The StRes-ponse Framework
"Disease [is] not an entity, but a fluctuating condition of the patient's body, a battle between the substance of disease and the natural self-healing tendency of the body."
~ Hippocrates
Since the 1930's and the ground breaking work of Dr Hans Selye, scientific research has proven without a doubt that what leads to chronic disease is NOT so much an outside agent but rather the body's response to it. Dr Selye termed his findings the General Adaptation Syndrome and attempted to redefine the word "stress" to mean the environmental, physiological or life event/emotional trigger that leads to predictable changes in the body. Dr Selye's findings set the stage for decades of research on the stress response which greatly enhanced our understanding of the hormonal, inflammatory, and immune response that can result when the body is challenged.
Using the foundation of stress related research combined with a Precision Medicine approach I have developed the StRes-ponse Framework to help guide you on your health seeking journey - to both identify the problem and to find the solutions to restore balance.
"It is far more important to know what person the disease has rather than what disease the person has."
~ Hippocrates
Precision medicine teaches us that each unique individual is the culmination of their genetics, life exposures and life experiences. Every day individuals encounter stressors: infections, financial responsibilities, child birth, etc. Many individuals adapt to these routine stressors with no issues for many years, then slowly chronic symptoms start to develop. Other individuals have experienced a lifelong inability to adapt to stressors, with chronic symptoms starting in infancy or childhood.
"The absence of stress is death."
~ Hans Selye
The StRes-ponse
A person encounters a stressor (physiological, environmental, life event).
1. The body's initial response is for the hypothalamus to send a signal to the pituitary gland to stimulate the release of corticoid hormones from the adrenal gland (this is referred to as the HPA Axis).
2. This influx of corticoids causes significant shifts in blood sugar and mineral balance in the body. Some corticoids are anti-inflammatory and some pro-inflammatory. Some stimulate the immune system and some inhibit the immune system.
3. Corticoids act directly on the lining of the stomach by increasing acid production, decreasing mucus production and increasing intestinal permeability.
4. Corticoids act on the kidneys and stimulate the release of hormones which increase blood pressure and heart rate.
5. The liver is stimulated by corticoids to release glycogen and support cellular energy, but the liver is also responsible for clearing out the elevated hormones from the blood stream. All toxic by-products are sent to the liver for elimination. This is a highly simplified explanation, but it provides you with a foundational understanding of how each body system is drawn into the StRes-ponse and how challenging it can be to restore balance.
How to recover
Step 1
How did you get here?
When considering your current health status and chronic symptoms, the first step to discovering your path to healing is to reflect on how you got here. What are your genetic predispositions? How old are you? Are your symptoms new or have you suffered from chronic symptoms for years?
Step 2
Identify triggers - where possible
Some individuals can pinpoint a single stressor which lead to their symptoms, others may have multiple stressors in close succession and still others may have a lifetime of stressors. Sometimes identifying a stressor is essential to recovery - for example mold exposure in a person predisposed to chronic mycotoxin illness. If the mold and mycotoxins are not removed from the body, healing will not occur. On the other hand, some individuals may have recovered from the initial stressor (for example a viral illness) but the remaining stress response that was triggered in the body remains.
Gina Ditta-Donahue, 2024
Step 3
Collect data
Collecting data to show how your body is functioning is essential to build your personal plan to recovery. Advanced lab testing in addition to routine blood work can provide insights into your genetics, hormone balance, nutritional markers, gut health, inflammation, organ function and mitochondrial health.
Step 4
Address Imbalances
Once biological markers are obtained, a targeted plan can be developed and measured to address your imbalances. Genetics, age, sensitivities, lifestyle and support all impact your personal response to a treatment plan.
Step 5
Recover
Everyone's road to recovery looks different. The thing is, Life is still happening while you are taking this journey. Laying the foundation of healing with lifestyle strategies, dietary support, sleep, movement and stress management techniques is essential to allow the rest of the treatment plan to work.
Gina Ditta-Donahue, 2024
"The natural healing force within each of us is the greatest force in getting well."
~ Hippocrates