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PROVOKE Health - Evoking the path to health resiliency
PROVOKE Health - Evoking the path to health resiliency

2024 in Review: A Year of Growth and Transformation for PROVOKE Health

By |2025-01-10T18:39:11-05:00January 10th, 2025|Categories: PROVOKE Health|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

As 2024 draws to a close, we’re looking back and reflecting on what has proven to be a most remarkable year here at PROVOKE Health. The past dozen months have been become a year full of growth, transformation, and groundbreaking initiatives. All of it driven by our mission of collaborating with patients to rekindle their confidence and improve their resiliency by creating and co-managing personalized treatment plans that address complex and often chronic health problems.

Here’s a look back at the milestones that made 2024 a pivotal year for both PROVOKE Health and more important, our patients.

Launching the PROVOKE Health Brand

In 2024, we unveiled the PROVOKE Health brand, marking a new chapter in our commitment to improving lives through a unique blend of allopathic, functional, and integrative medicine. Our name embodies our approach: provoking positive change in health, challenging outdated medical norms, and empowering patients to take control of their wellness journeys.

PROVOKE Health - Evoking the path to health resiliency

The launch of our new brand was further amplified by our website. Designed with you in mind, it serves as an educational hub and a gateway to our approach to healthcare, blending functional, integrative, and holistic medicine. With features like an online appointment scheduler, insights into the conditions we treat and our services, and highly informative blog posts, our website is  an important component of the PROVOKE Health experience.

Welcoming our Medical Director: Dr. Karalynne Blochberger

This year, we expanded our leadership team by welcoming Dr. Karalynne Blochberger, MD as PROVOKE Health’s Medical Director. Affectionately known as Dr. B., she brings a wealth of experience and a shared passion for functional medicine. Her patient-focused approach and expertise in treating complex and chronic conditions have already made a significant impact on our practice. Under her guidance, we’re better equipped than ever to deliver transformative personalized healthcare.

Supporting Dr. B and our founder, Dr. Matt Lewis, are Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Cara Palermo, Administrative Coordinator Margaret Palmer, and Lutz clinic Administrative Assistant Elizabeth “Liz” Russo. Suffice it to say, PROVOKE Health wouldn’t be where it is today without the extraordinary efforts and skills that Cara, Margaret, and Liz bring to the team!

Opening Our Lutz Clinic

In 2024, we officially opened the doors to our flagship functional medicine clinic in Lutz, Florida. This facility was thoughtfully conceived to provide Continue reading…

PROVOKE Health’s 2024 Holiday Hours

By |2024-12-23T20:08:08-05:00December 23rd, 2024|Categories: PROVOKE Health|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

As we approach the holiday season, you may be wondering about our clinic and virtual / telehealth hours and availability. While the holiday season is a time for rest and connection with family and loved ones, we also remain committed to supporting your health and well-being.

Graphic for PROVOKE Health holiday hours

Below is our clinic and virtual / telehealth schedule for Dec. 23, 2024, through Jan. 3, 2025, followed by a full return to our normal hours starting Jan. 6, 2025.

If you have a medical emergency during any of dates below or at any other time during the holidays, do not call PROVOKE Health. Instead, call 911 or seek medical immediate medical treatment from the nearest emergency room or urgent care facility.

Monday, Dec. 23, 2024

  • Margaret Palmer, Administrative Coordinator, is available all day.

Tuesday, Dec. 24 & Wednesday, Dec. 25

  • CLOSED: PROVOKE Health is closed — everyone is off for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the first night of Hannukah.

Thursday, Dec. 26

  • Dr. Karalynne Blochberger, Medical Director: Available for virtual / telehealth appointments from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time
  • Margaret Palmer, Administrative Coordinator, is available all day.

Friday, Dec. 27th

  • Cara Palermo, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Elizabeth “Liz” Russo, Administrative Assistant: Available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time at the Lutz clinic.
  • Margaret Palmer, Administrative Coordinator, is available all day.

Saturday and Sunday — Dec. 28 & 29

  • CLOSED: Enjoy your weekend!

Monday, Dec. 30 Continue reading…

Plaquex and the Health Benefits of Intravenous Phosphatidylcholine

By |2024-12-09T16:24:50-05:00December 9th, 2024|Categories: IV Therapy|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

Recently here at PROVOKE Health, we began offering Plaquex to some of our patients as part of their personalized plan of care. Plaquex is a special formulation of phosphatidylcholine delivered intravenously. Phosphatidylcholine is an essential phospholipid found in cell membranes that is gaining traction in medical and wellness circles for its potential therapeutic benefits.

