Functional medicine carries many benefits, right down to the root causes of chronic disease. These include figuring out health issues, detecting disease early, and finding individualized treatments that work for you. A health coach trained in functional medicine can also help you navigate your health condition or adopt a treatment plan that works best for you. A significant body of research has shown many factors are associated with the development of chronic health conditions. A functional medicine doctor works with you to find the root causes of these diseases. Learn how functional medicine works, why it’s beneficial, and how a functional medicine doctor can help you.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on preventing and treating the root cause of chronic diseases. Functional medicine doctors work to identify the root cause of disease and treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. Functional medicine is a holistic approach to health care that considers the mind, body, and spirit.
Functional medicine is designed to go beyond what conventional medicine does; instead of treating the disease that may have already affected the body for an extended period of time, functional medicine focuses on keeping the body healthy to prevent chronic diseases from developing. Based on your unique medical history, functional medicine practitioners can work with you to create positive vitality and help you enhance your lifestyle. Functional medicine treatments are designed to help you live a happy, healthy life. Nutrition is an important part of these treatments and needs to be taken seriously. Another huge factor within holistic wellness is work/life balance.
What are the Benefits of Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a form of healthcare that addresses the root cause of chronic disease. By taking a holistic approach to care, functional medicine doctors provide patients with individualized treatment plans that can lead to improved health and quality of life. Here are five benefits of functional medicine:
Chronic Illness Management: Functional medicine doctors take a comprehensive approach to chronic illness management, addressing the underlying causes of illness instead of simply treating symptoms. This can lead to improved health outcomes and decreased reliance on medication.
Improved Quality of Life: By addressing the root cause of chronic illness, functional medicine can improve patient quality of life. Patients may experience increased energy levels, reduced pain, and improved mental clarity.
Personalized Care: Functional medicine doctors work with a patient to develop personalized care plans. Each patient’s treatment plan is tailored to their unique needs and health goals.
Preventative Care: Functional medicine focuses on prevention, helping a patient avoid chronic disease in the first place. By addressing lifestyle factors such as diet and stress, functional medicine can help patients live healthier lives.
Improved Access to Care: Functional medicine is often provided by integrative and naturopathic physicians, meaning that patients might have improved access to care. These providers are often more accessible than traditional medical doctors, making it easier for patients to get the care they need.
How a Functional Medicine Doctor Can Help You
Functional medicine is a form of healthcare that focuses on treating the underlying cause of chronic disease. A functional medicine doctor can help a patient by looking at the whole picture and addressing the underlying issues of their disease. Potential benefits of functional medicine include improved overall health, reduced chronic disease risk, and improved quality of life.
Chronic disease is one area where functional medicine shines. By taking a holistic approach and looking at the whole picture, functional medicine doctors can often get to the root cause of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. By addressing these root causes, patients can enjoy improved overall health and reduced chronic disease risk.
More about a Functional Medicine Doctor’s Guidance
Functional medicine doctors help identify disease triggers and root causes to ensure optimal health. A functional medicine practitioner often advises lifestyle changes using exercise and nutrition. A health coach can work with you to implement lifestyle changes to improve your physical health.
At your first appointment with a functional medicine physician, you may discuss your current lifestyle and what needs to be changed potentially. Lab tests may provide additional insight into areas of focus for your healthcare journey. A patient may be concerned about his/her high blood pressure or physiological imbalances, but a functional medicine doctor will work with him/her to make sure that the root cause and not just the symptoms are addressed. This patient-centered approach will help ensure that patients receive the most personalized treatments.
Working With Your Functional Medicine Doctor?
Autoimmune diseases can be a part of a patient’s medical history, and a comprehensive medical history would need to be reviewed by a functional medicine doctor. Getting a detailed health history is important for every practitioner, especially in functional medicine where treatments and recommendations are personalized to each and every individual. Whether you are trying to diagnose digestive disorders or get routine laboratory testing, a functional medicine practitioner will be there to help you every step of the way. Find a solution to your symptoms with the experts!
Key Takeaways of Benefits of Functional Medicine
With a personalized treatment plan from your functional medicine doctor, assistance from a health coach to help you implement that plan, and advice from a registered dietitian regarding nutritional optimization, you will work with providers from multiple disciplines in functional medicine to help you relieve your symptoms of illness. Remember that functional medicine and holistic wellness is all about good nutrition, exercise, and creating a healthy life for yourself. You are not necessarily in your best health in the absence of visible symptoms. However, making sure you are living a healthy lifestyle will reduce your risk of developing chronic disease. Your diet, nutrition, and lifestyle are incredibly important to your wellbeing. Find a functional medicine physician who will care for you and create a personalized treatment plan for you.
Bio: Index Health is a healthcare team specialized in personalization & the root cause. Our multi-disciplinary care team is made up of physicians and nutritionists that are trained and certified in (functional) root cause medicine.
