Technology has brought many changes to the medical and health professional community and has greatly impacted the way we live. I dedicate my 4th week of each monthly blog to talking about the various modalities and practices of Lifestyle discoveries and improvements and how technology has help to shape and advance this part of the health and wellness sector.
Maybe you are hearing more talk about Lifestyle Medicine and functional medicine and curious to know more. Many medical doctors and health care practitioners are turning towards Lifestyle changes and habits to serve the people within their communities. Not too long ago (in 2022) I had a small health crisis that required surgery and a 4 day stay in the hospital. Prior to this I had tried the help of a functional medicine doctor. This week thoughts came to mind of that practice, and my experience was good and very interesting. I wanted to learn more and so I thought I would share with you some characteristics of both in case you are considering either one of these in the future.
Lifestyle medicine and functional medicine both focus on preventing and treating chronic diseases by addressing the root causes of illness and emphasizing holistic care. However, they have different approaches and emphases:
Lifestyle Medicine
Focus: Primarily emphasizes the use of lifestyle changes as a central component of treatment. This includes improving diet, increasing physical activity, managing stress, promoting adequate sleep, and avoiding risky behaviors.
Scope: It is more focused on public health and preventive care. It aims to prevent and manage common chronic diseases like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension by promoting healthy behaviors.
Approach: Uses evidence-based interventions to guide changes in lifestyle habits. These interventions are often standardized and may be implemented through public health initiatives, group programs, or individual counseling.
Role of Practitioners: Typically practiced by healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, dietitians, and other health educators, who emphasize patient education and support for making sustainable lifestyle changes.
Functional Medicine
Focus: Takes a systems biology approach, looking at the complex interactions between genetics, environment, and lifestyle that can influence health and disease. Functional medicine aims to identify and treat the root causes of disease on an individual basis.
Scope: It often deals with a broader range of health issues, including complex chronic conditions that may not respond well to conventional treatments. This can include autoimmune diseases, hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, and more.
Approach: Uses a highly individualized approach, tailoring interventions to the unique needs of each patient. Functional medicine practitioners may use advanced diagnostic testing to uncover underlying imbalances and dysfunctions.
Role of Practitioners: Practiced by specially trained healthcare providers, including doctors, naturopaths, and other integrative medicine professionals. They often combine conventional medical treatments with alternative therapies, such as dietary supplements, herbal medicine, and mind-body techniques.
Key Differences
Interventions: Lifestyle medicine primarily focuses on broad lifestyle interventions that can benefit the general population, while functional medicine often involves more personalized treatments, including the use of supplements and specific therapies tailored to individual needs.
Diagnostic Approach: Functional medicine places a strong emphasis on detailed diagnostic testing to understand the patient's unique biochemistry and health status, whereas lifestyle medicine focuses more on assessing and modifying lifestyle factors.
Focus Areas: Lifestyle medicine is closely aligned with public health and preventive care, often addressing widespread issues like diet and exercise. Functional medicine delves deeper into understanding and addressing complex, multifactorial conditions at a systemic level.
Both lifestyle medicine and functional medicine empower the individual in need to take control of their health in holistic ways, or ways that most times require less invasive outside intervention. They both help us understand what we each can do and change to bring our bodies into the best health possible and sustaining health longer. Both fields help to educate us on how the body functions and how we can make and create positive changes that will help the body heal and improve for the long haul. Research a little more, ask questions and see which one is right for you!
To Your Best Health!
Dr. Tee
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