Administered intravenously, phosphatidylcholine has been used and studied widely for its role in cellular repair, detoxification, and cardiovascular health.

Image for Plaquex and the Health Benefits of Intravenous Phosphatidylcholine

But let’s apply the brakes for a second. Before we go any further, you need to know that while some healthcare providers claim on their websites and in their marketing materials that Plaquex is FDA approved, it is not.

However, its primary ingredient is phosphatidylcholine, which is recognized as safe by the FDA for use in a number of areas, including in food and dietary supplements. That’s because phosphatidylcholine is a naturally occurring phospholipid found in many foods and is not subject to the same stringent approval process as a drug when used in this context.

For that reason, phosphatidylcholine has been used in nearly a quarter of all other countries around the world, primarily to reduce the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

In our clinical practice here at PROVOKE Health, we have found it useful in our treatment of the following conditions: Continue reading…

Peptide Therapy for Joint Repair and Pain Relief

By |2024-11-13T14:19:27-05:00November 13th, 2024|Categories: Joint Injections|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments

Whether you’re a 23-year-old college-level athlete or a 62-year-old nearing retirement, your body’s joints take a beating, even when you’re  healthy and somewhat active. If you have the added burden of dealing with some form of arthritis — a disease that targets the joints — that strain is even greater.

The good news? Emerging treatments like peptide therapy for joint pain show promise in easing pain and supporting long-term joint health.

Unfortunately, conventional medicine (think primary care physician) offers patients only imperfect solutions — pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, and joint replacement. These treatments can certainly be helpful, but most provide only temporary relief at best, and one requires invasive surgery.

Peptide Therapy for Joint Repair and Pain Relief image

If you’re looking for a unique approach tailored to how you experience pain — an approach that deploys cutting-edge peptides, natural anti-inflammatory protocols, and expert advice on reducing pain and promoting healing both short- and long-term — the team here at PROVOKE Health can help.  . This is not a quick-fix solution. It requires time, effort, and expertise. But it restores joint health and function without surgery and without medications that may cause additional joint deterioration and other health issues.

In this post, we explore the reasons joint pain can be so difficult to manage, and we explain our approach at PROVOKE Health using peptide therapies that focus on restoring joint health and function and make the pain go away or reduces it significantly, making it much easier to manage.

Knee pain and shoulder pain are the two most common types of joint pain. Tennis elbow (pickleball elbow?) is also common. Here at PROVOKE Health, our own Dr. Matt Lewis struggled with an injury to his rotator cuff. Check out his previous post, “Is There a Miracle Cure for Rotator Cuff and Other Joint Injuries?” to read about his personal experience and recovery.

Peptide Therapy for Joint Pain

Knee pain is one of the most common forms of joint pain. Traditional treatments include rest, physical therapy, and steroid injections. These treatments tend to Continue reading…

Getting to the Heart of High Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Disease

By |2024-11-06T17:21:13-05:00November 6th, 2024|Categories: Cardiovascular Disease|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

During a recent visit to a conventional medicine doctor, I shared my Cardio IQ lipid test results from Quest Labs — a test I ordered on my own. As the doctor reviewed the data, he looked puzzled, eventually remarking, “Fancy tests, above my pay grade.”

Cardiovascular disease, as you may know, is a silent epidemic affecting nearly half of all U.S. adults and claiming more lives each year than any other health condition. Despite its prevalence, many doctors are unaware of next level tests like Cardio IQ, while their approach to care focuses primarily on short-term symptom relief, overlooking the deeper, underlying causes.

At PROVOKE Health, we’re committed to a different approach. Through advanced testing and a functional medicine approach to healthcare, we address cardiovascular disease at its roots, offering patients more than just a temporary fix and paving the way for optimal long-term health.

Getting to the Heart of High Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Disease Graphic

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a classification of illnesses that include arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque in the arteries), cardiac arrest (heart stops beating), heart attack (blockage stops blood flow to the heart), congenital heart disease (structural deformities present from birth), high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy (enlarged, thickened, or stiffened heart muscle), and stroke.

