Functional medicine is a holistic approach to medicine that is tailored to the individual. Functional medicine shifts the focus of medical practices from a disease-based approach to a patient-based approach, addressing the whole body and how it all works together. Functional medicine is based on science and it emphasizes relieving illness through lifestyle changes and facilitating healthier living. Functional medicine works in conjunction with conventional medicine. Conventional medicine is what a person needs in emergency situations or in cases where antibiotics are required, while functional medicine is ideal for addressing more nuanced and long-term medical issues. Functional medicine doctors will diagnose and treat patients in a collaborative and ongoing way that creates better overall health and patient satisfaction.
Functional Medicine For You
What Functional Medicine Doctors Look For
Functional medicine doctors will monitor various aspects of a person’s health and lifestyle in order to understand their health in general, instead of one specific illness. Functional medicine doctors may examine your toxin levels, hormone levels, food sensitivities, digestive bacteria, metabolism, and genetics. They will also discuss your family health history with you. Unlike a conventional doctor, a functional medicine doctor’s examination of the family health history will include physical conditions and check for mental health, stress, chronic pain, susceptibility to illness or infection, and potentially spiritual health. Your functional doctor will work with you to create a wellness plan so that you have agency over your own health outcomes based on your perception and reporting of your symptoms and pain. Functional medicine wants the patients’ involvement so that there is no misdiagnosis and so the patients’ concerns are not ignored, as can often happen in conventional medicine.
Functional Medicine Doctors And Treatment
While conventional doctors may treat only the area that is exhibiting problems, functional medicine doctors will address lifestyle changes that will improve your condition and your overall health. For example, many illnesses, both physical and mental, have links with chronic stress. Your functional medicine doctor will work with you to develop a plan for stress management to benefit your overall health. Functional medicine is focused on treating the root causes of illness as opposed to only treating the symptoms.
Functional medicine doctors can also give diet and nutrition advice to help you lead a healthier lifestyle. Your diet should be focused on healthy eating, not on weight loss, as the two are not synonymous. Depending on your personal health needs, your functional medicine doctor will ensure you are getting all of the nutrients you need and avoiding foods that may be negatively impacting you. For example, some people with low circulation need more iron in their diet, while others with heart problems may need to cut down the amount of red meat they eat, all depending on your overall health.
Functional Medicine In Irvine
If you’re tired of living with pain, of doctors minimizing your concerns, or of being given a prescription for every small health problem, functional medicine may be able to help. When you visit a functional medicine doctor at Performance Health and Wellness, our staff will listen to your concerns and address them accordingly by evaluating your overall health and working with you to create a health plan. With a nutrition and fitness strategy that is unique to you, advanced biomedical testing, and team-based healthcare, you can be assured that you are getting top-quality care. To schedule a consultation with Performance Health and Wellness in Irvine, either call 1-949-476-1250 or fill out the online contact form.
FAQ
Is functional medicine effective?
Yes. Common conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic pain, inflammation, and more have all been shown to benefit from functional medicine as a preventative measure and as an effective treatment and management tool.
What are some of the biggest differences between a functional medicine doctor and a conventional medicine doctor?
While there are many differences, here are the major ones:
- Functional medicine is preventative, conventional medicine is reactive
- Functional medicine does not rely on overprescribing medication nor is it tied with large pharmaceutical companies
- Functional medicine focuses on personalized, long term treatment, conventional medicine focuses on quick solutions
- Functional medicine treats underlying causes, conventional medicine treats symptoms
- Functional medicine tends to avoid race and gender bias in the medical field as the process is collaborative and focuses on the patient’s needs as they communicate them
What conditions does functional medicine treat?
Some common conditions treated by functional medicine are:
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain
- Hyperthyroid and Hypothyroid Conditions
- Adrenal Fatigue (HPA Axis Dysfunction)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease
- Food Sensitivities
- Weight Gain
- Insomnia and Sleep Disorders
- Anxiety and Depression
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Hormone Imbalances
- Migraines and Headaches
