A First Responder Health Program That Addresses Mental AND Physical Wellness
Written by 
Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC on
June 19, 2023
How the right diet, sleep, stress management, and detoxification strategies benefit overall health with Dr. Sunjya Schweig
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
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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.
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Dr. Michael Ruscio is a DC, natural health provider, researcher, and clinician. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bridgeport and has published numerous papers in scientific journals as well as the book Healthy Gut, Healthy You. He also founded the Ruscio Institute of Functional Health, where he helps patients with a wide range of GI conditions and serves as the Head of Research.
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