According to the most recent data from the American Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular disease accounted for 931,578 deaths in the United States in 2021. That’s more than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined. Between 2017 and 2020, 127.9 million U.S. adults (48.6 percent) had some form of cardiovascular disease. And between 2019 and 2020, direct and indirect costs of total cardiovascular disease were $422.3 billion ($254.3 billion in direct costs and $168.0 billion in lost productivity/mortality).

Despite these alarming statistics, many healthcare providers — especially those who are trained in conventional medicine — continue to offer only short-term solutions that often fail to address the root causes of cardiovascular disease, such as the following treatments: Continue reading…

The Patient Dilemma: Face-to-Face or Telehealth Doctor Visits

By |2024-10-30T17:53:09-04:00October 30th, 2024|Categories: Telemedicine|Tags: , |0 Comments

As healthcare practices continue to evolve, many patients we treat find themselves weighing the benefits of in-person appointments against the convenience of virtual consultations. Most functional medicine and integrative healthcare practices, which is what we are (we focus on treating the whole person rather than just symptoms) offer both telehealth and in-person options to meet the diverse needs of patients.

For anyone interested in understanding the inherent differences between the two appointment formats, a recent study sheds light on the pros and cons of in-person and virtual doctor visits. These insights can help patients make informed decisions about how they interact with their doctors and other healthcare providers.

Photo for Face-to-Face or Telehealth Doctor Visits

In-Person Interactions: The Power of Presence

The study, which is entitled, Separable processes for live “in-person” and live “zoom-like” faces, was conducted by researchers from Yale University’s School of Medicine. It focused on how people respond to live, in-person interactions compared to “zoom-like” virtual meetings. One finding claims people participating in in-person settings often feel a stronger connection and experience more intense social and emotional engagement. This is linked to what scientists call “live face processing,” which purports our brains are wired to respond more deeply to real-life, face-to-face interactions.

In fact, the study showed that during in-person interactions, participants spent more time focusing on their partner’s face and eyes. This led to:

  • Greater visual engagement, reflected in both behavioral and physiological responses such as increased pupil dilation, which can indicate heightened arousal and attentiveness.
  • Brain scans also revealed greater neural activity in regions associated with social cues, such as the somatosensory cortex, suggesting that the brain is more stimulated by in-person communication.

For patients, this means that an in-person visit with a healthcare provider may provide a stronger sense of connection, which can be important when discussing personal health concerns or forming a trusting relationship with your doctor. Patients who thrive on personal interaction and value the subtleties of body language, facial expressions, and direct eye contact, may find that in-person visits offer a richer, more satisfying experience.

Virtual Consultations: Convenience and Accessibility

On the other hand, the study also highlighted some of the unique strengths of virtual interactions, especially in terms of convenience and accessibility. While virtual consultations may lack the depth of in-person, face-to-face interaction, they still allow for Continue reading…

Treating Mold Illness in the Aftermath of Hurricanes

By |2024-10-23T20:14:33-04:00October 23rd, 2024|Categories: Mold|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season caused tremendous destruction along Florida’s Gulf Coast, as well as in the mountains of western North Carolina and at multiple points in between, and it may not be over — hurricane season doesn’t officially end until November 30.

Adding to these miseries? Among the most serious health threats for people living in these areas disrupted by surging tides and floodwaters is mold.

Structural damage to homes, schools, and businesses combined with trillions of gallons of water cannot help but to increase exposure to mold toxins, which are universally known to negatively impact health.

If you’ve been spending any amount of time in a water-damaged building (home, school, or workplace), and you’re experiencing any symptoms of exposure to toxic mold, please read on.

Photo for Treating mold illness after a hurricane

Mold Toxicity Symptoms

Let’s start with a list of some of the conditions and symptoms that we commonly see in patients who are suffering from exposure to mold toxins:

