PARASITE TESTING
“We all have them! Parasites are everywhere. If you have ever kissed a pet or a first grader, then you have a bunch of them. It’s OK, having parasites at different times in your life is part of being human. Getting rid of them is pretty easy with the right testing.” ~ Studio TeamMany of us suffer from digestive irritations and unwanted side-effects such as bloating, indigestion, constipation, flatulence, and diarrhea. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects up to 45 million Americans with gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders, dysfunctions & infections not only causing (potentially long-term) harm to our digestive and overall health, but also creating significant discomfort, inconvenience, and embarrassment that can impact the quality of our lives on a day-to-day basis.
Many people are not aware that parasites can lie at the root of these problems, which is why we include parasitic testing as one of our suite of medical diagnostic tests.
The Perils of Childcare
Did you know that you might be more vulnerable to toxicity & parasitic infection than your spouse? Women are still far more likely to take on the bulk of childcare in a family unit (particularly in the earliest stages when breastfeeding but also during the early years of a child’s life) which research indicates is a major source of exposure to virulent sources of pathogens.
For example, women with young children and children in daycare are more likely to be exposed to the parasites that cause diarrhea, such as Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium, ectoparasites like lice, and pinworms that cause anal itching (Enterobius Vermicularis), either from child-to-child exposure, or shared toys, play spaces, & cleaning up toddlers who have been playing in mud, dirt & goodness knows what else!
If you are looking after small children and you are also trying for a baby or currently pregnant, this information might prove particularly crucial to know, because exposure to pathogens carries distinct dangers to pregnant women. These include:
- Toxoplasma gondii (often found in cat feces, soil, untreated water, and undercooked meat) and which can lead to fetal deformations if contracted while pregnant (e.g., severe brain & eye disorders).
- Trichomonas Vaginalis(a sexually transmitted parasite) can lead to vaginal infection and increase susceptibility to HIV.
- Malaria, which can cause miscarriage and birth complications if contracted while pregnant.
- A pregnant woman traveling to central and south America for work or leisure needs to watch out for the parasite Trypanosoma Cruz (also known as Chagas Disease), which can cause brain abnormalities, gastrointestinal and cardiac problems in herself, and the same side-effects in the fetus.
- Necatur Americanus is predominantly soil-transmitted and feeds on blood in the small intestine which can cause iron-deficiency anemia, stunted growth, and malnutrition in children, & severe morbidity and mortality during pregnancy in women. It can cause a condition known as necatoriasis, which is characterized clinically as anemia and can cause malnutrition in pregnant women, and the impairment of cognitive &/or physical development in children.
Because so many people confuse parasitic infections with stomach bugs, they do not seek treatment, meaning that a lot of us might be living with parasites without realizing it. Given the potential effects it can cause on adults, children, and pregnant women, routinely undergoing parasitic testing offers an excellent means of safeguarding your health & protecting the health of your loved ones.
What are Parasites, Exactly?
A parasite is an organism that relies on a host (e.g., a human) to live and gain the nutrients that it needs. There are three main types of parasites that are responsible for causing disease in humans – protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites.
Common human parasitic infections found in the United States include
- toxoplasmosis (caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, one of the worlds’ most common, where infection usually occurs from eating undercooked contaminated meat, during pregnancy, via cat feces),
- giardiasis (caused by the giardia lamblia parasite via contact with infected people, contaminated food or water; your pet dog or cat can also contract it),
- cryptosporidiosis (caused by parasites living in food, soil & water),
- trichomoniasis (caused by infection by protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis) and
- strongyloidiasis (usually found in tropical areas, and caused by the S. stercoralis roundworm).
Parasites that live in your digestive system are referred to as intestinal parasites. Once parasites enter your intestines, they can travel to the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, kidneys, breast, prostate, bladder, and sinuses, potentially spreading infection and making the host feel increasingly unwell. While it is true that some parasites create no symptoms in their hosts, others can cause severe illness.
Parasitic Illnesses
Parasitic infections occur when parasites grow, reproduce, or invade organ systems, making their hosts ill. Generally, parasitic infections derive from consuming contaminated water or food. If you’ve been on vacation lately, and returned feeling unwell, or felt queasy after a trip to a restaurant, then possibly parasites might lie at the root of your discomfort. Maybe you’ve spent time at a local park where you drank from a water fountain or visited a popular attraction where the parasitic infection is easily transmitted. Depending on the different types of parasitic infection out there, the way that you become infected might vary, but the resulting illness can be equally debilitating in all cases.
Whilst different parasitic infections cause different infections and affect the body in different ways, we often see a range of the following side effects.
- constipation
- upset stomach
- dehydration
- flu-like symptoms
- swollen lymph nodes
- skin bumps or rashes
- weight loss, increased appetite, or both
- abdominal pain, diarrhea, &/or vomiting
- disrupted sleep or insomnia
- anemia
- aches and pains
- sudden onset of allergies
- weakness, fatigue, listlessness
- the general sensation of feeling under the weather, or unwell
How Do We Test for Parasites?
