As chronic illness and diseases become more prevalent, it’s important to look at the environment around us to consider all factors contributing to health challenges.  We discussed this and more in this week’s episode of the Reawaken Your Health Podcast with Dr. Joe Nieusma, a Senior Toxicologist and the founder of Superior Toxicology & Wellness, an international scientific consulting firm. 

Dr. Joe shared a brief background of his several decades in toxicology, specifically pharmaceutical toxicology.  He confirmed that many pharmaceutical companies are in the business to retain customers, not solve health problems. 

We discussed how all medications have side effects and whether or not we feel the side effects depends on how toxic our environment already is.  He touched on a few common medications that have side effects that are often disregarded.

Dr. Joe shared his perspective on why chronic diseases exist but he also gives hope on how to reduce toxicity in the environment to combat chronic disease.  He shared how he cleans his air and water to avoid the pollution in the air we breathe and the pharmaceuticals in all water sources.

We also touched on supplements and which ones he feels are needed.  He stressed the need for a good anti-oxidant and a good oxidative therapy agent to help fight inflammation that contributes to aging. 

We touched on how people can get help to reduce the variety of medications they are on. Dr. Joe provides feedback on anyone who wants to submit a form on his website, www.Drjoe4hope.com, to learn what questions they need to ask their primary care physician to help reduce medication overload.

With 37 years of experience, Dr. Nieusma has built a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries, where he focuses primarily on issues related to employee and patient safety. A leading expert in toxicology, Dr. Nieusma specializes in evaluating exposure to drugs, chemicals, biological agents, and environmental toxins.

Please join us to learn more about toxicology and chronic illness!

Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Joe at https://www.superiortoxicology.com/hope/.

-Dr. Amy Novotny

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How often do you think about your heart?  Do you only think about it when you or a loved one are sick?  What if you could make lifestyle changes now to improve your heart health?

For this week’s episode of the Weekend Wellness Hour show, we discussed lifestyle and heart disease prevention with Dr. Jherie Ducombs.  Dr. Ducombs had wanted to be a physician since she was young but chose to specialize in cardiology when her grandfather passed from a heart attack and she saw the potential of helping others. 

Dr. Ducombs explained what heart disease means and how it's the leading cause of death in the United States.  She touched on the various forms and types of heart disease, including ones that are congenital. 

We discussed how genetics can play a role in various heart conditions, but  atrial fibrillation, one of the most common ailments, is often related to unhealthy lifestyle choices. In fact, she mentioned that 80% of the conditions could be avoided through lifestyle improvements. 

We also discussed the importance of diet and nutrition for our heart health.  She explained the most important factors when it comes to what you put in your body.

Dr. Ducombs gave more tips regarding sleep, stress, cholesterol and exercise and what to consider for each of these topics in regards to the heart.  She admitted that most changes must come from a person's desire to change and while the changes are simple, they are hard to implement.

Dr. Ducombs is a practicing Cardiologist, Assistant Chief Medical Officer of her local community hospital and previously Chairman of the Network Operations Council for it’s multi-specialty Physician Group.  She also serves as the Women in Cardiology Section Chair and past Secretary-Treasurer for the Louisiana Chapter of the American College of Cardiology.  Some of her most rewarding accolades include being named Physician of the Year by her colleagues in 2010 and being chosen as one of ten 2019 “Women in Medicine” honorees by the New Orleans contingent of the American Heart Association and FestiGals.

Please join us to learn about how to make simple lifestyle changes to improve your heart health!

Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Jherie Ducombs at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jherie-ducombs/.

-Dr. Amy Novotny

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Have you ever wondered what hypnosis is all about? Does it really work? How does it help people?

We discussed hypnotherapy this past Saturday on the Weekend Wellness Hour Show with expert Anne Fernandez.  Anne has been a clinical hypnotherapist for over 20 years and works with clientele both in person and virtually.

We began by discussing process of hypnotherapy and what it does to the body and brain. Anne shares how hypnotherapy can get past the filters we have in our conscious brain to access the subconscious.

