Functional Medicine: A Personalized Approach to Health and Wellness
Hormone Balance
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a systems biology-based approach that focuses on addressing the root causes of diseases, rather than merely treating symptoms. By understanding the underlying factors contributing to health issues, functional medicine aims to restore optimal health through personalized treatment plans. This approach takes into account a patient’s genetic makeup, environmental exposures, lifestyle habits, and medical history to craft a comprehensive and individualized health plan.
At Dr. Priyanka Mehta’s clinic, we combine cutting-edge medical expertise with a holistic approach to help patients achieve long-term health and well-being through functional medicine.
Key Aspects of Functional Medicine
Functional medicine focuses on treating the body as an interconnected whole, aiming to restore balance and function. Key features of functional medicine include:
- Root Cause Focus:
- Functional medicine goes beyond symptom management to identify the root causes of chronic health issues. By addressing these underlying factors, it offers a path to true healing and long-lasting health.
- Comprehensive History and Timeline Creation:
- A detailed health history and timeline help uncover patterns and factors that could be influencing your symptoms. This comprehensive approach allows us to understand your unique health journey and create an effective treatment plan.
- Advanced Laboratory Testing:
- Functional medicine utilizes advanced laboratory tests to analyze genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and other biomarkers. This precise testing allows us to identify the root causes of health concerns and personalize your treatment plan accordingly.
- Personalized Treatment Plans:
- Based on the information gathered from history, testing, and analysis, we develop individualized treatment plans that may include dietary adjustments, supplements, lifestyle changes, and more to optimize your health and wellness.
Functional Medicine for Chronic Conditions
Functional medicine is especially beneficial for addressing chronic health conditions, which are becoming increasingly common:
- 50% of adults have at least one chronic health condition.
- 25% of adults suffer from two or more chronic health conditions.
- 86% of healthcare costs are attributed to chronic diseases, totaling $3.2 trillion in 2015, a number that continues to rise.
Chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue, and hormonal imbalances are often linked to underlying issues that can be corrected with a functional medicine approach.
Benefits of Functional Medicine
Functional medicine helps address a wide range of conditions by taking a root-cause approach to treatment. Some of the benefits include:
- Chronic Disease Management:
- Functional medicine focuses on managing chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, and arthritis by treating their underlying causes.
- Hormonal Balance:
- Functional medicine works to restore balance in your hormones, improving conditions like PCOS, menopause, perimenopause, and thyroid imbalances.
- Digestive Health:
- Conditions like IBS, acid reflux, and food sensitivities can be improved by identifying the root causes of digestive issues and implementing a personalized plan.
- Mental and Emotional Health:
- Many mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and brain fog, are linked to imbalances in nutrition, gut health, and hormones. Functional medicine addresses these by focusing on improving overall health.
- Improved Immune Function:
- By addressing nutritional deficiencies and other factors, functional medicine can enhance your body’s immune response, helping you fight infections and inflammation more effectively.
- Holistic Wellness:
- The approach integrates lifestyle changes, dietary improvements, and psychological therapies, offering a comprehensive treatment plan for total well-being.
Integrative Medicine: A Holistic Approach
Functional medicine often overlaps with integrative medicine, which combines conventional medical practices with complementary therapies. This approach has proven effective in managing various health conditions by integrating conventional medicine with lifestyle changes, mental health therapies, nutritional support, and alternative treatments like acupuncture or herbal medicine.
Dr. Priyanka Mehta’s clinic offers a seamless blend of these treatments to ensure that patients receive the most effective care possible. The goal is to treat the whole person, not just the disease, by focusing on the mind-body connection, lifestyle factors, and the body’s natural healing abilities.