SERVICES

We Offer The Following Services:

Bioidentical Hormone Replenishment Comprehensive Laboratory Testing of Hormone Levels A Comprehensive Wellness Evaluation and Plan State of the Art Anti-Aging Protocols Nutrition and Weight Loss Counseling A Medically-Supervised Individualized Weight Loss Plan Natural and Hormonal Cognitive Enhancement Treatment of PMS and PCOS Natural and Hormonal Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis Hormonal Prevention and Treatment of Migraines Integrative Treatment of Hypothyroidism and Thyroid Optimization Treatment of Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction Pharmaceutical-Grade Nutritional Supplementation

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy:
These treatments are for peri-menopausal and menopausal women as well as andropausal men. Symptoms of hormonal imbalance include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, hair loss, loss of energy, loss of libido and weight gain. We prescribe bioidentical hormones that replenish hormone deficiencies and act in the same manner as your body's own natural hormones, alleviating symptoms and protecting against future health decline such as accelerated atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis.

Weight Loss, Nutrition and Lifestyle Management:
Our approach incorporates hormonal balance, natural nutraceutical supplementation, short term prescriptive medications and individualized nutritional and lifestyle counseling to achieve sustainable weight loss and healthy weight maintanence. Since no one diet and exercise plan fits all patients, our plans are individualized. Our professional staff members act as counselors to help individuals manage their lifestyles.

Blood Work:

WOMENS STANDARD BLOODWORK

MEN’S STANDARD BLOODWORK

Description of Tests:

PLAC® Test (Lp-PLA2)

The PLAC® test aids in predicting risk for coronary heart disease, and ischemic stroke associated with atherosclerosis. The PLAC® test measures Lp-PLA2, an enzyme that promotes inflammation inside the arteries, leading to the formation of unstable, rupture-prone plaque. The PLAC® test for Lp-PLA2 is different from both cholesterol tests and other tests for inflammation because Lp-PLA2 is a specific cardiovascular risk factor that provides unique information about the stability of the plaque inside your arteries. Elevated levels of Lp-PLA2 increase your risk for heart disease and stroke since plaque rupture is the major cause of both events.

C-reactive protein (Cardiac) (High sensitivity)
This test is used to assess risk of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease

Cortisol AM and PM
This test is to measure adrenal function. It is used to detect adrenal-cortical insufficiency/hypersecretion and Cushing's syndrome, and is useful in detecting the malfunction of the hypothalamic axis.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Sulfate
This test is used to determine the cause of female infertility, amenorrhea or hirsutism, and aid in the evaluation of androgen excess, adrenocortical disease including congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and adrenal tumor.

Estradiol
This test is used to assess hypothalamic and pituitary functions, and to evaluate menopausal status and sexual maturity. In males, it is helpful in the assessment of gynecomastia or feminization syndromes.

FASTING GLUCOSE/INSULIN
These two tests are used to determine elevated levels of glucose and insulin. Glucose and insulin are implicated in many age-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke, and are a hallmark of mammalian aging.
Please Note: These tests requires a fasting blood level; therefore, a 12-hour fast is required before the collection of a blood sample

• Glucose
  This test is used to detect diabetes mellitus. It is used to evaluate carbohydrate metabolism disorders including alcoholism. It is also used to evaluate acidosis, ketoacidosis; dehydration, coma, hypoglycemia, insulinoma, and neuroglycopenia.
• Insulin
  This test is primarily used to measure insulin in the evaluation of individuals with fasting hypoglycemia. Insulin levels tend to be inappropriately elevated in individuals with insulin-secreting tumors. Fasting hypoglycemia in association with markedly elevated serum insulin levels is considered the determinate for insulinoma. Insulin is a protein hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas. Insulin is an anabolic hormone that stimulates the uptake of glucose into fat and muscle and promotes the formation of glycogen. Insulin stimulates protein synthesis and inhibits protein degradation. Glucose, amino acids, and certain pancreatic and gastrointestinal hormones (eg, glucagon, gastrin, secretin) stimulate the pancreas to secrete insulin. Insulin secretion is inhibited by hypoglycemia and somatostatin. In healthy individuals insulin is secreted in a pulsatile fashion that is closely controlled by glucose levels. Insulin levels can be useful predicting susceptibility to the development of type II diabetes, although C-peptide has largely supplanted insulin measurement for this role.

