One of the major clinical priorities at CCIM is to proactively prevent and reverse atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, if present in the coronary arteries, leads to ischemic heart disease (heart attack); if present in the neck and cerebral arteries, leads to ischemic brain disease (stroke). Traditional methods to treat / prevent these illnesses are focused on lowering cholesterol. However, we know that even with low LDL and low cholesterol, patients still unfortunately suffer from these illnesses. Routinely Dr DV treats patients in the hospital, whose cholesterol levels are extremely low. However, their inflammation levels are extremely high. Here is a medical study that substantiates the importance of measuring inflammation, not simply cholesterol, even the so-called “bad” cholesterol, LDL:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3107411/

At CCIM, we will measure your cardiac CRP (hsCRP), assess your exercise capacity, lower inflammation, lower blood sugars, promote weight loss, however lowering cholesterol in the absence of inflammation, is NOT warranted, and leads to harm. Lowering cholesterol using statins in the absence of measurable inflammation leads to increased risk for diabetes, muscle problems, liver damage, and impaired metabolism as a result of coenzyme Q10 deficiency.

PATIENT – PROVIDER COMMUNICATION
By Perfect Health Posted April 8, 2015 In CCIM, Education, Lifestyle, Medicine 0
For patients struggling with complicated medical/clinical issues, daily communication with their chosen high quality medical provider is ideal. Customization of the ideal timeline and method of communication is paramount:

Daily, biweekly, weekly, bimonthly, monthly, quarterly “check-in”
Via Text, phone, call, office visit
With holistic case manager, physician, PA, etc

CUSTOMIZATION OF MEDICAL REGIMEN
By Perfect Health Posted April 7, 2015 In CCIM, Lifestyle, Medicine 0
The importance of customizing medical therapeutical regimens to each individual patient cannot be underestimated. Methods to improve quality of customization process include:

Pharmacogenetic Testing
Monthly or Quarterly Medication Reconciliation
Quarterly reassessment with primary provider or health care practitioner or holistic case manager
Concierge Real-time methods of symptom and/or adverse effect troubleshooting
Customized compounding of individual therapies
Concomitant use of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals
Medication use grounded in protocols focused on clinical end goals
Emphasis on both evidence-based and physiology-based medicine