Health Conditions > See the Complete List

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is characterized by profound fatigue, sleep abnormalities, and pain. The fatigue typically worsens over time and can last for years or a lifetime without proper medical attention. There are many triggers for this syndrome, specifically bacterial infections, immune system disfunction, hormone imbalances, and chronic Lyme disease. At the Stram Center, we regard chronic fatigue syndrome less as a disease and more as a symptom-based health condition for which its root cause must be determined. 

Chronic pain is defined as persistent or recurrent pain that lasts longer than 3 months, despite medication or treatment. Chronic pain might follow an injury, disease, chronic untreated infections, but sometimes it comes on without any past medical history. Common symptoms include brain fog, memory issues, fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, burning pain, sleep problems, loss of stamina and loss of balance. Treating the root cause is the main objective for long term wellness and recovery from chronic pain. Integrative therapies, including supplementation, anti-inflammatory diets, medical cannabis, acupuncture, medical massage and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are only some of the treatment modalities utilized at the Stram Center. 

Chronic yeast infections can happen when there’s an ongoing imbalance or variation in the vaginal or gastrointestinal mucosal tissue. An imbalance can be the result of  unhealthy processed foods that encourage the growth of candida (yeast), or antibiotics and other medications, causing white patches in the mouth and tongue, itching and irritation in the vagina and vulva, burning sensations during intercourse or urination, redness and swelling of the vulva, vaginal pain and rash, and thick, white, discharge. Testing for yeast overgrowth can be achieved by blood, urine, stool or vaginal secretions. Interventions will be guided by the examination of the cause of the overgrowth and include dietary modulation, microbiome adjustments through supplementation therapies and may also include pharmaceutical therapies if indicated.

Colitis is a chronic digestive disease characterized by inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. There are many foods and drinks that can trigger colitis, specifically dairy products, gluten, alcohol, caffeine, and high fiber, sulfur, or sulfate foods. The symptoms include bloating, abdominal pains, cramping, and diarrhea.

At the Stram Center we look at what component nutrition and diet and stress play as well as other factors with the intention to treat the root cause. We have advanced testing available including microbiology DNA testing, food allergy panels and more. Each patient has unique history and circumstance that contribute to the strategy of treatment.

Constipation is described for a  person  who passes less than three bowel movements per week or has difficulty passing bowel movements. The common causes are dehydration, poor diet, lack of dietary fiber, physical inactivity, medical side effects, and inflammation. Common symptoms are abdominal pain, bloating, and cramping.  Advanced intestinal testing and microbiome status is a helpful tool for our patients. The root cause must be determined, and natural remediation can often be applied without the need for medication. Complementary therapies such as acupuncture and TCM,  are often helpful as well.

Covid-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. The virus is highly contagious, and the symptoms vary person to person, but the majority of symptoms include fever/chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome is when individuals experience persistent symptoms after recovering from their initial illness. Some long-term symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of taste and smell, joint pain, and cognitive impairment such as brain fog, confusion and memory issues.

The Stram Center experience with chronic infections, both viral and bacterial, dates back to 2003. We utilize supplementation therapies, pharmaceutical interventions when indicated and more recently have incorporated Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy which vastly improves all outcomes for our patients.

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); causing inflammation of your whole digestive tract, from mouth to anus, which leads to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition.  It is typically an autoimmune response in the digestive tract and may also have a significant genetic component. The condition can be complicated by obstruction of the bowel and abscesses; Chrohn's Disease is 2-4 times more prevalent in the Jewish heritage. There is no precise etiology but there are several risk factors which include: family history, smoking, diet, imbalances in the gut microbiome, and oral contraceptive use. 

The Stram Center has had much success with identifying the potential triggers of this disease by utilizing extensive microbiome mapping, food sensitivities, and intestinal bacterial pathogens. Although the most common conventional treatment for Crohn's is immunosuppressive pharmaceuticals for long term, we believe addressing the proper etiology of the disease can reduce the severity of the disease and/or eradicate it completely . Our treatments include novel utilization of probiotics, acupuncture, herbal supplements and dietary interventions, nutritional iv therapies and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Dementia is considered overall memory loss that impairs your daily functioning. In addition to memory loss, dementia is characterized by impaired judgement, which leads to limited social skills, all leading gradually to loss of independence. There are multiple causes of dementia, some include degenerative neurological diseases, vascular disorders, traumatic brain injuries, central nervous system infections, long-term alcohol or drug use, and chronic diseases such as Lyme. Depending on the situation, dementia may be irreversible; however, there are numerous medications and therapies that can help manage symptoms.

Depression is characterized by a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest that stops you from your normal activities. Symptoms can range from minor to extremely severe and life threatening. There is no single cause of depression and often has a variety of triggers depending on the person’s unique history. For people suffering from a chronic illness, depression is typically common.

Mental health counseling is important to combat depression. Even if depression is a result of chronic illness, counseling can help restore a sense of wellbeing, empowerment and hope and can have an impact on the outcome of the therapeutic intervention of one’s chronic illness. Recent research strongly suggests a connection between a healthy gut microbiome and mental health. The Stram Center can do advanced testing to determine the status of one’s intestinal health and what impact it may play in the Gut-Brain dynamic. We can then determine the best treatment plan for the individual.

Diabetes Type 2 is characterized by the body’s resistance to insulin as well as a tolerance to its effect, whereby requiring more insulin in response to regulating blood sugar. This results in a general rise in blood sugar levels which then cause systemic health problems.  Symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. It is typically caused by an unhealthy diet, limited physical activity, smoking, or genetic factors. If untreated, Type 2 Diabetes can eventually cause a wide variety of life threatening conditions.

At the Stram Center, we believe that lifestyle modification is a key factor in treating this condition. Together with dietary modifications and appropriate exercise incorporated in one’s lifestyle, as well as laboratory monitoring, this disease can be managed very well.