Ferritin
This test is used to evaluate iron stores in the body and to determine iron deficiency anemia (hypochromic and microcytic anemias). This test can detect decreased levels found in iron deficiency anemia and increased levels found in iron overload. In hemochromatosis, both ferritin and iron saturation are increased.

Estradiol
This test is used to assess hypothalamic and pituitary functions, and to evaluate menopausal status and sexual maturity. In males, it is helpful in the assessment of gynecomastia or feminization syndromes.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Sulfate
This test is used to determine the cause of female infertility, amenorrhea or hirsutism, and aid in the evaluation of androgen excess, adrenocortical disease including congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and adrenal tumor.

Cortisol AM and PM
This test is to measure adrenal function. It is used to detect adrenal-cortical insufficiency/hypersecretion and Cushing's syndrome, and is useful in detecting the malfunction of the hypothalamic axis.

C-reactive protein (Cardiac) (High sensitivity)
This test is used to assess risk of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease

FSH and LH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone)
This test is used in the determination of menopause and is integral in the evaluation of suspected gonadal failure.

Hemoglobin A1C
This test is most frequently used to assess glucose control in insulin-dependent diabetic individuals whose glucose levels are very labile.

Homocysteine
Homocysteine has been shown to be an independent risk factor for the premature development of coronary artery disease and thrombosis. This test is intended for use in screening individuals who may be at risk for heart disease and stroke. Studies have shown that even moderate levels of homocysteine pose an increased risk for arteriosclerosis compared with the lowest 20th percentile (<7.2 mcmol/L) of population controls.

This test is used to evaluate levels of Insulin-Like Growth Factor I and Interleukin-6. Research investigating DHEAS levels found that that IGF-I was positively correlated to DHEAS levels and IL-6 levels were negatively correlated to DHEAS levels.

• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-1)
  This test is used to determine acromegaly, in which Sm-C and GH are increased. It is also used to evaluate hypopituitarism. Somatomedin-C is a polypeptide hormone produced by the liver and other tissues, with effect on growth promoting activity and glucose metabolism (insulin-like activity). Somatomedin-C is carried in blood bound to a carrier protein which prolongs its half-life. Its level is therefore more constant than that of growth hormone. Low values are described with advanced age. Low values may indicate hypopituitarism, malnutrition, diabetes mellitus, Laron dwarfism, hypothyroidism, maternal deprivation syndrome, pubertal delay, cirrhosis, hepatoma, and some cases of short stature and normal GH response to pharmacologic tests. Low values may be found with nonfunctioning pituitary tumors, with constitutional delay of growth and development and with anorexia nervosa. High values occur with adolescence, true precocious puberty, pregnancy, obesity, pituitary gigantism, acromegaly and diabetic retinopathy. Since Sm-C is decreased with malnutrition, its concentration provides an index with which to monitor therapy for food deprivation.
• Interleukin 6 (IL-6)
  This test is used to identify evaluated levels of Interleukin-6. IL-6 is a cytokine produced by many different cells including monocytes/macrophages, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, mast cells, T cells and many tumor cell lines. Elevated IL-6 serum or plasma levels may occur in different conditions including sepsis, autoimmune diseases, lymphomas, AIDS, alcoholic liver disease, tumor development, Alzheimer’s disease, and in individuals with infections or transplant rejection. Elevated levels of IL-6 may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack, and stroke.

INSULIN FASTING
This test is used for insulin measurement in the evaluation of individuals with fasting hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. High fasting insulin is a sign of insulin resistance and the start of type II diabetes or syndrome X

INSULIN LIKE GROWTH FACTOR BINDING PROTEIN (IGFBP-3)
Elevated levels in hypertensive individuals have been associated with a nine-fold increase of carotid arteriosclerosis.

Lipoprotein (a)
This test is used to measure excess small dense lipoprotein which is a strong indicator for premature coronary disease and atherosclerotic vascular disease, and is associated with increased risk of cardiac death in individuals with acute coronary syndromes and coronary bypass procedures.

