820 - A First Responder Health Program That Addresses Mental AND Physical Wellness

In this episode, Dr. Sunjya Schweig—an expert in complex chronic illnesses—speaks about the first responder health program he devised for the Berkeley Fire Department. Exposure to extreme stressors leaves first responders prone to many health risks themselves. To date, the top two killers within this profession are cancer and suicide. Recognizing the need to help first responders with their physical and mental health, Dr. Schweig built a program that follows many of the best practices we use at our clinic. Hear what gut health, nutrition, stress management, and sleep techniques can help improve overall health. Featured Studies https://rudermanfoundation.org/white_papers/police-officers-and-firefighters-are-more-likely-to-die-by-suicide-than-in-line-of-duty/ https://www.wshu.org/news/2019-04-01/suicide-the-leading-cause-of-death-for-police-officers-data-show#stream/0 https://www.nami.org/Advocacy/Crisis-Intervention/Law-Enforcement https://www.police1.com/police-products/fitness-mental-health-wellness/articles/tackling-the-obesity-epidemic-in-law-enforcement-Wjww8YOny7DXry6Z/ Featured Resources Effects of Stress on the Brain: https://drruscio.com/effects-of-stress-on-the-brain/ California Center of Functional Medicine's Project Wellness Program: https://www.ccfmed.com/functional-medicine/first-responders HeartMath Biofeedback App: https://www.heartmath.com/ Buddify Meditation App: https://buddhify.com/ Align Podcast: https://www.alignpodcast.com/ Neuroplasticity Healing: https://drruscio.com/neuroplasticity-healing/ Breath by James Nestor: https://www.amazon.com/Breath-New-Science-Lost-Art/dp/0735213615 Gupta Program for Brain Retraining: https://www.guptaprogram.com/ Zemedy IBS & Gut Health Care App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zemedy-ibs-gut-health-care/id1442789941 Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:33 What the Right Care Looks Like 09:30 The First Responder Program 14:00 EMS Stress Management 18:35 Hallmark Symptoms of PTSD 22:00 Effective Stress Tools 24:27 Useful Apps 26:48 The Impact of Breathwork 29:07 EMS Cancer Risks 32:28 Structuring Shiftwork 37:39 The Conditions Being Seen 39:41 The Tools Being Used 42:30 Ketamine & Psilocybin 45:36 Avoiding Burnout 46:59 Time in Nature Get the Latest Updates Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DrRusciodc Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drrusciodc/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ca/drmichaelrusciodc/ DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment. Music featured in this video: "Modern Technology" by Andrew G, https://audiojungle.net/user/andrew_g *Full transcript available on YouTube by clicking the "Show transcript" button on the bottom right of the video.