A Functional Approach with Dr. Jim Chialtas

In this 169th episode, I speak with Chase Zittrauer, my rep for Cyrex Labs. We spent some time diving into one of the fastest-growing health crises of our time — Alzheimer’s and related dementias — and what cutting‑edge testing can reveal long before symptoms show up.We unpack the rising global and U.S. burden ofAlzheimer’s: the financial, emotional, and caregiving toll it takes on families. Then we’ll explore a provocative link many clinicians are watching — how COVID-19, long COVID, and immune dysregulation might influence brain health. We discuss a unique laboratory testing approach from Cyrex Labs - The Alzheimer's LINX panel - that looks for early immune signals of brain stress — antibodies to key brain proteins like amyloid beta and tau, as well as cross‑reactivity with pathogens, chemicals, and foods.We’ll explain why plaques and tangles aren’t the wholestory, why single‑target drugs fall short, and how lifestyle andmetabolic factors — think insulin and blood sugar — matter in prevention. Chase shares his own test results and what they revealed about pathogens, phthalates, and food triggers. We also cover the blood‑brain barrier, aluminum and other chemical neoantigens, oral pathogens, traumatic and emotional brain injury, and practical testing strategies, including Cyrex Array‑2, a fantastic leaky‑gut panel.If you have a family history of dementia, genetic risks, past head injuries, or just want earlier clarity about brain health, this episode is for you. Stick around — we’ll break down what the tests can tell you and what to do next.Check out Cyrex Labs Test Arrays Here!https://www.cyrexlabs.com/CyrexTestsArrays/tabid/136/Default.aspxAnd I am always available for an initial consultation. If you are feeling called... You can reach me here:https://afunctionalapproach.net/schedule-an-appointment

In this 136th episode we’re taking a another look at the widely accepted belief that saturated fat and cholesterol are the primary causes of heart disease. Despite the well-known risks and the skyrocketing use of statins—prescription rates have increased significantly over the past decade—heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. experiences a heart attack, and over 900,000 Americans die from cardiovascular issues each year. In this episode, we’ll explore the complex and often overlooked mechanisms that contribute to coronary artery disease. Beyond cholesterol, factors such as chronic inflammation, autoimmune responses, hormonal imbalances, toxin exposure, genetics, and infections play vital roles. We’ll focus on certain infections—like H. pylori, cytomegalovirus, and COVID-19—that can silently influence vascular health by causing inflammation, autoimmunity, and tissue damage, often without obvious symptoms.Why do infections matter? Because they can initiate or sustain vascular inflammation, damage arterial walls, and contribute to plaque buildup over time. Understanding these hidden contributors opens the door to more personalized and effective prevention strategies. We’ll discuss how to identify infections through testing, and explore various treatment options—from targeted antibiotics and herbal support to lifestyle changes such as exercise, diet, and stress reduction—that can help address these underlying issues.Join us as we challenge the conventional view and uncover what truly drives heart disease. If you or someone you care about is dealing with cardiovascular concerns, this episode offers new insights that could transform how you view prevention and treatment—because heart health is about much more than just cholesterol.Citations:Statins utilization trends and expenditures in the U.S. before and after theimplementation of the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelineshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319016423000841?via%3DihubHelicobacter pylori and cardiovascular complications: a mechanism based review onrole of Helicobacter pylori in cardiovascular diseaseshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5390428/Cytomegalovirus Localization in Atherosclerotic Plaques is Associated with AcuteCoronary Syndromes: Report of 105 Patientshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3405798/COVID-19 in the Initiation and Progression of Atherosclerosis: Pathophysiology Duringand Beyond the Acute Phasehttps://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.101107Potential antigenic cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and human tissue with apossible link to an increase in autoimmune diseaseshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32461193/

In this 111th episode I sit down with my colleague Brady from Quicksilver Scientific. Quicksilver is one of the nutraceutical/supplement companies that I use in my practice. I choose to use Quicksilver because I appreciate the detail and care that they put into the research and development, delivery of the nutritional compounds, and transparency. To say that not all supplements are of the same quality is an understatement to say the least. In this episode Brady and I discuss various concepts around supplements. Why would someone want to invest more money in a higher quality brand when they can just go on Amazon or go to Costco and get it for much less? How do we know that the supplements we are taking are high quality? What kinds of technologies are employed to make sure that what goes into your mouth, actually gets into your cells?We discuss these concepts and more! If you are confused by all of the choices out there, this is an episode for you! Quicksilver Scientific:https://www.quicksilverscientific.com/And if you would like to purchase some of these supplements you can always go to my Full Script account, or reach out to me personally!https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/drjim

In this 88th episode, I discuss some thoughts and philosophies regarding happiness. Indeed, it is safe to say that we all wish to live a happy life. But just how does one define "happiness?" Might we be confusing short term reward with true happiness? And just how much struggle or even suffering might be involved in a "happy life" anyway? In the quest for finding that deeper level of wellness, the consideration of what makes us truly happy should be something to consider.

In this 76th episode I revisit the Functional Medicine. We take a look at three core concepts of Functional Medicine and how it compares to a more mainstream medical experience. This episode might be a wonderful way to introduce someone you know to Functional Medicine, and to my practice. This episode also marks the first episode that I will also be filming for my new YouTube channel. The videos on YouTube will be shortened versions of the content I publish on this platform. So if it is adeeper dive that inbterests you, you are in the right place. But if you are more of a video oriented, condensed information kind pf person, feel free to visit my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/yumcJHD-t6o?si=Hs_KaseUg-RT-MRg And don't forget to like and subscribe and click that little bell thingy. ;-)