The Heart Chamber Boots Knighton

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Pain is real. Ignore it at your own peril. Think of it as your check engine light. While pain is not a good parameter for how much damage has happened, it does play a role in helping you assess how dangerous the situation is.
Boots Knighton and her physical therapist, Ann Alton, take you through a 40-minute lesson on pain, the brain's role in pain perception and recovery. They compare different types of pain, from broken legs to open-heart surgery, emphasizing the brain's influence and the importance of context. Ann shares her journey from chronic pain to becoming a pain neuroscience expert. They discuss the importance of clear medical explanations, the impact of emotional scars, and the brain's ability to rewire for healing. Ann highlights the need for patient-provider teamwork and in order to address healthcare biases.
Ann also walks us through how pain involves the whole body and all systems. Nociception is the perception of pain. Areas of the brain used to determine pain are: sensory cortex, somatosensory cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, insular cortex, prefrontal, visual, thalamus, cerebellum, and premotor motor. 
Big thanks to Ann Alton for spending time with Boots today and in the clinic to help her navigate healing from a tib/fib spiral fracture!
00:00 Experiencing chronic pain led to becoming a physical therapist, inspired by pain neuroscience.
03:58 Pain is an alarm system, not a measure of damage.
09:30 Pain perception is based on context and prior experience.
11:36 Chronic body issues trigger brain's perceived danger, intervention options.
13:52 Pain perception is subjective; varies based on individual experience and expectations.
18:10 Extra nerve endings and inflammation signal danger to brain, causing concern and irritation.
22:44 Bias in medical system affects care for diverse patients. Research based on white men overlooks differences in care needs.
26:24 Practitioners struggle to keep up with new information and must learn independently.
29:57 Our brain helps us evaluate and visualize situations for appropriate action and memory recall.
34:01 Understanding and clarity bring relief.
35:19 Seek help for understanding medical information, simplify explanations.
How to connect with BootsThe Heart Chamber - A podcast for heart patients (theheartchamberpodcast.com)
Email: Boots@theheartchamberpodcast.com
Instagram: @theheartchamberpodcast or @boots.knighton
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/boots-knighton
If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to:
The Heart Chamber - A podcast for heart patients (theheartchamberpodcast.com)

In today's episode, I welcome Dr. Amy Neuzil to dive into the world of MTHFR and its impact on our heart health. Ever wondered how your DNA influences your health? Dr. Amy sheds light on how the genetic mutation, MTHFR, can affect homocysteine levels and alter our well-being. She also teaches us about the correlations between food preservation methods and behavioral issues in children.
Risk factors of MTHFR are heart disease, stroke, quality of life issues such as energy levels, sleep disturbance, and mental health.
It's time to get real on what is reasonable to expect from your doctor. There is no one human who can hold all the medical knowledge available today. We cannot outsource our medical needs to one single doctor anymore!
Amy Neuzil is a naturopathic doctor, educator and health coach. She is also a mom, wife, and overmethylator who writes novels, forages, and makes soap. 
Dr. Amy has been helping people with their health since 2003. She operated an award-winning integrated wellness center in Austin, TX, taught at both the masters and doctoral levels, and co-hosted a number of radio shows. Now, she hosts the To Health With That! podcast and an amazing community called Genetic Rockstars designed to help MTHFR folks to connect, share stories, and become better.
Special thank you to Dr. Amy for offering Genetic Rockstars for FREE for one month: https://community.tohealthwiththat.com/plans/204575?bundle_token=4da8ed9c5f00a92363bcd15ad2ac26dd&utm_source=manual

In this impactful episode of The Heart Chamber Podcast, hosts Eden Morris and Boots Knighton delve into critical heart health issues. They discuss the stark effects of diet culture on heart health, emphasize the importance of tailored nutrition for heart patients, and explore the emotional challenges post-surgery. Eden, a dietitian, shares her personal struggle with sports-related energy deficiency and underscores the need to advocate for comprehensive care in the medical field. They introduce listeners to intuitive eating, emphasizing body respect and mental well-being. This episode provides essential insights into overcoming heart health challenges and embracing a supportive approach to nutrition and body image. Tune in to learn how to nurture your heart and mind.
A Little More About Today's GuestEden Morris is a Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian (LD), and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She is a former collegiate softball player turned mountain biker/skier who decided to become an RD after her diagnosis and experiences with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs).
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas A&M University and combined it with a Master’s of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics through the Coordinated Program at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Eden internalized so many of diet culture’s messages as a teenage girl and young woman, and she hit diet rock bottom hard at the end of her collegiate athletic career. 3 stress fractures in her left foot, osteopenia, secondary amenorrhea for 3+ years, and a wrecked relationship with her respective sport were the wake-up calls that finally snapped her out of the diet mentality. She realized she could never go on a restrictive diet again if she wanted a more peaceful relationship with food and her body, especially when she retired from competitive sport. She spent the next decade slowly internalizing Intuitive Eating principles, and now, she will tell you the best thing she has ever done for her health is heal her relationship with food. Eden aims to inspire others to recognize that a fueled body performs better than a starving body in all phases of life. She challenges everyone – in her mountain community and beyond – to not let the fear of food, fear of judgment, or fear toward anything else keep them from leading the lives they’re meant to live. If you ask Eden, the keys to becoming truly fearless are eating more food around our activities, appreciating our bodies for what they allow us to do vs how they look, and moving our bodies in ways we actually enjoy.
https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Articles/2022/12/20/18/25/CV-Consequences-of-Relative-Energy-Deficiency-in-Sport#:~:text=Relative%20energy%20deficiency%20in%20sport%20(RED%2DS)%20refers%20to,%2C%20immunity%2C%20and%20protein%20synthesis.
How to connect with EdenWebsite: www.tetonperformancenutrition.com/links
Instagram: @gardenofeden_rd ; @find.food.freedom
How to connect with BootsThe Heart Chamber - A podcast for heart patients (theheartchamberpodcast.com)
Email: a href="mailto:Boots@theheartchamberpodcast.com" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Boots brings you heart news that caught her eye for the month of April in a new monthly segment! Let Boots know what you want to hear more of or less of by sending her an email boots@theheartchamberpodcast.com
Risk of heart disease rises sharply in women after menopause, study - Times of India (indiatimes.com)
Artificial intelligence shows that social isolation impacts cardiovascular age and mortality rate - Mayo Clinic
4-year-old who received new heart after waiting 1,025 days goes home from hospital - ABC News
Research uncovers hidden link between heart attacks and cancer - ISRAEL21c
Blake Hospital performs first minimally invasive mitral valve repair (mysuncoast.com)
Longitudinal blood glucose level and increased silent myocardial infarction: a pooled analysis of four cohort studies | Cardiovascular Diabetology | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)
Boots Knighton has been an educator since the late 1990s in all facets of education including high school science, middle school mathematics, elementary reading, college level ecology, ski instruction, backpacking, and experiential education. Her greatest teacher has been her heart thanks to a surprise diagnosis in 2020 (during the pandemic) of three different congenital heart defects. She is now thriving after her open-heart surgery on January 15, 2021 and is on a mission to raise awareness through her podcast, The Heart Chamber: patient stories of open-heart surgery and recovery, that heart surgery can be an incredible opportunity to begin again in life and live life wide open.

