Chronic disease statistics are at an all-time high. Approximately six out of every ten adults have at least one chronic disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, etc., and out of those six adults, four have at least two or more of the disorders. The answer is, and has been for years, endless prescriptions.
Conventional medicine is absolutely outstanding when it comes to acute care, such as an illness or trauma, but this approach cannot be applied to those with autoimmunity, mental illness, or other complex or cardiometabolic diseases. Sadly, many physicians are not adequately trained to assess underlying causes and to apply the successful strategies of proper lifestyle modifications for these patients.
Functional medicine utilizes the most up-to-date testing and peer-reviewed, science-based approach, often looking “upstream” in a patient’s history, physiology and lifestyle factors that can and do lead to illness. The focus is placed on the patient as a whole, and not just someone with some symptoms. This study from 2019 , published in JAMA, shows the success of treating patients with a functional medicine approach versus the standard medicine treatment.
You can access the study by clicking here.