A Moment with Dr. Stillman
When we first met, he told me exactly what he wanted.
“I’d like to just feel better, have more energy.”
He could feel his blood pressure climbing before he checked it. “I start feeling flushed and it can go up into the 190s. Close to 200.”
His gut was another (and related) problem. “It’s always up and down.”
Where We Started
He is retired, married, and loves to travel. He had gone to great lengths to improve his health. Here’s what he was dealing with when we met:
Blood pressure spikes into the 190s
Low energy and daily fatigue
Alternating diarrhea and constipation
Taking a dozen or more supplements
We see this all the time. Patients are putting in the effort and failing to get back.
What Changed
Most of his high readings were the result of stress. This turned into a vicious cycle. Anxiety about his readings turned into higher readings, which turned into higher readings. See the problem?
We share specific breathwork protocols with these patients to break this cycle. I start everyone with our Starting Breathwork Protocol, which is in my book or available here.
The other cause of blood pressure spikes? Retained toxins, particularly heavy metals, are the real problem. We have to get these out to get blood pressure down.
We start with the 14-Day Reset. These are simple habits that support the body’s nutrition and detoxification every day. We start patients with this and, in most cases, we continue this diet indefinitely.
Here’s the reset:
We also:
Stopped supplements that weren’t serving him
Added sauna
Started personalized mineral supplements
Three months later, here is where we were:
Blood pressure spikes had dropped from the 190’s to the 150’s (systolic)
Triglycerides went from high (160) to optimal (82)
HDL rose from 39 to 46 (a 10% improvement, which is significant)
A1C went from 5.7 to 5.4 (a major improvement in his metabolism)
We still have work to do, but he’s made strong progress and is headed in the right direction.
He still has heavy metals to eliminate, and that’s what we’ll work on next.
Things to Think About
Serious health issues, like high blood pressure, are rarely about more medication or a single supplement. They’re always the result of a combination of diet and lifestyle factors that we get to the bottom of with a thorough history-taking over multiple visits with myself and our coaches.
Beneath this, minerals and metals are powerful drivers of blood pressure (both high and low).
His hair test shows low metal and mineral levels, but when someone has high blood pressure, they almost always have too much of both.
How is this possible?
The body lacks the energy to move them into the hair.
As I told him:
“You don’t have a lack of heavy metals. You have an inability to get them out.”
What you get is high blood pressure driven by excessive levels of minerals and metals, but low readings on a hair test of both.
He’s got decades of metals stored away that are slowly destroying his body, starting with his blood pressure.
I see this all the time.
I always suspect mercury in these cases, because it commonly presents this way.
Sure enough, he has a mercury amalgam he needs to get rid of.
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As always, discuss any changes with your own licensed clinician. Read our full disclaimers, disclosures, and our position on health freedom here.
Until next time, be well,
Dr. Stillman
P.S. If you’re tired, foggy, and inflamed, and you’re ready for root-cause medical care, book an evaluation with a member of our team.
During the evaluation, we’ll:
Review your history and current symptoms
What you’ve tried, what’s worked, and what hasn’t
Get you clarity on where to go next, whether that’s becoming a member of our practice or a referral to a trusted partner of ours
For a limited time, we’re also including a copy of my new book, The End of Autoimmunity, so you can learn more about our process.
Book your evaluation today. If you’re tired, foggy, and inflamed, we’d love to help you reclaim your health.
Educational content only. Not medical advice. See full disclaimers.