(813) 867-0608 • Contact • Schedule an Appointment

(813) 867-0608 • Contact • Schedule an Appointment

Exploring the Connection between Infections and Autoimmune Diseases and in Tampa

Take a look around the outskirts of Tampa and you’ll easily see what I discovered upon arriving in what Money Magazine recently said is the best large city in the Southeast and one of five “urban gems” across the United States. I’m talking of course about urban sprawl, thick woods, lots of new homes, and the perfect breeding ground for ticks!

Ticks are synonymous with tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, which is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the Borrelia type, spread by the very ticks I suspect are now populating many areas of urban Tampa and Hillsborough County. And while Lyme disease — which affects at least 30,000 people each year according to data found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website — is not considered an autoimmune disease, its chronic and often undiagnosed symptoms do compromise the immune system and lead to the development of autoimmune diseases.

What is Autoimmune Disease?

Autoimmune diseases (sometimes referred to as autoimmune disorders) are illnesses that arise when Continue reading…

Why Is a Tampa Chiropractor Blogging About Functional and Integrative Medicine?

By |2017-07-06T16:02:19-04:00July 6th, 2017|Categories: Dr. Matt Lewis|Tags: , , |1 Comment

Chiropractors crack backs, right? Their focus is on correcting misalignments of the musculoskeletal system to improve bone and muscle structure, thus alleviating stress and strain, especially on nerves. So why am I — Tampa Chiropractor, Matt Lewis, Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) — blogging about functional and integrative medicine?

The reason is that the true focus of chiropractic manipulation is holistic (whole body) health. The concept on which chiropractic is based, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), is that the body’s structure, primarily the spine, influences its function. Realigning the musculoskeletal system restores health and function.

The world’s longest continuous sidewalk — Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, Florida.

But it’s not that simple. Numerous factors play a role in human health, and these factors fall into two categories: genetics (nature) and environment (nurture), which includes diet and nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle choices, environmental toxins, and even relationships. To achieve the goal of chiropractic (whole health), some chiropractors, including me — Dr. Lewis — are branching out into other areas, including functional medicine and, when necessary, allopathic medicine (traditional medicine that relies primarily on pharmaceuticals along with surgery and other medical procedures).

This integrative healthcare approach equips doctors like me with a complete toolbox of Continue reading…

Dr. Matt Lewis is Blogging in Tampa

By |2017-07-06T16:03:38-04:00June 29th, 2017|Categories: Dr. Matt Lewis|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Over the course of my many years in practice as a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.), Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (CFMP®), and supporting people using clinical nutrition, I have discovered that a key component to achieving optimal health is education. What you don’t know can, literally, kill you.

A large part of my job in diagnosing health conditions and identifying and treating the root cause(s) of such conditions involves educating my patients on nutrition and lifestyle and their impact on health. Unlike conventional medicine, which treats patients as passive recipients of pharmaceuticals and often invasive medical treatments, my practice involves you — the patient — as an integral part of the treatment team. To be an effective member of that team, you need to know what to do, how to do it, why it’s important, and how it works. Otherwise, patients like you either can’t or won’t do what’s required to overcome illness and achieve optimal health and function.

Education is key, and that’s why I’ve decided to start blogging about functional medicine in Tampa. My belief is that through my blog posts and discussions, you will learn a thing or two about your own body and about how your environment, diet and lifestyle choices impact your health. The proper knowledge and insight place you in the driver’s seat; your choices either promote or undermine your quality of life — the way you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally; what you’re able to do; and your performance level.

Over the course of coming weeks, months, and years, I will be blogging about a wide range of topics related to health and fitness in Tampa, including the following:

  • Nutrition, including insight on how to use food as medicine to avoid and support various illnesses and promote optimal health and performance
  • Digestive health, including insight on how to restore the delicate balance of bacteria and other microorganisms that reside in the gut and that play a significant role in immune system function and dysfunction, along with a host of illnesses related to chronic inflammation
  • Autoimmunity, and how it can be approached more specifically with nutrition, holistic treatment, and adjustments in lifestyle to avoid progression of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Colitis, Lupus and more
  • Leaky gut, food allergies and sensitivities, along with guidance on how to obtain an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment
  • Weight-loss resistance (inability to lose weight when trying to do so) and how to overcome it through nutrition and exercise and without having to starve yourself
  • Genetics, both human genes and the genetic makeup (the microbiome) of the various microorganisms (microbiota) that reside in and on the human body and that either promote or impair health
  • Neurological health — not only brain function in terms of clear thinking and emotional stability, but also in terms of the brain’s central control of other bodily functions and organs
  • Endocrine health — the endocrine glands (pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands) that regulate the body’s internal environment through the circulatory system
  • External environmental factors, including mold toxicity, Lyme disease, and sick building syndrome, that often produce debilitating and autoimmune symptoms that conventional medicine struggles to diagnose and treat

Yes, you can take control of your own health, but you need the knowledge and understanding to do so. Please join me in learning more about your health and your body. The time and effort required will be the best investment you ever made, paying dividends by making you feel and function your very best.

– – – – – – – – – – –

About the Author: Dr. Matt Lewis, D.C., CFMP® specializes in diagnosing and treating the underlying causes of the symptoms related to chronic and unexplained illness through nutrition, lifestyle, chiropractic, and other natural approaches to whole-health healing in Tampa, Florida. He earned his B.S. in Biology from Shenandoah University, his Doctorate in Chiropractic from Life University, his CFMP® from the Functional Medicine University, and his certification as a Digestive Health Specialist (DHS) through the Food Enzyme Institute. Dr. Lewis’ passion for health and wellness stems from his own personal experience. With a family history of autoimmune conditions and diabetes, and his own lab tests showing his genetic susceptibility to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (autoimmune thyroid), he has learned how to restore his own health and vigor to prevent the onset of these illnesses and live an incredibly active life. Through this process, he acquired a deeper understanding of health and wellness, which he now offers his patients and others interested in whole health.