  • Brain fog (impaired focus and attention). For more information, read “The Brain Fog Mycotoxin Connection” here on our blog.
  • Fatigue, which may be indicative of chronic fatigue syndrome-myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS-ME), depending on its severity (for more information, please read “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Healing Your Frustrations!” here on the PROVOKE Health blog)
  • Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus, which can cause a sore throat and chest pain)
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Irritable bowel syndrome-mixed (IBS-M), characterized by alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea (for more information, read “IBS Diagnosis and Treatment Calls for an Understanding of SIBO and SIFO” here on the blog)
  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth-small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIBO-SIFO) or candida yeast overgrowth (a type of SIFO). For more information, read “What Is SIBO and What Can I Do About It?” here on our blog.
  • Dementia
  • Sinusitis (with allergy-like symptoms — sneezing, runny nose, congestion, post-nasal drip)
  • Migraines or less severe but recurring or persistent headaches
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Vertigo
  • Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). For more information, please read “What is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome – or POTS?” here on the PROVOKE Health blog.
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), which causes allergy-like symptoms (for more information, read “Diagnosing and Treating Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)” here on our blog.
  • Lichen sclerosus — a condition that causes patchy, discolored, thin skin, usually in the genital or anal area (for more information, please read “Personalized Treatment for Lichen Sclerosus,”)
  • Dermatitis, swelling of the skin (rashes)
  • Chronic food sensitivities
  • Loss of resilience (increased susceptibility to chronic colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other infections)

The list of conditions and symptoms is extensive, partly because mold-related illnesses often go unnoticed by traditional healthcare providers. As a result, those of us who specialize in testing for and treating mold-related illnesses have come to understand its scope in ways that few others do. And here at PROVOKE Health, we don’t guess, we test!

First Steps: Getting an Accurate and Thorough Diagnosis

If you’re experiencing any of the conditions or symptoms described in the previous section, or suffer other unexplained symptoms, you have a choice between two starting points. Begin by having your home inspected, as well as other buildings where you spend time. If toxic mold is suspected, you’ll need to get both your home and yourself tested and treated. If tests come back positive, you’ll want to treat your residence first.

However, if you and your home both test negative, the results will direct our attention to some other cause of your ailments.

At PROVOKE Health, we always start with a thorough evaluation — a physical exam plus an examination of your health history, family history, lifestyle, medications, living environment, and more. This initial examination often reveals factors that we need to take a closer look at by ordering targeted lab tests. Our objective is to keep peeling back “layers of the onion” until we identify the root cause(s) of the symptoms or condition.

For example, a patient may have a vitamin B12 deficiency caused by Continue reading…

Tips for Protecting Your Health After a Hurricane

By |2024-10-09T20:39:28-04:00October 9th, 2024|Categories: Natural Disasters|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Protecting your health after a hurricane is just important as getting the rest of your life back on track. At PROVOKE Health, we’re committed to empowering you to take control of your health, especially when facing challenges brought on by extreme weather. With Hurricane Milton in mind, it’s essential to be prepared for the health risks that come with heavy rains and flooding.

Graphic for Tips for Protecting Your Health After a Hurricane

Two major concerns right now are Vibrio vulnificus infections and mosquito-borne diseases. Here’s how you can protect yourself and your family in the days after a hurricane.

Avoiding Vibrio vulnificus: What You Need to Know

Vibrio vulnificus is a dangerous bacterium commonly found in warm coastal waters like those near our location Tampa Bay, Florida. After heavy rains and flooding, the risk of infection increases, especially in saltwater environments. Vibrio can enter your body through open wounds or be ingested, causing severe illness, and even lead to life-threatening scenarios.

Who Is at Risk for Vibrio vulnificus?

Certain people are more vulnerable than other to Vibrio infections, including:

  • Anyone with a weakened immune system
  • Patients living with common liver diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
  • Anyone with open wounds, cuts, or scrapes

Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

If you’ve been exposed to floodwaters, it’s important to watch for the following symptoms:

  • Diarrhea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fever and chills
  • Rapid heart rate or confusion

If any of these symptoms arise after exposure, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Simple Steps for Protection from Vibrio vulnificus

  • Avoid floodwaters: Stay out of standing water, sea water, or salty water during and after a storm.
  • Cover wounds: If you have open cuts or wounds, keep them protected with waterproof bandages.
  • Clean up properly: After contact with floodwaters, thoroughly wash your skin and wounds with soap and clean water.

Next, you need to know about mosquito-borne diseases that often on the rise after a hurricane. Continue reading…

Hurricane Milton: Act Now — Early Prescription Refills Permitted

By |2024-10-07T13:24:38-04:00October 7th, 2024|Categories: Natural Disasters|Tags: , |0 Comments

If you live in Florida or rely on us for prescription refills, here’s what you need to know about our plan for this week in the wake of Hurricane Milton.

