Mold has been in the news lately because it has been causing significant health impacts on people. Following floods, or in places where a number of people suddenly become very ill, mold is often found to be the culprit.

Mold is everywhere on earth, and grows quickly wherever mold spores find moisture. Outbreaks of mold-induced illness often follow floods, as black mold grows quickly in the soaked, interior spaces after a flood. Mold can also build up in poorly ventilated or poorly maintained air conditioning or heating systems, which then spread more spores through the building.

While not everyone will get sick from mold exposure, those with sensitivity to mold can suffer significant symptoms. These can range from mild allergic reactions, like stuffy nose, irritated throat, coughing, eye irritation, sometimes skin irritation. They can, however, be more severe for those who are more sensitive, or with suppressed immune systems (seniors, those with chronic conditions, obstructive lung disease).

Symptoms of mold exposure

Mold allergies can present flu-like symptoms. They can also present as mood suppression or depression, and have been proven to trigger asthma symptoms. This means these allergies can be hard to detect for doctors with little experience in treating mold. All too often, patients do not get the right treatment for the underlying cause of their symptoms.

Our approach

At Proactive Wellness Centers, our team studies with leaders in mold and other causes of chronic disease, with a differential diagnosis approach.

We start with a thorough range of laboratory tests, for:

• heavy metal exposure
• tick-borne illnesses including Lyme (Borrelia bacterium) and co-infections
• reactivated viruses

With a full picture of your condition — and remember that 50 percent of our chronically ill patients have more than one disease, with more than one cause — we can devise a comprehensive treatment plan to stop the progress of the illness, and then reverse the effects. Next, we focus on developing interventions to maintain the improvement in your wellness.

Control mold

No matter what, we all have a certain amount of mold spores in our homes. It’s important to keep them from growing.

Mold can be black, brown or other colors. It appears as spots in damp areas, and can smell musty. No matter what color it is, you should remove it immediately.

Clean mold with regular soap and water, or use a mild bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of laundry bleach to 1 gallon of water. Dry thoroughly.

Discourage mold from coming back:

• Open your windows for fresh air.
• Regularly ventilate damper areas, like bathrooms, showers, laundry and cooking areas.
• Control humidity, keeping it at no more than 50 percent.
• Fix leaky roofs, windows, pipes, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and ducts.
• If your home is flooded for any reason, thoroughly clean and dry it as soon as possible. Replace wet insulation and any carpets that you cannot dry quickly. Clean with mold-killing products, and use paint with mold inhibitors.

Look for the signs

If you have had symptoms of aches, pains, cold or flu or allergies that persist, despite different treatments from various doctors and specialists, you owe it to yourself to investigate the possibility of sensitivity to mold, Lyme or parasites.

If you’re in the northern Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland or Pennsylvania area, visit or call us about your symptoms.

A hallmark of Proactive Wellness Centers’ approach is something that we call integrative medicine. We see health as much more than the absence of disease. Integrative medicine’s perspective is to maintain and enhance your health and wellness.

Let’s make one thing clear from the outset: integrative medicine is not a replacement for conventional medical care. For example, some patients use herbal remedies to help reduce the nausea that can be an effect of some pharmacological treatments.

We see integrative medicine as a complement to conventional medicine. Also known as complementary or alternative medicine, integrative medicine takes every aspect of your life into account — mind and body, family and life circumstances.

Looking at the whole person

Each of us is different, with a unique physiology and genetic background.

Our integrative approach starts with getting to know as much as we can about you, our patient. This means getting a complete picture of your overall health with a view to developing a personalized treatment plan.

We avoid the one-size-fits-all approach, and take time and care to develop the plan that will be right for you.

When you first come to us, we do a thorough initial assessment that starts with a detailed health history. We will then send you for some blood tests. With the results in hand, we then talk to you for a more complete picture of your medical history, family history, lifestyle, nutrition, and health symptoms and goals. We also do body composition testing to determine your metabolic health.

We believe all our decisions have to be based on science and evidence. That’s why we use proven diagnostic and testing tools as well as practices for a solid understanding of where your health is now, and where it can be.

Going forward with wellness

With this picture, we start a discussion with you about our preliminary diagnosis — our evaluation of your current state of wellness — and options to help you achieve your health goals.

Treatment plans can involve a range of options, including:

• comprehensive nutrition plan, with a focus on whole, natural foods and a move away from highly processed food
• exercise and lifestyle changes
• detoxification
• nutraceutical supplements
• hormone replacement therapy
• specialized medications
• other therapies

Depending on your age, vitality and condition, we may refer you for more tests, such as:

• electrocardiogram (ECG)
• exercise tolerance
• prostate, testicular and pelvic ultrasound tests
• colonoscopy
• mammogram
• bone density tests

We use all the information we can possibly find to develop a realistic plan to maximize wellness for your whole body, mind and spirit.

The mind-body link

There is no more important component of your overall health than brain health. That’s why we’ve developed a Brain Health Optimization Program, or BHOP.