We discussed what happens in a hypnotherapy session and how Anne provides suggestions in a safe way to encourage clients to think differently or to rewrite stories that the subconscious holds onto. We touched on some fears that people might have undergoing the sessions, and Anne firmly explained that the client is always in control.

She described the typical experience of coming out of a trance and the need for a few minutes of processing the experience. We also went through some of the self care that she recommends after a hypnotherapy session and how a person progresses along in his or her spiritual and health journey. 

We also touched on who might benefit from this treatment modality and why a person would choose hypnotherapy.  If you have habits that you would like to change, this might be worth exploring.

Anne has been in the healing world for over 40 years as a clinical hypnotherapist, meditation guide, and a master reiki intuitive healer.  She is also a speaker as well as a retreat facilitator.

Please join us to learn about how hypnotherapy could improve your habits and your health!

Please feel free to reach out to Anne Fernandez at https://risingawareness.com/.

-Dr. Amy Novotny

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Have you ever noticed that certain times of the month or certain times in your life that your sleep is disrupted? Have you ever thought of hormonal fluctuations affecting your sleep?

That's what we discussed for the Weekend Wellness Hour Show this past weekend with Dr. Carol Yuan.  Dr. Yuan is a Board Certified physician in pulmonary, critical care, internal medicine, and sleep and has dedicated her scientific curiosity to helping women get better sleep so they can live fully.

Dr. Yuan explained how the monthly menstrual cycle in women affects their ability to sleep soundly and can contribute to irritability and fatigue. She also discussed what happens during pregnancy and menopause.

We even touched on what happens with hormonal changes in men and how sleep apnea can impact testosterone levels.  She discussed why it's important to see a sleep physician before getting testosterone supplementation for sleep apnea.

Dr. Yuan stressed the importance of discovering your sleep identity and why this is different for each person. We looked at other causes of sleep disturbances including stress, diet, and negative beliefs or thought patterns.

Dr. Yuan also gave her opinion on sleep medications and explained how they can be a tool for improving sleep on a temporary basis.  We even discuss the most important aspect of getting a good night's sleep.

Dr. Yuan has treated patients with sleep disorders in both private practice and in hospital settings and is the founder of B. Hai Sleep Health, a telehealth sleep consultation service for women.  

Please join us to learn about how controlling your hormones can improve your sleep!

Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Carol Yuan at www.bhaisleephealth.com.

-Dr. Amy Novotny

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Have you ever wondered why yoga has become the latest health and fitness craze?  Why is it touted as improving our mental health?

This past weekend for the Weekend Wellness Hour Show, we discussed the benefits of yoga from a mental health perspective with yoga instructor and wellness coach Emily Chhatriwalla. Emily works with nurses who are burned out and want to rebuild their lives through self-healing, but her teachings apply to everyone.

Emily shared her background in this field and explained the coursework needed to become a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with specialized training in yoga psychology and trauma.  She clarified that she is not a psychologist, as her training involves understanding the mental health benefits of yoga, but she doesn't diagnose.

We discussed how yoga can be used to help those who suffer mentally from trauma or other stressors through the use of the breathwork, movement and meditation.  Emily explained the importance of mindset as well for mental health issues and how she has a process for helping her clients through stress to healing.

We touched on the types of yoga practices that she uses with clients to promote releases and self healing.  She also emphasizes the need for daily practice as well to maintain gains from each weekly session. Clients can work with her individually or in a group setting to meet their needs.

Besides her work as an instructor and coach, Emily is the creator of Emily Kathryn Yoga, a wellness resource for women in healthcare. 

Please join us to learn about how yoga can improve your mental health!

Please feel free to reach out to Emily Chhatriwalla at https://emilykathrynyoga.com/.

-Dr. Amy Novotny

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In this powerful and personal episode, we sit down with Jim Kaveney, a seasoned biotech entrepreneur, educator, and wellness advocate whose life was forever changed by a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (Afib). After founding his own pharmaceutical training company in 2012, he was diagnosed with Afib at age 38—an experience that shifted his focus toward heart health and purposeful living.

Jim’s journey with Afib began during his college years as a competitive rower, when he started experiencing unexplained heart rate spikes. At the time, he brushed them off. Years later, while traveling for work, he had a frightening episode of dizziness and tachycardia that led to a collapse at home and a formal diagnosis of paroxysmal Afib, which later became persistent. He discussed his variety of treatments over the course of several years. 

