You have a general idea of what to expect from going to see a traditional doctor: you go in, you wait, the nurse calls you, you’re asked why you’re there, etc. However, since functional medicine involves looking at your body as a whole rather than just what you came in for, you may not know what to expect from a functional medicine examination. 

In truth, functional medicine examinations hit on a lot of the same points traditional examinations do. However, they’re typically much more in-depth. Patients are often left pleased in feeling like the doctor actually took the time to listen to them and to understand what’s really going on, rather than brushed off and sent on their way with a prescription in hand.

Here’s a basic overview of what you can expect from a functional medicine examination. Bear in mind that everyone is different, so each examination will be different. There’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all, especially in the realm of functional medicine. 

Expect To Go Over Your Health History

Just like any other medical provider you start seeing for the first time, a functional medicine doctor will go over your health history with you. They typically do this more in-depth than you may be accustomed to. They don’t just want to know about issues relating to why you’re seeing them today, they want to get a good picture of your health history as a whole.

This is because in functional medicine, you’re always trying to get to the root cause of a problem. You don’t just want to treat the symptoms, you want to treat what’s causing the symptoms. The same symptoms could have quite a few different causes. 

You can expect to go over any medications that you’re on, your prior medical history, and your family’s medical history too. This review of your personal health history is likely going to be more meticulous than you’re used to, because in order to ensure that they’re doing everything in their power to help you, doctors want as complete a picture as possible of what your health has been like. 

In a functional medicine examination, you won’t just talk about your medical history, but also about your lifestyle, your environment, genetic factors, and more. 

Expect A Physical Examination

You know when you go to a traditional doctor’s appointment for pain and they’ll do a quick examination of the area that pains you? You can expect a physical examination from a functional medicine doctor, too. 

At a functional medicine examination, your doctor isn’t just looking at the area that hurts, but at your body as a whole. They want to get a good idea of your physical health, such as your vital signs, your weight, your strength, and your balance. This, combined with your personal health history, helps them to establish a baseline.

You May Need Tests

If needed, your doctor may order diagnostic tests and specialized blood tests. While the above two factors are pretty much a given with any functional medicine examination, this is where things can splinter. Some people may not need any tests while others may need multiple different ones. 

It depends on you, your health, and your circumstances. 

Expect The Appointment To Last Longer

Unfortunately, traditional medicine has gotten a reputation for trying to get patients in and out as quickly as possible. Many people complain that they only get to talk about their issues for a minute, maybe two, before their doctor starts telling them what it could be. Many people do not feel heard, and many appointments only last a few minutes. This can be very frustrating for the patient, especially if you had to wait for a long time. 

This is something many traditional doctors feel chagrined about too, as many care deeply about helping their patients. 

However, this isn’t something to worry about at a functional medicine examination. While traditional doctor appointments are usually 5-25 minutes long, a functional medicine examination can be anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours long. It depends on your needs. Functional medicine examinations take longer because the doctors ensure that they truly understand why you’re there and are examining everything that could be impacting your health.

This doesn’t just apply to current health issues, but also to prevent potential future ones. If your doctor sees that you are at risk for a certain health condition, they will guide you to lifestyle choices that can minimize that risk.

Do You Want To Schedule A Functional Medicine Examination?

At its heart, medicine is a field of healing. Both traditional and functional medicine doctors care about helping you get better. As you can see, both examinations are quite similar. If you had an attentive traditional doctor, you may note that this sounds exactly what your appointment with them was like. If so, that’s lovely, as that’s how medicine should be!

Life Health Medical Center provides functional medicine services. We’re here to help you get to the root cause of your symptoms. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and let us help you on the path to recovery!

If you’ve been striving towards a healthier lifestyle, walking is one of the best forms of physical activity there is. Whether your goal is weight loss, whether you’ve been struggling with mental health issues, or whether you simply want an easy way to stay in shape and get outside, you can enjoy many different health benefits from going on a walk. Whether you’re young or old, in excellent shape, just starting out on your fitness journey, or recovering from an illness, walking is a free form of exercise that is very easy to fit into your daily routine. 

Here is what you need to know about some of the reasons why going on a walk is so good for your overall health and well-being. 

#1. Burn Calories

If you’re on a mission to drop some pounds or you simply want an easy way to stay in shape, some loops around your local park can help you achieve these goals. Many people struggle with staying active because here in the United States, many jobs require you to sit all day, and after a long day of work, you want to be able to enjoy time to yourself. When most people think of exercise, they think of lifting weights or heaving for air while running on a treadmill or other strenuous activities.

Walking is a low-impact exercise that burns calories without putting excessive strain on your body. Because it is easy to do, you may find that it helps you achieve your goals more easily than trying to do a form of exercise that you hate would. 

#2. Improve Cardiovascular Health

When you walk for at least half an hour a day five days out of the week, you can strengthen your heart and reduce your risk of heart disease. Even if you aren’t power walking and your heart isn’t racing, a walk can still improve your overall cardiovascular health, especially if you make it part of your daily routine. 

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that you get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity in a week, which 30-minute walks 5 days a week can help you achieve.

#3. Boost Your Mood

If you suffer from depression, anxiety, or another mental illness, you’re probably sick of people telling you to get up and move. While walking won’t cure mental illnesses, it can reduce negative moods and increase self-esteem, which can make said illnesses easier to manage. 

