At Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine, we understand that undergoing an MRI can be a source of anxiety for many patients. This guide offers a detailed exploration of non-pharmacological strategies to help you have a more comfortable and relaxed experience during your upcoming MRI scan.

Understanding MRI Anxiety

Before delving into coping strategies, it's important to understand why MRI scans can be anxiety-provoking:

- Claustrophobia: The enclosed space of the MRI machine can trigger feelings of confinement.
- Noise: MRI scanners produce loud, repetitive sounds that can be unsettling.
- Duration: Scans can last anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour, requiring prolonged stillness.
- Fear of results: Anxiety about potential findings can heighten stress.
- Loss of control: Being in an unfamiliar environment can lead to feelings of vulnerability.

Preparation: The Foundation of a Positive Experience

Education and Familiarization

- Research the MRI process: Understanding what happens d...

Looking to take charge of your health in 2024? Our January Group Visits offer the perfect opportunity to begin your wellness journey alongside a supportive community of fellow patients and healthcare professionals.

What Makes Our Group Visits Special?

Group Visits at TCLM combine the best of both worlds: extended time with our healthcare team and the chance to learn from others on similar health journeys. Each session focuses on specific health topics, allowing for in-depth discussions and personalized guidance in a collaborative environment.

Book Your January Sessions Now

Review our upcoming topics and secure your spot to ensure you don't miss the sessions most relevant to your health goals.

How to Schedule

• Call: 713-690-1991
• Text: 713-597-4521

Questions About Group Visits?

Contact Jillian at [email protected] to learn more about how our Group Visit programs can enhance your healthcare experience.

Join us in creating a healthier community, one group visit at a time. ...

As cold and flu season approaches, many of us are looking for ways to strengthen our immune systems. While a healthy diet and regular exercise are crucial, there's another simple yet powerful tool at our disposal: soft belly breathing. This ancient practice, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, has been shown to have remarkable effects on our immune function and overall health.

The Science Behind Soft Belly Breathing
Soft belly breathing involves taking slow, deep breaths that expand the abdomen rather than the chest. This technique stimulates the vagus nerve, a key component of our parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our "rest and digest" state. When activated, the vagus nerve helps shift our body from a stress response to a more relaxed state, which has profound implications for our immune system.

Impact on Inflammation and Immune Response
Research has shown that activating the vagus nerve through breathing exercises can have a significant impact on our immune ...

The human mind is a complex system comprising multiple levels of consciousness that interact with our physical well-being in intricate ways. By exploring these levels and their connections to our health, we can gain valuable insights into managing chronic illnesses and improving overall quality of life.

The Three Levels of Consciousness
Our mind operates on three primary levels: conscious, subconscious, and superconscious.
Conscious Mind: This is our waking state of awareness, responsible for logical thinking, decision-making, and voluntary actions. It represents only a small portion of our total consciousness.
Subconscious Mind: Operating below our conscious awareness, the subconscious mind stores memories, emotions, and experiences. It has a significant influence on our thoughts and behaviors, often without our realizing it.
Superconscious Mind: This higher state of consciousness is associated with creativity, intuition, and spiritual insights. It's where we can access deeper levels of ...

At Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine, we're always exploring cutting-edge research to provide our patients with the most comprehensive and effective care. Today, we're delving into an intriguing aspect of human biology that's gaining attention in the scientific community: the holobiome. 

The Holobiome: Beyond the Microbiome

Most of us are familiar with the concept of the microbiome - the collection of microorganisms that inhabit our bodies, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The microbiome plays a crucial role in our health, influencing everything from digestion to immune function.

However, there's a broader concept that encompasses not just these microorganisms, but also their genetic material and the complex interactions between them and our bodies: the holobiome. The holobiome is defined as the sum total of the component genomes in a eukaryotic organism, comprising both the host genome and the microbiome.

The Holobiome and Emotional Health

Interestingly, the holobi...