Progesterone
This test is used to establish the presence of a functioning corpus luteum or luteal cell function; confirm body temperature for occurrence of ovulation; obtain indication of day of ovulation; evaluate the functional state of the corpus luteum in infertility patients; assess placental function during pregnancy, evaluate ovarian function.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
PSA is produced by normal, hyperplastic and cancerous prostatic tissue. Serum PSA has been found to be the most sensitive marker for monitoring individuals with prostate cancer and to enhance efficacy in monitoring progression of disease and response to therapy.

PSA Free/Total Ratio Reflex
This test is used to measure the percentage of free PSA relative to the total amount of PSA in men with serum PSA concentrations. Serum PSA levels increase due to physical changes to prostate architecture due to trauma, infection, inflammation and disease. Sensitivity of PSA levels to these changes serves as a basis for this test. Higher percentage of free PSA is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
This test is used to monitor SHBG levels which are under the positive control of estrogens and thyroid hormones, and suppressed by androgens. Decreased levels will be found in hirsutism, virilizaiton, obese postmenopausal women, and women with diffuse hair loss. Increased levels are present in hyperthyroidism, testicular feminization, cirrhosis, male hypogonadism, pregnancy, prepubertal children, and women using oral contraceptives.

Somatomedin-C (IGF-1)
This test is a screening test to identify patients with growth hormone deficiency, pituitary insufficiency and acromegaly.

Thyroid Panel (TSH, T4, Free T4, Free T3)
This panel is used to evaluate thyroid function. The combination of the serum T4 and T3 uptake (THBR) as an indirect assessment of thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG). TBG helps to determine whether an abnormal T4 value is due to alterations in serum thyroxine-binding globulin or to changes of thyroid hormone levels. Deviations of both tests in the same direction usually indicate that an abnormal T4 is due to abnormalities in thyroid hormone. Deviations of the two tests in opposite directions provide evidence that an abnormal T4 may relate to alterations in TBG. This panel consists of the following tests: Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Thyroxine (T4), Free Thyroxine (T4), Free Tri-iodothyronine (T3):

• Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
  This test is used to identify primary hypothyroidism and to differentiate it from secondary (pituitary) and tertiary (hypothalamus) hypothyroidism.
• Thyroxine (T4)
  This test is used to evaluate thyroid function. T4 is decreased in hypothyroidism and in the third stage of subacute thyroiditis. T4 is increased with hyperthyroidism, subacute thyroiditis in its first stage and with thyrotoxicosis due to Hashimoto disease. T4 is also used to diagnose toxicosis.
• Thyroxine (T4) Free, Direct
  This test is used to evaluate thyroid function in individuals who may have protein abnormalities that could affect total T4 levels. It is used to evaluate thyroid function and monitor replacement and suppressive therapy.
• Tri-iodothyronine (T3), Free, Serum
  This test is used to evaluate thyroid function. It is primarily used to diagnose hyperthyroidism. It is also used to assess abnormal binding protein disorders and to monitor thyroid replacement and suppressive therapy

Thyroxine (T4) Free, Direct
This test is used to evaluate thyroid function in individuals who may have protein abnormalities that could affect total T4 levels. It is used to evaluate thyroid function and monitor replacement and suppressive therapy.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
This is a function test of thyroid disease to differentiate between primary and secondary hypothyroidism. Some doctors believe that any TSH over 2.0 should be considered suspect for sublinical hypothyroidism if symptoms are present.

Tri-iodothyronine (T3) Free:
This test is used to evaluate thyroid function and access abnormal binding protein disorders.

Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy
This test is used to rule out vitamin D deficiency as cause of bone disease. It can also be used to identify hypercalcemia.

Testosterone, Free (with Total)
This test is used to evaluate hirsutism and masculinization in women and evaluate testicular function in clinical states where the testosterone binding proteins may be altered. (Obesity, cirrhosis, thyroid disorders.)
CMP
The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is a frequently ordered panel of tests that gives your doctor important information about the current status of your kidneys, liver, and electrolyte and acid/base balance as well as of your blood sugar and blood proteins.
Lipid Profile
This test is a group of test is used to measure the total cholesterol (good and bad) and triglyceride level of an individual.