DOES YOUR DOCTOR ORDER THE BEST LAB TESTING FOR YOUR HEALTH?

Most people rely on an annual physical exam as well as blood and urine samples to determine their health. This method of screening for diseases has been used for well over 100 years. With the advent of modern technology, one must ask the question, “do these testing standards continue to meet the COMPREHENSIVE needs of the average person?”

Answering this question seems simple. Have the statistics measuring the health (not duration of life) of our population been improving? The answer is NO! So why do we continue to use the same evaluation techniques if the quality of health is suffering?

1. We tend to base our health needs on insurance coverage.

2. We accept the belief our doctors “know best.”

3. We don’t want to truly know if our health is compromised until symptoms make it evident.

When it comes to pharmaceutical medications, the healthcare field is all about research and development and promoting the newest treatments available. Does it really make sense that modern day diagnoses should be based on century old evaluation methods?

How many patients have gone to their doctors “not feeling well,” only to be told that nothing was found in their testing? Yet, prescriptions were written with the purpose of “making them feel better.” Not only is this inappropriate, it is potentially negligent.

Many of today’s health problems may not be detected by standard {insurance based} lab work. This would explain:

1. why so many people do not “feel well.”

2. the increasing rates of chronic disease

3. the need for newer technological testing to uncover conditions traditional lab profiles MISS.

As a consumer, how often do you hear about the following complaints or conditions:

• stress

• fatigue

• mental health disorders

• chemical sensitivities

• food sensitivities

• gastrointestinal disorders (bloating, pain, constipation/diarrhea, anemia, irritable bowel syndrome)

• brain fog

• obesity

• cardiac disease

• thyroid disease

• cancer

• diabetes

• heart disease

If traditional blood testing does not sufficiently produce answers to address many of these conditions, what can the consumer do? They can seek out a doctor trained to practice FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE.

Doctors in multiple disciplines can provide this type of care. This would include medical, chiropractic, naturopathic, homeopathic and acupuncture. Since it has been deemed appropriate for consumers to approach their doctors with the names of new drugs heard in commercials, I suggest we approach our doctors in a similar fashion to see if it is appropriate to order additional lab testing to uncover hidden causes of disease. Many traditional physicians have not been trained in these newer lab testing protocols and may have a difficult time interpreting them as well. A good qualified physician would be honest with their patient if they lack the skills in this area.

Does this mean the patient should abandon their primary doctor? NO! It means (similar to a “specialist”) another doctor may need to be consulted to address these issues. The consumer should no longer accept sub par health as “normal” or a “condition in their head.”

How do you know if your doctor has the appropriate training? Ask them if they are CERTIFIED in FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE. These doctors have additional intake forms that help guide the physician to determine different types of specific lab testing.

Traditional doctors’ forms usually include:

• patient personal info

• health history

• medical history

• insurance coverage

Doctors that offer more extensive lab analysis would require additional forms. Some examples may include:

• a diet survey and diet journal

• metabolic assessment form

• body systems assessment

• neurotransmitter assessment

• mold and environmental toxin exposure questionnaire

Most consumers are familiar with traditional lab testing including:

• blood glucose, and A1C testing for diabetes

• cholesterol testing

• liver, heart and kidney testing

• potentially Vitamin D testing

• potentially male or female hormone testing

Since we know that stress, inflammation, gut bacteria, environmental toxins, etc… play a substantial role in the status of a person’s health, different lab testing may be indicated (to supplement traditional testing.) These might include:

• cortisol

• fibrinogen

• DHEA

• homocysteine

• C- Reactive Protein

• Intestinal studies (urine organic acid profile, breath testing and stool testing to evaluate bacterial and fungal metabolism in addition to parasites)

• immunologic testing (for food intolerances and chemical sensitivities)

• methylation testing (a metabolic process essential for living)

This just skims the surface. The point is the consumer can no longer assume the word doctor means “HE OR SHE THAT KNOWS ALL.” Getting a lab baseline describing

FUNCTION

in addition to

traditional labs detecting standard DISEASES makes greater sense if the goal aims to improve our health rather than simply elongating one’s lifespan over time.

I have had multiple requests about where to find this type of physician. The best place to start is:

INSTITUTE FOR FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

All doctors are NOT the same. One doctor is unlikely to have ALL THE ANSWERS. If your health is not at the level it should be, and your doctor is unable to help you correct this imbalance, maybe it’s time to seek a doctor more in tune with current technology and methods of discovering underlying problems.

Just remember, testing may also determine YOUR ROLE in addressing these underlying causes. You must be prepared to PARTICIPATE in order to improve YOUR HEALTH. It requires a TEAM EFFORT to obtain an OPTIMAL OUTCOME.

 

Tags: alternatives, disease, doctor, functional medicine, health, lifestyle, quality of life, responsibility