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Understanding CIRS better
In the simplest of terms...
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a progressive, multi-system, multi-symptom illness characterized by exposure to biotoxins. The ongoing inflammation can affect virtually any organ system of the body and if left untreated becomes debilitating.
What is WDB?
CIRS WDB is CIRS developed after chronic exposure to the interior of water-damaged buildings typified by resident microbial growth, including bacteria, filamentous fungi (molds), mycobacteria, and actinomycetes; together with resultant biologically produced toxins and inflammagens. Quite often WDB's aren't obvious.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Patients with CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) are often misdiagnosed as having depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and somatization; as well as Alzheimer’s, Parkinsonism, allergy, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome, among others. Treating patients for these seemingly diverse conditions do not improve their symptoms of CIRS, although effective therapies for CIRS exist.
CIRS is an activation of the innate immune system, making a proper diagnosis difficult since common parameters of inflammation are generally negative upon laboratory evaluation.
CIRS is a brain on fire. A dominant clinical feature of CIRS is the common cognitive complaints by patients, including memory loss, mood disorders, brain fog, loss of executive function, and fatigue. This is not a surprise considering that this is a key component of the innate immune response.
Genetic susceptibility is key in CIRS, as not everyone who has an exposure will be equally affected with the illness. CIRS can also change gene expression after it occurs, which is completely different from the genetic sucseptibility that occurs from inherited genes. Therefore, genes are an important part of understanding how CIRS manifests in a specific person. The role of genetics and gene expression can be tested and are an important component of diagnosis and personalized treatment planning.
There are multiple markers to measure the innate response and measure the presence of inflammation in the brain. Dr. Heyman is a world-renowned physician that has a significant amount of research in this area.
The Role of Environmental Brain
Health Clinics of America (EBHC)
EBHC’s vision is to serve as a Center of Excellence in CIRS medicine, both for patients and providers. Such a vision involves leadership in four pillar domains:
Provide Transformational Patient Care We believe this means following the most current CIRS medical science for diagnosis and treatment and innovating exceptional patient experiences along the treatment journey. If you would like to learn more about how we do this click here.
Advance Scientific Research Through Leadership We are actively funding and collaborating in specific scientific medical research focused on identifying promising discoveries that have the potential to improve outcomes for CIRS patients.
Improve The Laws and Legal Options Related To Mold/Biotoxin Exposure Risk and Injury
We believe this means direct conversations with lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle at both state and federal levels about the reality of CIRS – how it happens, how it can alter lives, and all the options available to avoid unnecessary suffering. When called upon, we serve as experts in litigation matters and consultants to law firms around the USA.
Create Financial Innovations That Support More Affordable & Accessible Medical Care For CIRS Patients CIRS can erode a person’s ability to work and earn a living. Treatment costs can be out of reach for some people. We believe in constantly innovating financially as well as medically so that we may ultimately lower the cost of CIRS treatment and make it more accessible.
In support of the above-described pillars, Environmental Brain Health Clinics of America secured formal collaboration with two world experts in CIRS medicine, Dr. Andrew Heyman and Dr. David Ross. Neither Dr. Heyman or Dr. Ross practice medicine in Texas through our clinic. Both experts serve as consultants/advisors and instructors to our medical team regarding innovation and best practices for improving care for CIRS patients and their families.
Dr. Andrew Heyman, MD, MHSA
Special CIRS Advisor to Environmental
Brain Health Clinics of America
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World expert in Biotoxin Illness and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)
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(Patients seen, research published, physicians taught to diagnose & treat CIRS)
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Triple Board certified in Family Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and Anti-Aging Medicine.
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Medical Director of Medicine at The George Washington University.
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Director of Academic Affairs for the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
If you would like to view Dr. Heyman's CIRS lectures to other physicians where he teaches CIRS diagnosis and discusses the medical aspect of CIRS (which many patients enjoy doing), you can click here for the EBHC free CIRS videos.
Andrew Heyman, MD, MHSA, is an internationally recognized pioneer, scientist, clinician and educator in Integrative and Metabolic Medicine. His professional activities over 30 years represent one of the most influential voices for meaningful change to conventional medicine that includes the best practices of traditional healing therapies and lifestyle medicine with the most advanced science of today. He is triple Board certified in Family Medicine, Integrative Medicine and Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.
Dr. Heyman is considered a world expert in Biotoxin Illness and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. He has co-authored academic articles and book chapters with Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, conducts research in neuroinflammation, proteomics and transcriptomics of CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), and applies an evidence based, Integrative Medicine model to this chronic illness. (Click on the underlined words to see more about this and how it relates your care). He often teaches with Dr. Shoemaker to properly train the next generation of Shoemaker certified providers, and lectures widely on the subject. His clinic is a Center of Excellence that attracts patients from all over the world to treat CIRS related to Water Damaged Buildings, Lyme disease and other biotoxins.
Finally, Dr. Heyman has been featured on the Discovery Channel, Martha Stewart Living Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, Natural Health Magazine and appeared in many other TV and print venues and is a widely sought after, and celebrated speaker around the world on many Integrative Medicine topics. His teaching approach is described as deeply rooted in scientific evidence, grounded in the clinical reality of expert patient care, and readily accessible to both the new learner and seasoned practitioner alike.
Dr. David Ross, MD
Scientific Advisor to Environmental
Brain Health Clinics of America
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World expert for acquired brain injury due to mold/biotoxins, and measurement of brain impact.
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Triple Board certified in General Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry, and Brain Injury Medicine.
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Made American history by proving in federal court that mold exposure can cause neurological injury. Cited in thousands of legal cases.
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Inventor of neurological software used in medicine and court cases.
Dr. Ross serves as Scientific Advisor to Environmental Brain Health Clinics of America. He is widely regarded as the leading authority on brain injury caused by mold / biotoxins and the manifestation of that injury in MRI NeuroQuant analysis.
He completed medical school and residency in psychiatry at VCU. After that, he finished a fellowship in neuropsychiatry (with a focus on schizophrenia research) at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland, where he stayed on the faculty for several years. In 1997, he returned to VCU where he joined the full-time faculty. In 2001, he founded the Virginia Institute of Neuropsychiatry (VIN).
He is board-certified in 3 areas: (1) General Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; (2) Neuropsychiatry by the United Council on Neurologic Subspecialties; and (3) Brain Injury Medicine by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is a nationally recognized clinician, educator, researcher and forensic expert.
He and his colleagues pioneered the application of NeuroQuant®, FDA-cleared MRI brain volumetry software, in patients with traumatic brain injury. Also they developed NeuroGage®, software which extends the utility of NeuroQuant®. In 2017, NeuroGage® was spun off into a separate company.
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