Even if you are stressed, angry, or otherwise in a bad mood for one reason or another, going on a walk causes your body to release endorphins. These can improve your mood and help you find more mental clarity. 

#4. Enhance Creativity

Studies have found that walking can ignite more creativity than sitting can. This can be useful whether you’re stuck on a work problem or you’re dreaming up a story you want to write down. Many people enjoy listening to music or podcasts while they go on their daily walks, which can also help with sparking creativity as your blood is pumping and your mind is wandering. 

When you go on a walk, you get a 2-for-1 deal: physical activity to help your body stay healthy and a freer flow of ideas to enhance your creative side.

#5. Strengthen Your Body

When you walk, your body needs to hold itself upright. This means that regular walks can preserve the health of your bones and could potentially decrease your risk of osteoporosis. Your core needs to work in order to keep you stabilized and balanced, while your legs propel you forward.

Walking can strengthen your body, especially if you go on routes that include different types of terrain and inclines. For optimal results, combine your walks with some strength training. This can be done as easily as by using some hand or ankle weights while you walk.

#6. Improve Your Sleep

Walking is a form of exercise, which helps to decrease stress and anxiety. It gets your body moving, requiring physical effort. It also boosts serotonin, which helps both your mood and your sleep. All of these factors combined mean that incorporating walks into your routine can help you enjoy more restful sleep at night.

Life Health Medical Center provides a functional medicine approach to various health concerns. If you are struggling with weight loss, depression, anxiety, or another health concern, contact us and let our doctors get to the root cause of your symptoms and help you find relief.

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that is responsible for the hormones that control many parts of your metabolism. If you’re experiencing thyroid issues, they can be difficult to diagnose on their own, as they can often be mistaken for other health problems. A doctor can order tests to check your thyroid levels and diagnose a problem. Many people don’t know when they have thyroid issues, but there are some warning signs that you can watch out for.

Here are some of the warning signs of thyroid issues that you can keep an eye out for. If you’re experiencing the following issues, it’s always a good idea to schedule an appointment and talk to your doctor about them, so that you can restore your body to optimal health.

#1. Weight Changes

Your thyroid regulates your metabolism. As such, if it is over- or underactive, this can impact your weight. People with hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) can experience weight gain and difficulty losing weight. People with hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) can experience weight loss and difficulty gaining weight. 

Depending on where you are in life, weight loss or weight gain may be something you wanted. However, unexpected weight loss or weight gain as a result of thyroid issues can cause unwanted changes and lead to a whole host of problems. For instance, if your weight loss is because of hyperthyroidism, you could end up malnourished because your body is burning far more calories than you are consuming. 

#2. Difficulty Regulating Body Temperature

Another warning sign that you may have thyroid issues includes if you’re always hot or always cold. People with hypothyroidism can find themselves reaching for sweaters and blankets when the temperature is fine for everyone else. People with hyperthyroidism can find themselves hot and struggle to cool themselves down, even if no one else is overly hot. 

This is because the hormones that your thyroid gland secretes regulate your body temperature too. That means that if your metabolism slows down because of hypothyroidism, you can experience more sensitivity to the cold, while if it speeds up because of hyperthyroidism, you’re more sensitive to the heat. 

#3. Changed Energy Levels

If you have an overactive thyroid, you can end up feeling nervous and anxious and sweating, because your hyperthyroidism is sending your body into overdrive. Conversely, if you have an underactive thyroid, you can end up feeling fatigued and struggling to muster the energy to do anything. 

People with hyperthyroidism may find themselves struggling with overactive thoughts while people with hypothyroidism may find themselves struggling with brain fog and sluggish thoughts.

#4. Digestive Issues

Since your thyroid impacts your metabolism, it’s no wonder that it also impacts your digestive process. People who struggle with hypothyroidism may find themselves constipated because their digestive system has slowed down. On the other hand, people with hyperthyroidism may struggle with more frequent bowel movements because of how their thyroid issues have sped up their digestive process.

#5. Increased Or Decreased Heart Rate

Another warning sign of thyroid issues is changes in your heart rate. If your thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone, this can cause your heart rate to speed up, resulting in palpitations or irregular beats. If your body is not producing enough of the thyroid hormone, this can slow your heart rate down, which can end up causing your arteries to lose elasticity over time. 

#6. Hair Loss

Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause hair loss. This hair loss tends to involve the entire scalp, rather than select areas. You may notice an abnormal amount of hair loss when you shower or brush your hair and your hair may start to appear thinner. When you obtain treatment for your thyroid issues, your hair can grow back.

#7. Skin Issues

If your thyroid issues are because your thyroid isn’t producing enough of the thyroid hormone, you may find yourself struggling with dry and patchy skin. If your thyroid is producing too much of the thyroid hormone, you may find yourself struggling with moist and oily skin. 

What To Do If You Suspect You Have Thyroid Issues

Unless you have a goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) or thyroid nodules, it can be very challenging to know whether your symptoms are the result of thyroid issues or another condition. If you suspect that you may have thyroid issues, you will want to schedule an appointment with your doctor so that they can test your thyroid and then formulate a treatment plan from there.

Life Health Medical Center provides treatment for thyroid issues. If you are struggling with symptoms that could be because of an under- or overactive thyroid, schedule an appointment to get your thyroid checked today. We’re here to help you regain your health.