How to connect with BootsThe Heart Chamber - A podcast for heart patients (theheartchamberpodcast.com)
Email: Boots@theheartchamberpodcast.com
Instagram: @theheartchamberpodcast or @boots.knighton
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/boots-knighton
If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to:
The Heart Chamber - A podcast for heart patients (theheartchamberpodcast.com)

Imagine if knowing your genes could help you live a healthier, more informed life... Well, that's exactly what we're exploring in this enthralling installment of The Heart Chamber Podcast. Join Boots Knighton as she converses with Elwin Robinson of Genetic Insights, who unlocks the dynamic interaction between our genes and everyday health. This episode gives you a glimpse into how genetic predispositions can dictate your body's needs - and we're not just talking about the usual suspects like heart health and cholesterol. Targeted genetic testing reveals much more, and we nudge the door open on topics like homocysteine levels, the impact of lifestyle on genetic expression, and the importance of specific nutrient profiles. Plus, you’ll hear Boots' own journey of discovery that might resonate with your own health experiences. Excited yet? There's a wealth of knowledge to unearth, so plug in, take notes, and let's decode your health together on The Heart Chamber Podcast!
To explore Genetic Insights and receive 25% off your blueprint, To find out about your Genetics, visit: GENETICINSIGHTS.CO And use coupon Code: HEARTCHAMBER For 25% OFF!
A Little More About Today's GuestIn 2019 Elwin Robinson developed severe digestive issues which ruined his life, causing constant pain, anxiety, severe weight loss and countless emergency room visits.
Surprisingly, this was despite having owned several health businesses for over 10 years, and living a lifestyle that was healthier than 99% of people.
Worst of all, no one he saw, from medical doctors to dozens of different alternative health practitioners, was able to work out what was wrong or offer any help.
Then in 2021 he discovered the power of genetic testing, which finally gave him the answers that no one else had been able to provide.
How to connect with ElwinWebsite: www.FeelYounger.net
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/elwinrobinson
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/elwinrobinson
How to connect with BootsThe Heart Chamber - A podcast for heart patients (theheartchamberpodcast.com)
Email: Boots@theheartchamberpodcast.com
Instagram: @theheartchamberpodcast or @boots.knighton
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/boots-knighton
If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to:
The Heart Chamber - A podcast for heart patients (theheartchamberpodcast.com)

What does it feel like 24 hours after open-heart surgery? In this compelling episode of The Heart Chamber Podcast, Cheryl Ilov strips the mystery away, providing an intimate narration of the OR's intense atmosphere. From the beep of the monitors to the whoosh of the ventilator, Cheryl guides listeners through the process as if they are right there in the room. Host Boots Knighton offers a heartfelt perspective from the patient's side, revealing what it's like to wake up amidst a forest of tubes and wires. This episode is a rare look behind the curtain of medical advancement and personal transformation. Sit tight as we prepare to take you on a journey that beats with the rhythm of raw human emotion and technological marvel. Don't miss this episode of The Heart Chamber—it's time to be audaciously heartstrong.
A Little More About Today's GuestCheryl Ilov is a former respiratory therapist and critical care specialist, with extensive experience in the cardiac care units. After spending almost 20 years in the field, Cheryl earned her master's degree in physical therapy and spent 18 years in private practice. She is also the author of two books, a podcast host, and a second degree black belt in an ancient Japanese martial art called Ninpo Tai Jutsu.
How to connect with CherylWebsite: http://cherylilov.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cherylilovvitalityconsultant/
Instagram: @cherylilov
How to connect with BootsThe Heart Chamber - A podcast for heart patients (theheartchamberpodcast.com)
Email: Boots@theheartchamberpodcast.com
Instagram: @theheartchamberpodcast or @boots.knighton
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/boots-knighton
If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to:
The Heart Chamber - A podcast for heart patients (theheartchamberpodcast.com)