Health care is a critical issue for all Americans, and the problems in today’s medical system are too numerous to list. But at Cady Wellness in Newburgh, IN, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter healthcare solutions. Instead, we use functional medicine testing to find the root cause of your symptoms so we can address the underlying problem and not just its symptoms. If you’ve been struggling with a chronic condition for years, it might be time to try functional medicine!

What Is Functional Medicine Testing?

Functional medicine uses biomarkers to identify imbalances in your body that may be causing chronic conditions and pain. These tests can help you pinpoint problems as they relate to your unique physiology. Once these issues have been identified, your healthcare provider can then create a customized treatment plan for you that factors in all areas of your life, from physical needs and nutrition to mental health and social life.

Functional treatment testing provides a holistic approach to health care that is often more effective than conventional methods of diagnosis and treatment. Because of its effectiveness at addressing the underlying cause of your symptoms, it can help reduce the cost of medical bills and lead to better overall health outcomes. Functional medicine practitioners also believe that promoting wellness is an essential part of their work.

Patients who see a functional medicine practitioner are taught how to modify their lifestyle so they can avoid chronic illness in the future. These treatments are often less invasive, allowing faster recovery times and reduced risk of infection or complications.

What Are Some Examples of Functional Medicine Testing?

Functional medicine practitioners often use saliva and blood testing to identify nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalances, digestive problems, food sensitivities, and more. Here are some examples of the kind of tests you can expect.

Full Thyroid Panel

A comprehensive thyroid panel will assess the health of your thyroid gland and check for an under or overactive gland if you’re experiencing symptoms like weight gain, flakey skin, hair loss, fatigue, or depression.

Thyroid issues are often missed in traditional medicine because blood tests typically only check TSH and T4 levels. But a full thyroid panel provides a much fuller picture of what’s going on with your thyroid because it also tests:

• Free T4
• T3 uptake
• Total T3
• Free T3
• Reverse T3
• Thyroid antibodies

Hormone Panel

Hormones as responsible for so many aspects of our health, weight, energy levels, sleep quality, mood swings, libido, and more. If your practitioner suspects your hormones are out of balance, a hormone panel could provide essential clues about what is causing your symptoms.  

Hormone panels are achieved through both saliva and blood tests to provide the most accurate results. Some examples of hormone-related tests that you might have done during a hormone panel include insulin and glucose levels, testosterone, estrogen, DHEA, and progesterone.  

Food Sensitivity Test

Many people are unaware that foods can trigger health conditions. For example, the immune system can mistake certain proteins in food for an invader and cause inflammation throughout your body. This inflammation can lead to chronic pain, allergies, asthma, anxiety, chronic fatigue, depression, hormonal imbalances, and more.

A food sensitivity test can look at IgG antibody reactions to different types of foods. The results will help you identify which foods may be causing your body stress and how to avoid them in the future.

Genetic Testing

Genetic testing can give you clues as to what health issues you may be susceptible to. For example, a genetic predisposition to cancer or Alzheimer’s could increase the risk of developing these diseases in the future. Genetic testing may also be able to help you discover undiagnosed issues like a rare gene mutation that causes chronic pain, seizures, and other symptoms.

These functional medicine tests are a critical part of a larger treatment plan, and they’re usually administered by professionals with years of experience in the field. Results from these tests may take several weeks to process before you can review them with your functional medicine practitioner.

What are the Benefits of Functional Medicine Testing?

More Cost-Effective

Functional medicine can reduce long-term healthcare costs by identifying and treating medical issues before they become serious or life-threatening. By catching these problems early, functional medicine practitioners can help patients avoid costly and ineffective treatments in the future.

Natural Solutions

Many people who see a functional medicine practitioner want to avoid prescription medications, especially if they’re experiencing adverse side effects or aren’t getting the result they were hoping for. While many medicines work well when used correctly, functional medicine practitioners can often find solutions that can help the patient come off their medications.  

Treatments like nutrition and lifestyle counseling can help you be proactive about your health and take control of your symptoms before they take over your life. In addition, this is an attractive solution to those who want a more natural approach to healthcare, as many traditional treatment options require drugs with lots of side effects.

Early Detection

Functional medicine has the ability to catch issues early before they become serious problems. This is especially true for conditions like cancer, where genetic testing can help you stay ahead of the disease and manage your health proactively.

Patient-Centered Approach

Functional medicine views the patient as a whole person rather than focusing on specific symptoms or diseases that may or may not be affecting them. By viewing the body as an entire system, functional medicine practitioners can develop a personalized treatment plan that works with your unique biology rather than against it.

Increased Longevity

Functional medicine has been associated with a longer lifespan and better overall health in those who seek out testing and treatments for chronic illnesses like arthritis and diabetes. Functional medicine practitioners are able to help patients manage their symptoms in a way that is proactive and preventative, which can result in longer lifespans. Maintaining good health in the early stages can also decrease the risk of developing life-threatening conditions later on.

Who Should Go for Functional Medicine Testing?

Those with Chronic Pain or Unexplained Symptoms

Functional medicine is highly recommended for people who experience frequent headaches, allergies, migraines, or chronic pain. Functional medicine practitioners can offer customized treatment plans to help you treat and prevent these and many other conditions.

People who suffer from digestive trouble may also benefit from functional medicine. Functional medicine practitioners typically test for gluten intolerance and lactose intolerance, among other things that might be affecting your digestive health. If they do find a problem, functional medicine practitioners can provide treatment options that don’t require prescription medications, such as anti-inflammatory diets and probiotics.

Those Who Want To Reduce Their Medications

Those who want to avoid prescription medications should consider this type of testing if they’re experiencing side effects or ineffective results from their current treatments. Functional medicine offers a natural alternative to prescription drugs that can help treat conditions that are often treated with medications.

Whether you want to avoid prescription medications or are simply interested in learning more about your health, testing can provide valuable insight into what’s going on inside your body.

Those Who Want Personalized Treatment

Functional medicine is an excellent way to get personalized treatment and care. Functional medicine practitioners can work with their patients to provide them with the best possible healthcare, which is unique for every person on an individual level.

For example, if a functional medicine practitioner tests you for gluten sensitivity and finds you have a gluten intolerance, they can provide you with foods and diets that work best for your biology. This is a notable distinction from the one-size-fits-all approach that traditional general practitioners provide.

People Who Are Interested in Preventative Healthcare

People who are proactive about their health may benefit from this type of testing. Functional medicine practitioners emphasize preventative care and work with their patients to develop comprehensive treatment plans that can help them feel better for years to come.

Get to the Root of Your Health Problems with Functional Medicine

Conventional healthcare can help with some acute conditions, but all too often, it fails to address the root cause. In contrast, functional medicine testing offers a customized approach to your health that can help you avoid or resolve chronic issues in a way that keeps you healthy for years to come. Are you ready to get proactive about your health? Contact us today at Cady Wellness in Newburgh, IN, and we can help you get started!