Alzheimer’s Disease, which is strongly linked to dementia in aging people, causes more than 110,000 deaths in the United States every year. The incidence is going up around the world, as well.

While there is as yet no known cure for Alzheimer’s, and the exact cause is not fully understood, the latest research suggests that a number of factors could contribute to its development. These include genetics, history of head trauma, toxin exposure and mitochondrial damage.

Our experience has told us that mitochondrial damage can be mitigated through detoxification, nutritional supplementation, healthy eating and other lifestyle factors. We use the Breseden protocol to diagnose and treat cognitive decline from Alzheimer’s, and the related ReCODE protocol to address a number of related health impacts.

Knowledge is health

Your wellness is a product of your knowledge. That’s why we work hard to make sure every patient gets as much information as possible.

Part of every treatment plan is providing you with information and educational resources. The more you know and the better you understand your current health and where it could be, as well as how different treatments, interventions and nutrition work, the more you can be an active force in your own health.

For some treatment plans, you will receive a personalized notebook that lays out your treatment plan, lab results and educational materials. Depending on your plan, the notebook could also include details on your eating plan, exercise or activity plan, medications and nutraceuticals.

You’ll be able to take notes to record your progress and describe symptoms and changes in wellness. This will provide you with the feedback to keep getting better.

Follow-up visits are another key component of your continued wellness plan.

Focus on wellness

Instead of starting with symptoms and illness and then intervening with medications and surgery to fix it, we believe in maintaining and enhancing wellness. We want to empower you to take charge of your health with personalized precision medicine: the right combination of treatments and interventions based on your genetic profile, diagnosis results, symptoms, age, lifestyle, life stage — everything that makes you, you.

Take the first step toward taking charge of your wellness. Take a look at the resources we have available, and start the process of personalized precision medical care.

We need to get beyond the “feel sick, take a pill” approach to health. By taking a proactive approach, we can get healthy and feel better on our own terms without turning to drugs and expensive therapies.

Make the commitment and follow a few simple steps to feeling better on your own terms.

Quit smoking. If you don’t smoke, don’t start

This is the simplest, most straightforward way to improve your health quickly. Smoking reduces your cardiovascular performance, stresses your heart and lungs, suppresses your immune system and affects just about every other system in your body. What’s more, it has similar impacts on everyone around you, especially children, the elderly and those with weakened immune response.

The good news is that, no matter how long you have been smoking, quitting today will improve your health and extend your life expectancy.

Because smoking tobacco is so addictive, it can be hard to quit. Talk to your primary health care provider, or call us at Proactive Wellness Centers to find out how to get help.

Stay active

An active lifestyle boosts your cardiovascular system, improves bone density, boosts the functioning of every body system and even has profound impacts on your mental health. Aim for 150 minutes, or two and a half hours, of moderate physical activity every week. That’s just over 20 minutes a day, or if you prefer to chill on weekends, half an hour, five days a week.

Choose an activity you enjoy doing, and commit to doing it regularly. It doesn’t have to be a sport that takes time to organize. It can be as simple as taking a walk, playing catch with the kids, even gardening. The important thing is to set aside the time to be physically active every day.

Eat healthy

Choosing a healthy diet can be confusing. It seems that food that was considered healthy last year is scary dangerous this year, and what was bad for you yesterday is what you should be eating today.

Generally speaking, though, a few simple rules always make sense.

• Start with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Include nuts, too, for healthy fats.
• Choose fresh food whenever possible. Your body actually burns more calories in digesting raw and fresh compared to processed food. Avoid highly processed and packaged choices, which often have far more salt and sugar added that you might think.
• Wash fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking with them to remove any pesticide residues or other foreign matter that may have gotten onto them.
• Moderate your intake of red meat. Substitute fish, lean chicken and turkey as alternatives to beef or pork through the week.
• Choose vegetables and fruits for snacks, avoiding highly processed, packaged sweet and salty options.
• Don’t worry about fat. Carbohydrates, such as sugars and starches, add more to your waistline than fats.
• Don’t bother with fad diets like keto, paleo or whatever diet celebrities are pushing. Keep it simple.

Maintain a healthy weight

The previous two tips will go a long way to helping you maintain a healthy weight. Check out your body mass index, which compares your height and weight. Try to keep your index below 25 to stay healthy.

If your BMI is over that, your weight is putting more strain on your joints, heart, lungs and cardiovascular system. Reducing by even five pounds can make your knees and back feel better.

Moderate alcohol consumption

Alcohol has longer-lasting and deeper impacts than many of us understand. While moderate consumption can help with mood and certainly is a factor in social gatherings — which are important for mental health — excessive alcohol consumption can have severe and long-lasting impacts on health.

Men should consume no more than 15 drinks per week, including beer, wine and spirits. Women should not have more than 10 drinks per week.

Protect yourself from excess sun

Wear sunscreen or sun block when you go outside, even on warm, overcast days. Wear a hat and long-sleeved shirt. Try to stay out of the sun at the brightest, hottest time of day, between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Avoid tanning booths.

