Getting your health checked at a functional medicine clinic is a different experience than going to your regular family health center. Functional medicine seeks to understand why you have an ailment, and the treatments may be different than your standard primary care provider.
Treatment involves taking an active role in your own health
Unlike conventional medicine, which treats diseases with medicines, Functional Medicine focuses on the underlying cause of disease. Functional medicine practitioners understand that a person’s genes and environment influence the cellular processes that control health. Functional medicine practitioners use advanced laboratory tests, nutritional changes, and lifestyle changes to improve the body’s function.
Functional medicine is a system biology-based approach to healthcare that helps patients achieve healthier lives. It focuses on prevention and addressing the underlying causes of health problems.
Functional medicine emphasizes individual treatment, incorporating patient history, genetics, and lifestyle. Functional medicine also involves understanding the complex interactions between the genetic and lifestyle factors that contribute to illness. Its practitioners encourage patients to take an active role in their health.
Functional medicine uses genetic testing to determine if a person has a genetic predisposition to certain health conditions. Using this information, Functional Medicine practitioners can then prescribe therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, and stress management techniques to improve a person’s health.
Functional medicine also aims to address the causes of disease. A patient who understands the cellular processes influencing his health has a better chance of successful treatment. The cellular processes are influenced by factors like digestion, inflammatory responses, structural integrity, and psychological and spiritual balance.
Functional medicine is patient-centered and biochemically individualized. The treatments offered may include diet changes, lifestyle changes, and pharmaceuticals. Patients who are actively involved in their treatment have a greater chance of sticking to the healing plan.
Functional medicine helps people understand the importance of their environment and lifestyle. Functional medicine practitioners understand that the best approach is to incorporate a comprehensive approach that addresses the functional imbalances in the body.
Functional medicine can be an effective way to reverse chronic illness. The treatment plans developed by Functional Medicine practitioners are individualized and may include dietary changes, supplements, and counseling.
Functional medicine seeks to understand why a person has an ailment
Using a science-based approach, Functional Medicine focuses on the underlying cause of disease. This is in contrast to conventional medicine, which treats disease symptoms. It is also a preventive care approach that can be used to improve overall health.
Using this approach, Functional Medicine works with patients to find the cause of their illness and make a plan to fix it. This may include medication, nutritional supplements, or a change in lifestyle. Functional medicine recognizes that each patient is an individual, with a unique biochemical makeup.
Functional medicine also recognizes that one disease can have multiple causes. Drivers of chronic diseases include infections, toxins, allergens, and stress. These factors affect the body’s ability to heal itself.
Functional medicine is often referred to as “compounded medicine.” Functional medicine practitioners focus on the patient, as they interpret their genetic makeup and lifestyle. They are also interested in how each part of the body works together.
Functional medicine can be a powerful tool for all patients. It allows for a comprehensive understanding of each patient’s condition. Functional medicine doctors may use laboratory testing, such as urine metabolite testing and a comprehensive stool analysis, to find the underlying cause of a patient’s illness. The doctors then recommend changes to the patient’s diet, exercise, or other lifestyle factors that will help the patient restore their health.
Functional medicine practitioners are also interested in the way the body interacts with the environment. They may suggest adjustments in the environment such as changing the air you breathe or removing toxic metals from your home.
Functional medicine is designed to improve the health of patients of all ages. Using a biochemical and genetic individuality, functional medicine practitioners work with patients to find the underlying cause of their illness and make a plan to fix it.
Functional medicine isn’t yet mainstream
Whether you are interested in becoming healthier or simply trying to prevent disease, Functional Medicine might be a good addition to your health regimen. This is a system of medicine that incorporates diet and lifestyle factors into a treatment plan. It works to promote normal healing processes in the body.
Functional medicine may have been around for a while, but it has recently gained a lot of traction. This is largely due to the fact that more people are becoming aware of its many benefits. A study conducted by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic revealed that over 7,000 patients treated by a Functional Medicine practitioner had a marked improvement in their quality of life.
While it’s no secret that food is medicine, functional medicine takes it to the next level by incorporating diet and lifestyle factors into a treatment plan. Rather than just treating a symptom, Functional Medicine looks for the cause of high blood sugar, high cholesterol, chronic inflammation and other disease-causing factors.
Functional medicine practitioners also use lab tests to give a more complete picture of your health. Laboratory tests can reveal underlying deficiencies and imbalances. In addition to showing the big picture, lab tests can also reveal the tiniest details.
In fact, some Functional Medicine practitioners claim that the majority of patients’ conditions are solvable with nutrition and lifestyle changes. These changes can be as simple as exercise, but may also involve changes in diet, sleep patterns and stress levels. Eventually, these lifestyle changes can wean patients off medications.
Although there are many functional medicine practices to choose from, it’s important to know that there are some practitioners out there who aren’t quite mainstream. Many of these practitioners are either working with nutritionists, health coaches or mental health counselors. Some even are opting for a concierge-style service.
Functional Medicine offices may be different from primary care in a family health center
Compared to patients who see a primary care doctor at a family health center, patients who see a doctor at a Functional Medicine office may have more motivation to make healthy changes to their lifestyle. In a study, Cleveland Clinic researchers found that patients who used the functional medicine model of care had better health outcomes. Specifically, patients who used the functional medicine model were more likely to improve their PROMIS global physical health (GPH) scores at 6 months. This was also more likely to occur at 12 months.
The researchers also found that patients who used the functional medicine model of care showed more sustained improvements in PROMIS global physical health than patients who used the conventional medical model. These improvements were also more likely to be clinically meaningful.
The study included a total of 7,200 patients. The patients were 18 years or older. They were matched based on certain variables, including age, race, marital status, and baseline PROMIS score. The researchers used propensity score matching to balance the differences between the groups. They used multivariable logistic regression to estimate propensity scores.
The patients had to visit a clinician at the Center for Functional Medicine between April 1, 2015, and March 1, 2017. They also had to attend a health coach appointment and a nutrition appointment. They were encouraged to schedule follow-up appointments every three months. In addition, patients had the option to meet with a behavioral health therapist. The Center for Functional Medicine has a robust research agenda. The researchers hope that they can provide evidence that functional medicine can improve the health of patients.
Although the results showed a difference in the way the patients were treated, the improvements were not statistically significant. The researchers said that the results suggest that a larger sample size is needed to confirm the findings.