During the Spring of 2024, the offices of Dr. Kimi Dart were completely redone to serve our customers better. On April 18th, we held an open house “ribbon cutting ceremony” to celebrate our grand opening with our patients and staff. We look forward to serving our patients in our new office for years to come! Above are a few pictures
As an ENT, I see patients who are having trouble with acid reflux. Usually, by the time they come to see me, it is severe. They are experiencing hoarseness, changes in voice, sore throats, waking up in the middle of the night choking on phlegm, or have a morning cough. These patients do not necessarily have heartburn, and many times this symptom is not what brings them into my office.
Traditionally, we would prescribe an antacid medication or recommend the patient try Tums or Rolaids to ease their symptoms. Now, we are learning that these drugs can cause problems. We have acid in our stomachs to digest and process the foods that we are eating. By lowering the acid in the stomach, many other issues can arise.
For instance, there could be an overgrowth of bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it is essential to get to the root cause of the acid reflux instead of adding a medication.
Today, let’s talk about the immune system. Have you ever thought about how important it is in keeping you healthy and safe from your environment? There are so many things coming at us that can affect the health of our immune system.
One of the main factors is the foods we eat. Research shows that approximately 70% of our immune system lines within the gut, so our diet is something to pay close attention to. Fruits and vegetables carry enzymes that help to strengthen our gut which in turn supports our immune system. When we stick to the standard American diet, it can cause inflammation leading to chronic fatigue, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and bloating. Over time, this can cause the gut lining to break down and food particles to leak out into the body. Once this happens, we start to see a breakdown in other systems, such as our cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Today, I wanted to share my personal struggle with gut health and IBS. I went through a horrible battle with abdominal pain and chronic constipation. Along with that, I was having trouble with my asthma, allergies, and unbearable fatigue. In early 2021, I went to see a functional medicine practitioner because my symptoms were getting worse.
Thankfully, through lab work and examination, my practitioner was able to identify the root cause of what was going on within my body. I was put on supplementation, and I went through the elimination food diet. I was amazed how within 72 hours of starting this diet my pain went away. As time has gone on, my allergies and immune system have improved as well.
Did you know that food and inhalant allergies are interconnected? They are, and they can affect both the respiratory system and the gut. Maybe you are suffering from abdominal pain, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, rash outbreaks, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, and post-nasal drip. Most likely, you have gone to your doctor and have been prescribed some medication to help alleviate your symptoms. The medication might help for now, but it is not treating the root cause of your health concern.
Are you one of the many people who struggle with allergies? As an ENT, I see plenty of people with food and inhalant allergies. I treat patients who are experiencing chronic sinus infections, asthma, acid reflux, and many other related conditions using a functional medicine approach to get to the root cause of the issue.
Personally, I have experienced food and inhalant allergies. Over time they developed into asthma because the root cause was not completely addressed. Yes, I was on allergy shots, and taking Flonase and Allegra to manage my symptoms, but that did not treat the actual problem. I began seeing a functional medicine practitioner and was diagnosed with possible Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome because of the horrible inflammation in my gut.