Hurricane Milton Graphic for Healthcare

As of today (Monday, Oct. 7, 2024), Hurricane Milton — rapidly strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico — is forecasted to become a Category 5 storm on a path toward Florida. It is threatening a dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay, where PROVOKE Health is located.

Prescription Refills

Yesterday, the Governor of Florida issued executive orders declaring a state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Milton’s projected landfall and allowing early prescription refills.

This means we have waived the usual restrictions on when you can refill your prescriptions, as long as you have refills remaining. You can now get at least a 30-day supply, and this policy will remain in place until the state of emergency is lifted.

If you’d like to take advantage of this or know you need a prescription refill, please submit your request by 5 p.m. Eastern Time today. If we receive your request after 5 p.m., we may not be able to assist you in time.

To request a prescription refill before 5 p.m. today, you can: Continue reading…

IBS Diagnosis and Treatment Calls for an Understanding of SIBO and SIFO

By |2024-10-03T13:49:57-04:00October 2nd, 2024|Categories: Irritable Bowel Syndrome|Tags: , , |0 Comments

We’ve all heard the words Irritable Bowel Syndrome before, but what exactly is it? Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS for short) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, or alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. It can be caused by one or more factors, such as impaired gut motility, food sensitivities, stress, or overgrowth of certain bacteria or fungi in the digestive tract.

As I was writing this post, I ran an internet search for “IBS” and found several websites claiming, “there are no specific tests for it” and suggesting that the condition can be managed, but not necessarily cured. Such statements are misleading.

Although there is no test specifically for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, there are tests for a common cause of IBS — bacterial or fungal overgrowth in the digestive tract. In addition, we can test for food sensitivities through an elimination diet. Effective treatments are available to repair the gut and restore balance to the microbiome.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Diagnosis and Treatment Graphic

This post explores one of the most common causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome — small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO) — along with the treatment options we often use with our patients at PROVOKE Health.

SIBO and SIFO — What’s The Difference?

Your digestive tract contains trillions of microorganisms that aid digestion and help your body in countless ways, including by providing nutritional support. This community of microorganisms is referred to as the microbiome. To function effectively, the microbiome must be balanced. An imbalance, referred to as dysbiosis, can lead to various health problems, including digestive disorders, allergies, and even mood disorders.

Dysbiosis can be categorized into two types:

  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) — an overabundance of one or more types of bacteria in the gut
  • Small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO) — an overabundance of one or more types of fungi in the gut

SIBO and SIFO can be caused by one or more of the following factors:

  • Poor diet: Diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates and low in fiber and other essential nutrients are especially prone to fueling SIFO, but can also fuel SIBO.
  • Certain medications: Antibiotics can kill beneficial bacteria, providing opportunities for fungi and/or other bacteria to proliferate. Acid-reducers — proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Prilosec (omeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), and Nexium (esomeprazole) — reduce the concentration of acid in the stomach, allowing infectious bacteria to survive the stomach and pass into the intestines where they can flourish. Long-term use of corticosteroids can also cause problems.
  • Compromised immunity: If the immune system is stressed for any reason, its ability to defend against SIBO and SIFO can be reduced.
  • Other health conditions: For example, diabetes can cause high blood sugar, which can promote fungal overgrowth. Intestinal motility disorders (slow movement of food and waste through the digestive track) provide an environment suitable for overgrowth.

IBS and the Connection to SIBO/SIFO

Dysbiosis can result in inflammation, malabsorption of nutrients, excess gas, and irregular food processing. If left untreated, it can damage the thin protective lining of the gut, resulting in leaky gut — a condition in which molecules that should be kept inside the intestines are released, triggering an immune response. This immune response can create a state of systemic and chronic inflammation, and may lead to autoimmune conditions, such as allergies, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and others. When inflammation strikes the intestines, it can result in IBS.

Diagnosing SIBO/SIFO

Specific tests can determine whether you have SIBO or SIFO (or rule it out as a likely cause): Continue reading…

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Lutz Location
21754 State Road 54, Suite 102
Lutz, Florida 33549 USA

South Tampa Location
730 Sterling Avenue, Suite 214
Tampa, FL 33609 USA

Address

Lutz Location
21754 State Road 54, Suite 102
Lutz, Florida 33549 USA

South Tampa Location
730 Sterling Avenue, Suite 214
Tampa, FL 33609 USA