Urban Integrative IV and Detox Clinic - Produits

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

There are a lot of people who do not feel well. This could include you. When you feel sick, it can be a problem for you and your traditional doctor because many times he or she can’t find out what the source of the problem is. Why you feel tired, why you have digestive problems, why you can’t sleep, why you are depressed, why you get those head aches, the list goes on… This is because traditional medicine is diagnosis-centered. It does best when it can see what is wrong with you by diagnostic tests. It looks for disease and when you have one, it goes into action in a methodical way using drugs or surgery to handle the disease found. Up to that time a patient is considered “well”. It is not very helpful if you exist from day to day feeling terrible waiting for a disease to occur before you can be treated! This is where Functional Medicine comes in. It can address your problems before you get the disease. WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE? Functional medicine addresses problems before a disease is discovered. It is helpful for the person who is not feeling well but does not want to wait for a disease to occur before being treated. This medicine is an evidence-based health care approach focusing upon the assessment and early intervention for the improvement of physiological, biomechanical, mental and physical functions. It considers a person as the whole and not just an isolated set of symptoms. It finds and locates the areas of the body that are not functioning at the best possible level and aims on altering these areas back to their optimal state. Functional medicine is outcome-based; it focuses on patient-centered care, promoting health as a positive vitality, and not just the absence of disease. It is a discovery process and tailored treatments that address the individual’s unique needs and attempts to restore organ reserve and resiliency to the person. HOW IS ONE ASSESSED USING FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE? This is done in a number of ways and includes: 1) Signs and symptoms questionnaire. This survey is specifically designed to evaluate symptom severity, duration and frequency in a rating system. It is useful in assessing the degree of dysfunction and is continually used to determine the success of intervention. 2) A good history and physical examination. This is the key to locate the problems and establish a strong communication channel between the patient and the health professional. 3) Biomechanical assessment tools. These are new tools available that can assess whether the body has reduced functional capabilities. Gastrointestinal and liver functions are key areas, which are essential to good health. Finding and correcting poorly functioning (not diseased) liver and gut and correcting the problems is a must in the “not feeling well” patient. Low tech but effective methods are now available for assessing the function of these two areas, which are patient-friendly and non-invasive. Intervention programs could include a personalized nutrition plan, dietary tailoring, structural and mechanical support, exercise prescription, stress intervention and environmental restructuring. Ensuring collaboration of a patient is as important as ordering the right lab tests and prescribing the right therapies. The patient’s partnership includes learning to take responsibility for their own choices and for complying with the recommended interventions. These are the tools of the new breed of health care professionals. It is these tools when correctly used that can help a patient back to improved function and better health. Functional medicine has been an integral part of Dr. Jaconello’s practice for over 36 years.

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