Why so SAD? 6 Reasons you Suffer From Seasonal Affective Disorder
SAD or winter depression is a change in mood brought on by the change in season. As the season changes to Fall the days get shorter, the weather gets cooler
SMRT HEALTH LABORATORY TESTING
Helping You Live Better
From The Inside out
Lab Testing
For your convenience, SMRT Health is equipped to provide you with various blood and lab services on site. Our Physicians are able to order numerous tests to aid in the diagnosis of various health conditions or routine blood and lab work needed for Physical Exams. Our medical Lab Technician is available to collect samples under the supervision of the physicians and the results will be sent to the ordering physician for review.
Our Various Laboratory Testing Services
Comprehensive Laboratory Testing
As primary health care providers, naturopathic doctors use conventional and naturopathic diagnostic tools for assessing health concerns and determining the most appropriate treatment program.
Laboratory testing, includes, blood work, saliva, stool or breath testing. All an essential aspect of a complete medical assessment.
*Please note that an initial naturopathic visit with one of our naturopathic doctors is required before doing any type of lab testing at SMRT Health.
SIBO Test
SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth) occurs when bacteria colonize or set up shop in the small intestine - where they don’t belong. These can be our “normal” bacteria that live in the large intestine just finding themselves in the wrong spot, but can also include pathogenic bacteria, yeast or a combination of a variety of different organisms. The only way to accurately diagnose SIBO is through a breath test. Stool, blood and saliva tests do not diagnose SIBO.
Symptoms: IBS, excessive gas and belching, bloating and distension that occurs quickly after meals and gets worse throughout the day, constipation, low appetite, reflux/heartburn, constipation, abdominal pain and tenderness, intestinal cramping and spasm. Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, absorption issues, and chronic concussion.
Symptoms: IBS, excessive gas and belching, bloating and distension that occurs quickly after meals and gets worse throughout the day, constipation, low appetite, reflux/heartburn, constipation, abdominal pain and tenderness, intestinal cramping and spasm. Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, absorption issues, and chronic concussion.
Food Sensitivity Test
Food Sensitivity or Intolerance is not a food allergy but more like an immune reaction to food. This immune reaction forms food antigen-antibody complexes that accumulate and are deposited in body tissues. As a result, we see migraine headaches, digestive disorders like – irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s, bloating, indigestion –mood and attention deficits disorder, fatigue, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis. Continued consumption of reactive foods may contribute to weight gain and/or difficulty losing weight.
The IgG blood spot measures levels of IgG antibodies to over 300 different foods.
The IgG blood spot measures levels of IgG antibodies to over 300 different foods.
Hormone & Neurological
Millions of women suffer from hormonal imbalances. Whether it is menopause, weight gain, fatigue, low libido, premenstrual symptoms (PMS), mood swings, or depression, these symptoms can lead to more serious problems if misdiagnosed. Identifying the root cause of chronic health issues is certainly correctable, but only if properly identified.
Male menopause, or what doctors call 'andropause,' can create symptoms of weight gain, lower sex drive, depression, hair loss, sleeping troubles, fatigue, and increased prostate cancer risk. Many men feel this is part of getting older and do not know there is treatment to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Male menopause, or what doctors call 'andropause,' can create symptoms of weight gain, lower sex drive, depression, hair loss, sleeping troubles, fatigue, and increased prostate cancer risk. Many men feel this is part of getting older and do not know there is treatment to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle.
IBS/IBD Panel
Gastrointestinal complaints are among the most common in medical care. This comprehensive profile helps pinpoint the causes of gastrointestinal symptoms and chronic systemic conditions, and measures key markers of digestion, absorption and inflammation.
Vitamin D Panel
ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH VITAMIN D?
In Canada, limited sun exposure means no vitamin D is produced November to April.
The test measures Vitamin D in a convenient dried blood spot you can collect at home or in office, which saves you a trip to the laboratory! Vitamin D may be associated with increased risk of some cancers, type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, Alzheimer's disease, infections, preeclampsia, cesarean deliveries and neurocognitive dysfunction. Vitamin D regulates the expression of a vast array of genes in tissues including immune cells, the vasculature, muscle and reproductive organs. Vitamin D insufficiency is common and deficiency can have adverse health effects at any stage of life.
In Canada, limited sun exposure means no vitamin D is produced November to April.
The test measures Vitamin D in a convenient dried blood spot you can collect at home or in office, which saves you a trip to the laboratory! Vitamin D may be associated with increased risk of some cancers, type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, Alzheimer's disease, infections, preeclampsia, cesarean deliveries and neurocognitive dysfunction. Vitamin D regulates the expression of a vast array of genes in tissues including immune cells, the vasculature, muscle and reproductive organs. Vitamin D insufficiency is common and deficiency can have adverse health effects at any stage of life.
Neurotransmitter Testing
(Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA, etc)
Neurotransmitters are the chemicals the brain use to communicate. Numerous clinical studies have shown that inadequate neurotransmitter function has a profound influence on overall health and well-being. In fact, imbalances in certain neurotransmitters are associated with most of the prevalent symptoms and conditions seen in practitioners’ offices today - Depression, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, ADD, ADHD, brain fog, memory disorder, Addiction and dependency; Hormonal imbalances; Loss of appetite control; insulin resistance.
Neurotransmitters are the chemicals the brain use to communicate. Numerous clinical studies have shown that inadequate neurotransmitter function has a profound influence on overall health and well-being. In fact, imbalances in certain neurotransmitters are associated with most of the prevalent symptoms and conditions seen in practitioners’ offices today - Depression, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, ADD, ADHD, brain fog, memory disorder, Addiction and dependency; Hormonal imbalances; Loss of appetite control; insulin resistance.
Organic Acid Test
The Organic Acids Test (OAT) is a big picture test. It tests organic acids excreted in urine to get a metabolic picture of your overall health. It offers a comprehensive metabolic snapshot of a patient’s overall health with 76 markers. OAT provides an accurate evaluation of intestinal yeast and bacteria. Abnormally high levels of these microorganisms can cause or worsen behavior disorders – PDD, Autism, hyperactivity; movement disorders, fatigue and immune function. Many people with chronic illnesses and neurological disorders often excrete several abnormal organic acids in their urine.
Mold Test
Mycotoxins (toxins from mold) are some of the most prevalent toxins in the environment. Mycotoxins are metabolites produced by fungi like mold, which can infest buildings, vehicles, and foods. Most mycotoxin exposures in North America, Europe, and Australia are through airborne exposure. Food may be a major source of mycotoxins in third-world nations. Many grains that are harvested have been found to be contaminated with mycotoxins but little of such harvests are discarded and are frequently sold for animal feeds such as dog food or feed for cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and horses. MycoTOX screens for eleven different mycotoxins, from 40 species of mold, in one urine sample. MycoTOX is the most comprehensive and competitively priced mycotoxin test available.
Blood Work
Blood work from Dynalife to check liver enzymes, thyroid panel, Glucose levels and more.
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Keep Your Immune System in Peak Condition
Image credit: Eraxion/bigstockphoto.com The Great Defender: that’s our immune system, uniquely designed to keep us healthy and defend against illness and infection. Made up of organs, including the skin, lungs,