He’s now passionate about educating others on the preventable nature of many heart conditions, emphasizing that lifestyle changes—such as improved nutrition, stress management, regular (but moderate) exercise, and sleep—can significantly reduce Afib risk. He also shares that family history matters: had he known earlier about the potential genetic connection, he might have made different choices sooner.

Jim also discusses the link between overtraining and heart arrhythmias, referencing the book The Haywire Heart by Dr. John Mandrola, which outlines how too much exercise can actually damage the heart. He now focuses on walking and weight training rather than high-intensity workouts.

Listeners can learn more about Jim’s story in his book, Unlimited Heart: How to Transform Your Pain Into Your Purpose, available on Amazon. 

Please join us to learn more about atrial fibrillation and heart health!

Please feel free to reach out to Jim  at https://unlimitedheart.co/.

-Dr. Amy Novotny

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Have you ever felt ill and had some type of health condition that no one could figure out? What if your feet were the secret to allowing you to heal?

This past weekend for the Weekend Wellness Hour Show, we discussed the way our feet can be used to promote healing in the rest of the body through foot zonology. Expert Tammy Artz joined us to discuss this methodology that she uses to provide holistic therapy and ease stress levels in clients.

Tammy shared the story of her daughter becoming very ill and working with all types of specialists who couldn't provide relief or answers.  She took her daughter to see a foot zonologist at the urging of her sister and after several sessions, her daughter improved.

After witnessing this incredible healing event, Tammy studied became certified in this healing art. Tammy shared the history of how foot zonology was developed. She also explained the signal system that goes from the feet to the cells of the rest of the body.

We dove into how Tammy approaches a new client with the use of Foot Zone Analysis and Zone Balance. She shared the various conditions where she has seen improvement in her client's health.

We went through what a session looks like for a person new to this type of healing art. Tammy explained how she applies pressure through her knuckles to communicate with other parts of the body. She gave a brief description of where to press on the foot to access the heart.

Since this is an in person modality, Tammy shared www.footzonology.com as a resource to find a local foot zonologist. As with many modalities out there, we discussed some contraindications and conditions where foot zoology is not used.

Besides being a Foot Zonologist and Zoning Coach, Tammy owns Wellness Gardens Foot Zoning L.L.C.  

Please join us to learn about how our feet signal distress in our body and how foot zonology can provide relief!

Please feel free to reach out to Tammy Artz at https://wellnessgardensfootzoning.com/

-Dr. Amy Novotny

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Do you feel on edge and can't calm yourself because of some trauma in your life or past?  Do you feel as though you can't move forward in life or live fully in the present?

There are many options out there to help those suffering from trauma, and on this week's episode of the Weekend Wellness Hour Show, we discussed brainspotting as one of those methods with therapist Kirsten Powell.

Kirsten shared her background in the mental health field, starting with a Master's degree in social work and then progressing to learn more techniques that connect the brain and mind with the body.  She studied Dr. David Grand's work that began in EMDR treatment and then moved into brainspotting, which pairs well with Kirsten's narrative style of therapy.

We discussed what brainspotting is and how we often use gaze spotting in our daily lives to allow our brain to process something while we have a fixed gaze on an object.  Kirsten shared how she uses a wand to help people move through different eye positions to determine the body's response in connection to emotional events.   

Kirsten explained how the client is in charge of the experience and leads the session through his or her experiences and story.   As the therapist, Kirsten supports the client and helps them find a safe space in their body to process the trauma.

We explored what a session looks like, the recovery from a session and how progression through this process is made. Kirsten uses brain spotting both in person and virtually to help those needing to become unstuck. 

Kirsten has over 18 years of work in behavioral health and is also certified in Compassionate Bereavement Care and Integrated Mental Health Care.  She has her own practice called The Well Rooted Life in Arizona. 

Please join us to learn how brainspotting can help you along in your mental health journey!

Please feel free to reach out to Kirsten Powell at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/kirsten-powell-scottsdale-az/309724.

-Dr. Amy Novotny

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