Chronic Disease

Chronic health issues are a prevalent concern, affecting millions of individuals around the globe. These conditions, which range from autoimmune diseases to hormonal imbalances, often necessitate long-term medical intervention and can significantly impact quality of life. Traditional medical approaches frequently center on managing symptoms, sometimes overlooking the underlying causes that perpetuate these health problems. In stark contrast to traditional medicine, let’s explore the methodologies of Root Cause Medicine. This approach aims to not only manage symptoms but also identify and address the root causes of chronic health issues, offering a more comprehensive strategy for healthcare management.

In treating chronic illness, physicians should take into account lifestyle and environmental factors such as a patient's diet, exercise, his or her community, and how the patient responds to stress.

Integrative medicine seeks to identify and address the drivers responsible for chronic illness, including stress, nutrient deficiencies, and hormone imbalance. By harnessing a holistic view of the body, a functional doctor can help you reduce the development and progression of chronic illness, working to ensure you enjoy the fulfilling quality of life you deserve.

Unlike conventional medicine, an integrative doctor will address the health of your body as a whole, rather than merely the sum of its parts. This is especially helpful when managing chronic illness, as multiple bodily systems are often affected, and a majority of patients having more than one chronic diagnosis (1).For example, a patient may suffer from symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, reflux, and difficulty sleeping. In conventional medicine, this patient may receive an acid blocker for their reflux, a prescription sleep aid, and advice to get more exercise and eat better.

Conversely, integrative medicine asks, "why are all of these symptoms occurring, and what could be causing them?"

The answers could be many, but in this case, it could be the production of gluten antibodies causing autoimmune thyroid, zapping energy levels, altering healthy stomach acid production, and creating metabolic dysfunction.

In reality, most chronic diseases, including autoimmune conditions, are driven by diet and lifestyle factors. Integrative medicine pairs holistic treatment with the right pharmaceutical intervention if necessary

Many chronic conditions have several main contributors in common, and while individual biology differs, certain behaviors contribute to risk in a similar way.

• Poor diet
• Blood sugar imbalance
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Chronic stress
• Immune dysfunction
• Hormone dysfunction
• Gut imbalance or dysbiosis

Knowing this, Integrative medicine provides a unique lens of treatment for chronic illness, leveraging unique therapies, both holistic and pharmaceutical to support the healing or management of your chronic condition.