As part of our ongoing mission to provide comprehensive care for patients with hypermobility, our team recently hosted an illuminating group visit on this complex condition. During the session, we delved deep into the intricate connections between the gut, posture, the nervous system, and overall health for those dealing with hypermobility.

The discussion was led by our experts, Hannah Sutherland, Physical Therapist with Parr PT, and Dr. Cheng Ruan. They shared valuable insights and real-world examples to help attendees better understand this multifaceted issue. Here are the key takeaways from the session:

The Gut-Brain Connection

One of the core focuses was the crucial role the gut plays in hypermobility. As our experts explained, the gut is often referred to as the "second brain" of the body, containing more neurons than the brain and spinal cord combined. When the gut is not functioning optimally, it can lead to a host of neurological symptoms like dysautonomia.

Posture and Mobi...

At Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine, we believe healing is about more than just treating symptoms—it's about understanding the intricate connections within our body. Our recent POTS and Dysautonomia support group dove deep into a fascinating aspect of health that often goes overlooked: the profound relationship between our mental state, our environment, and our physiological responses.

The Intricate Dance of Mind and Body

Dysautonomia is more than a single-system disorder. It's a complex condition that demonstrates just how interconnected our bodily systems truly are. One of the most remarkable connections we explored is how our mental state can directly influence physiological responses—particularly through mechanisms like histamine release.

What is the Gut-Brain Connection?

Your body is constantly communicating—between your nervous system, digestive system, and brain. These communications happen through neural pathways, hormones, and chemical messengers. For individuals with d...

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to view symptoms—whether physical or mental—as inconveniences to be suppressed or ignored. However, what if we approached these experiences differently? What if we saw them not as nuisances, but as valuable signals and teachers, guiding us towards better health and balance?

The Body's Language

Our bodies and minds are constantly communicating with us. A headache, fatigue, anxiety, or digestive issues aren't random occurrences—they're messages. These symptoms are our body's way of saying, "Hey, something's not quite right here. We need to pay attention."

Symptoms as Signals

Think of symptoms as warning lights on a car's dashboard. When that "check engine" light comes on, it's not trying to ruin your day—it's alerting you to a potential problem that needs addressing. Similarly, our symptoms are signaling areas of imbalance or stress in our lives.

• Physical pain might indicate overexertion or poor posture
• Digestive issues could signal food sensiti
...

Every other week, Dr. Cheng Ruan meets with patients suffering from dysautonomia and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) to discuss various aspects of managing their conditions. In our most recent session, we delved into the crucial topics of hydration and salt, exploring their impact on autonomic function and overall well-being.

The Importance of Electrolytes

Our discussion centered around the significance of electrolyte supplementation, particularly salt, in regulating autonomic dysfunction. Dr. Ruan emphasized how proper electrolyte balance can play a vital role in managing symptoms associated with dysautonomia and POTS.

Sodium: More Than Just Salt

We explored the effects of sodium on various bodily functions:

• Its impact on the mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells
• The role of the trigeminal nerve, specifically its maxillary branch, in moderating the vagus nerve
• How oral formations can have a calming effect on the vagus nerve

Interestingly, we also touc...

In the fast-paced world we live in, it's easy to forget that our mental and physical health are deeply interconnected. Here at TCLM, we honor the connection between the mind and the body and recognize that ancient forms of treatment often have deeper evidence based methodologies. For example, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a holistic approach to health with over 2,000 years of history, offers a fascinating perspective on this mind-body connection. Let's explore how TCM views the relationship between our emotions and our physical well-being.

The Five Element Theory

At the core of TCM's understanding of emotions and health is the Five Element Theory. This concept links specific emotions to particular organs in the body:

1. Anger - Liver
2. Joy - Heart
3. Worry - Spleen
4. Sadness/Grief - Lungs
5. Fear - Kidneys

According to TCM, an imbalance in these emotions can lead to physical ailments in their corresponding organs, and vice versa.

How Emotions Affect Your Organs

Liver and Anger