We can offer a range of medically developed clinically validated tests that allow us to get to the root of your intestinal & digestive issues, with parasitic testing forming just one of our impressive testing portfolios.
Parasite testing, which often takes the form of a stool test, urine & or blood test, allows us to gain a complex understanding of whether the parasitic infection is causing your symptoms. Relying on specialist DNA-based parasite testing labs to analyze your results, we cross-check your results against your medical history and then advise the best possible course of treatment. DNA testing enables us to identify every known DNA virus, fungi, bacteria, and parasite that might be resident within your body, including those that can cause a vast range of intestinal issues, urinary tract infections. We can even test for Lyme disease.
There are very few laboratories out there qualified to accurately diagnose parasites and other microscopic parasitic GI inhabitants; rest assured that we at the Doctors Studio use the best.
BENEFITS OF PARASITE TESTING:
- Parasite testing allows us to identify the pathogen that is causing inflammation within your body that can lead to illness & dysfunction (including a greater vulnerability to the onset of new allergies)
- It allows us to accurately treat specific parasite species as efficiently and rapidly as possible
- We can completely eliminate unwanted parasites from your body, restoring you on the path to optimized health once again
- We can work with you to help you effectively re-establish and restore a positive, healthy microbiome balance –something that is essential to wellness but will have likely been significantly disrupted by parasitic activity
- Allows us to engage in the optimization and support of your microbiome balance using a holistic, whole-body approach
- We take into account your medical history to ensure that all testing & treatment options are tailored exactly to your unique needs
Regain & Restore Your Health Today
The Doctors Studio utilizes the best laboratory support possible to deliver excellent, high-quality results to you, delivering rapid, effective results and the best possible treatment options. If you feel that you, or someone you love, might benefit from parasitic testing, don’t delay – contact us today. We can provide you with the testing, therapies, treatments, & peace of mind you & your family need & deserve!
CDC warns of common parasites plaguing millions in U.S.
For many people, parasites are the stuff of nightmares. These organisms take up residence in their human hosts and feed on the nutrients of the person, causing both minor ailments as well as serious and sometimes life-threatening illness.
CDC GUIDELINES FOR PRESUMPTIVE TREATMENT AND SCREENING
Presumptive treatment and screening for strongyloidiasis, infections caused by other soil-transmitted helminths, and schistosomiasis among newly arrived refugees.
We all have them! Parasites are everywhere. If you have ever kissed a pet or a first grader, then you have a bunch of them. It’s OK, having parasites at different times in your life is part of being human. Getting rid of them is pretty easy with the right testing.
Diagnostics
Advanced Penile Imaging
International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF) & Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM)
Structured Medical Interview and Functional Physical Examination
Complete Physical Exam, Vitals, Body Composition, HRV
Validated Questionnaires: International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF) & Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM)
Validated Questionnaires
International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF) & Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM).
Advanced Diagnostics
Advanced blood and urine testing to include inflammatory markers, focused genetics, hormone levels, metabolic markers, autoantibodies, immune system, kidney function, liver function, electrolytes, proteins, pancreatic enzymes, key nutrients, iron studies, and more.
Microvascular Diagnostics: GlycoCheck
Erections depend upon the function of your microvascular and capillary system. You may look and even feel healthy on the outside, but inside your microvascular system, a completely different situation could be developing.
Organ starvation is one reason that diseases begin in the body. When the capillaries begin to lose their function, vital organs don’t receive the nutrients needed to be healthy and the silent spiral of health decline begins. Often one of the first signs of microvascular disease is a change in erections quality.
Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics
Coronary Calcium Score (CT), Carotid Ultrasound, and Intima Medial Thickening (CIMT) – early diagnostics of cardiovascular disease in difficult-to-detect young men.
Medical Thermography
Imaging is used to identify the areas of the body with musculoskeletal issues affecting the penis and pelvis as well as proper areas for effective injection therapy, Li-SWL, PRP, SCRF and Ozone.
Treatments
DETOX & Herbal Protocol
Systemic Intervention including nutritional, food program, and exercise prescriptions.
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Low Intensity Shockwave Therapy (LI-ECSW)
Used for both musculoskeletal (MS) treatments of pelvic bowl dysfunction and direct regeneration of blood vessels, nerves and tissues of the penis.
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Ozone / Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
A PRP treatment begins with a simple blood draw. PRP is processed an FDA approved medical device that separates and harvests plasma, platelets, anti-inflammatory white blood cells and bioactive proteins. The process to create PRP takes under 10 minutes.
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Testosterone Optimization Therapy
Testosterone Replacement entails restoring more youthful levels of testosterone in a way that protects your health and wellbeing.
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Peptide Therapy
Peptides are biological molecules found in all living organisms. They play a key role in all manner of biological activity.
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TRIMIX Injections
Tri-Mix simply means that there are three medications combined in one solution. The three medications in Tri-Mix are Papaverine, Phentolamine and Prostaglandin E1. The strength of these medications can be customized to the patient needs. There is no real “STANDAD DOSE”.
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Regenerative Supplements
R3, Endocalyx, Blood FX, Evening Primrose Oil, D3K3.
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Don’t Know Where to Start?
The Studio Team is here to serve you.