. “Homocysteine and MTHFR Mutations: Relation to Thrombosis and Coronary Artery Disease.” Circulation 2005;111:e289-293
I was tested for the gene 14 years ago when i was pregnant with my last child. This was based on bleeding in pregnancies, including a clot under my placenta which ended with full abruption, a collapsed lung on depro prevara, and my brother having a stroke at 32 while under going a pre-op sex change hormone regimen. Because of this finding, an asprin a day and folate gave me my one and only easy pregnancy.
I have had B-12 pernicious anemia, other vitamin deficiencies and everything from kidney stones to fibromyalgia to ibs. I also went into menopause overnight with no warning at age 45. Maybe there isnt anything else other than the clot risk, but this has been widely accepted in the medical community for over 15 years.
Most of the things Dr Rostenberg and others recommend, aside from a different form of B vitamins and some other supplements (most of which my blood tests say I am deficient in) are diet related and not endless streams of different medicines. I can tell you I started seeing changes in my health, after dealing with health issues my entire life, with just the B vitamin change. When you are sick your entire life, and doctors dont know why, and someone gives you hope? You take it. And the changes are not only cheaper, they dont feed big pharm, and they are good for you anyway.
Can you have methylation problems without have the gene?
I too would appreciate comment regarding the MTHFR Test and results.
Could it be that the hiatal hernia happens because of a loss of collagen meaning a deficiency in copper and vitamin c?