Get enough sleep

Sufficient sleep is vital to the quality of your waking life, including your mood, heart health, immune system, productivity, emotional balance, brain and heart health, immune system, creativity, vitality, and even your weight.

Adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. Children under 12 need as much as 10 to 13, while teens need 8 to 10 hours.

Try to avoid looking at computer screens, especially phones and tablets, just before bedtime. The light has been found to interfere with your ability to fall asleep.

See your doctor regularly

All children and adults should have regular medical checkups. — this includes young, healthy adult men. It’s far better to find problems early, when they’re easier to treat.

All adults should ask for regular checks for colon and rectal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and lung cancer for smokers and ex-smokers.

If you do feel ill, don’t wait to seek help. Frequent low-grade illnesses, chronic fatigue and constant aches can be signals of a deeper issue.

See your family doctor or call us at Proactive Wellness Centers, 703-822-5003, to find out how to take charge of your health.

How can you tell when a child is sick, and needs to be seen by a healthcare provider? It’s a very real concern for many parents. Sometimes a child is too young to tell you when they’re ill, or don’t know yet how to tell you what’s wrong. To make matters even more complicated, symptoms can sometimes be confusing.

So, how can you tell? Sometimes the symptoms are obvious. If your child has a fever, is vomiting or has diarrhea, has a cough, a rash, or is in pain, then you’ll want to call a trusted medical provider. But sometimes the symptoms are more vague.

Here are a list of symptoms to watch for in children. Keep this list handy to consult. Is your child suffering from any of the following issues?

• Lower than normal energy
• New troubles with sleeping
• Out of the ordinary fretfulness, listlessness or irritability
• Crankiness, and you’re unable to comfort them when you usually can
• Loss of appetite
• If your child seems unusually flushed or pale
• Complaints of feeling cold

These are common symptoms of illness that parents often see in young children. If you’re concerned, it’s worth checking out.

In addition to watching for the symptoms on the list, we also recommend that you trust your instincts. For the most part, if your child is eating, sleeping and playing normally then all is likely to be well. You know your child, and what is likely to be normal for them. But if your child is acting differently than is usual for them, then it’s wise to look for causes and try to determine if they are ill or dealing with a new issue.

Here are some things that can cause new, unusual issues in a child’s behavior and health. If you think any of the following might be an issue, then it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider:

• Mold in the home
• Evidence of allergies
• Food intolerances
• Other environmental irritants, such as lead
• Possible parasitic or other infection due to exposure on a trip or outing, or due to pets in the home

You’ll want to make sure to find a health care provider that’s open to reviewing all holistic factors, to make sure you don’t miss underlying issues. You want to take into consideration all factors, including environmental risks and new situations that might have uncovered an issue for your child.

If you’re concerned about your child and want to try a holistic, integrative approach to taking care of the health of your family please don’t hesitate to reach reach out to us. Visit us online to learn more and feel free to reach out with any questions.

As our loved ones get older, it’s natural to begin to worry about their health. And with someone new developing Alzheimer’s disease every 65 seconds, this serious brain condition is probably near the top of your list of things to worry about. One of the best ways to treat Alzheimer’s disease is to catch it early. Be aware of your older loved ones and watch out for these common early Alzheimer’s symptoms.

1. Memory Loss

This symptom is the most obvious, but if someone is beginning to develop Alzheimer’s, it will go beyond the occasional forgetfulness. If their memory loss is getting to the point where it’s seriously affecting their day-to-day lives, then it’s probably time to see a specialist.

2. Disorientation

If your loved one suddenly can’t remember where they are, what day it is, or even what month it is, then you should be seriously concerned. This disorientation is a sign of the cognitive decline that Alzheimer’s causes.

3. Mood & Personality Changes

If you notice that your older relatives are expressing more anger or sadness than usual, then it could be one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s. Another common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is social withdrawal. If you find that your mom or dad is showing up to events less and avoiding other people, this could be a cause for concern.

4. Trouble Communicating

Speech and vocalization use a specific part of the brain, and if Alzheimer’s disease begins to attack that part of the brain, then you’ll find that communication skills start to struggle. Difficulty pronouncing words or repeating phrases again and again can be signs of Alzheimer’s disease. People who are beginning to develop Alzheimer’s may also have a hard time keeping up with and participating in conversations.

5. Unusual Behaviors

This category is broad and could look a little different for each person, but if your loved one begins behaving in a way that you just can’t explain, then you should consider getting help. Wandering off alone, hiding objects, weird outbursts, giving away money, or ignoring hygiene could all be small signs of something much bigger.

If you spot some of these symptoms in a loved one and you want to begin helping them, contact us at Proactive Wellness Centers. Our innovative Bredesen-Protocol Strategies can reverse cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer’s. And the sooner the treatment begins, the better. So be on the lookout for these symptoms, and rely on Proactive Wellness Centers to care for your loved ones.