the healthcare system still doesn't "get it"

I have been doing this for 5 years and have just about seen it all, but this week I am COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED with stories of conventional medicine overtreating every symptom and abnormality with a prescription or a surgery. And the new healthcare system is going to allow more Americans access to care? That is a BAD thing as far as I'm concerned.

It's as if doctors are now in the business of customer service and freely give out a prescription or surgery to give immediate relief. The problem is they are wrong for two reasons:

1. These quick and/or aggressive fixes rarely improve the root reason for the concern in question
2. For the most part, the patient wants "care". That means they want to hear they are going to be fine, or that what is happening is normal and will resolve. They don't just want a pill to make it go away or some fancy-named diagnosis (exception: lots of patients still in appropriately want antibiotics for illnesses that do not need them).

Instead, patients are sent on aggressive and side-effect laden wild goose chases with surgeries, CT scans and other procedures that put them at risk and increase their worry that something really bad is happening for a symptom that will go away in time or improve with some simple lifestyle change.

My best advice (beside coming in to visit with one of our practitioners ;) is to wait it out. Whatever it is, wait it out. Now, on rare occasion there are signs and symptoms that are present that demand attention, no doubt. But always err on the side of taking care of yourself: get more sleep, breathe deeply, eat whole foods, laugh. If things worsen instead of stay the same or improve, go find someone you trust. Don't have a physician you trust, go find one. I have to believe that some still exist. Just tell them you want their care, respect and opinion, not a pill.

Have a story of when time healed. Please share...

the most successful patients

Our clients come to see us for a large variety of health concerns. The most common reasons are: Fatigue, digestive issues, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and anxiety/panic or depression. They have been in and out of the health care system over the years, been through lots of testing and are largely told that everything is normal and sometimes that things must be, "in your head."

While the testing, specific supplementation recommendations and other therapies are crucial for getting one's health back on track, there is a common theme in the patients that have the most success in reaching their health goals. Those that truly invest their time and energy in whole foods nutrition and find a go-to stress management therapy get to the root issue faster, with more intensity and create a more stable foundation for health than everyone else.

For this reason, we want to make a greater commitment to providing support and education around these crucial pieces. This means making avaible services that are convenient and less expensive than one-on-one counseling. We are now offering group visits to meet with Meghann for nutrition support. Chances are lots of folks are struggling with the same issues and concerns you are. Meeting in an hour group visit to discuss nutrition can take your health to the next level. We are also starting group stress management sessions with our nurse practitioner using Heartmath.

Call or email (clinic@gladdmd.com) to sign up.

RETHINKing Healthcare: My talk at TEDxFortWayne

c'mon fort wayne, there's work to do

A recent Gallup index shows that Fort Wayne remains the fattest city in Indiana. That means our message is not loud enough. C'mon Fort Wayne, let's start making some serious commitments and lower this ranking, for the sake of March Madness:

1. Switch to plain yogurt from any type of non-plain, flavored, sweetened stuff

2. Have 2 dinners per week completely void of potatoes, rice, and bread products

3. When you have a craving for carbonated beverages, choose club soda with a lime

4. Once every day, do 15 wall slides (squats), 15 pushups (on floor or against wall) and 20 situps

5. Drink coffee black, or add a touch of heavy cream

6. Two days week snack only on: raw nuts, kale chips, grassfed beef jerky, 70% dark chocolate

7. Use Green Bean Delivery for one month and make 2 meals per weekly exclusively from whole foods

8. Spend a week avoiding all drive throughs. Instead, walk into a grocery store and buy cut vegetables, a rotisserie chicken and a bottle of water and have a meal and save the rest for dinner or tomorrow.

9. Order at Chipotle: Burrito Bowl, no rice. Choose your beans, meat and add only salsas, lettuce and guacamole (optional, and extra cost).

10. Split an entree out to dinner with your partner. Say, "No Thanks" to the complimentary bread.

11. Stop ordering for your kids off the Kids' Menu.

12. Pack your kids' lunch twice weekly.

Pick 2 or 3 of these and start today. Then add 2 or 3 more next week. C'mon Fort Wayne, we don't deserve to be first.

Have other ideas? Please leave some comments below...