It’s that time again! Back to school means back to reality, and for most of us that means trying to get back into a more healthy routine. After the lazy days of summer enjoying our family and friends on vacations, eating what we want and when we want; drinking a little more than we should; forgoing exercise since after all, we are on vacation, it’s time to get our health back with a routine that fits our body, mind, and spirit.
Our kids or grandkids have gotten all their medical checkups and vaccinations for school. They’re ready for the school year medically. But are we? We all have health goals. For many, returning to healthy eating and exercising on a more regular basis is all that is needed to get back into the swing of life. However, for others who are battling chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle spasms, stress related anxiety, leaky gut, inflammatory bowel disease, migraines, peri/menopausal symptoms, polycystic ovarian disease, insomnia, brain fog/memory loss, thyroid disease, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, rheumatoid arthritis, weight gain/obesity, yeast overgrowth, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (as well as many others), the question becomes: What is the next step in managing my chronic condition? Chronic disease shortens our life span and diminishes our quality of life. The goal becomes finding ways to manage these conditions to improve quality of life.
What if you haven’t been diagnosed with a chronic disease but you have nagging symptoms that slow you down or stop you from living life to the fullest? Either way, whether you’ve been diagnosed or not, managing your health by seeking guidance through testing, diet, medication management, lifestyle changes, exercise, meditation and stress reduction techniques can get you back on track. Recent statistics suggest that more than 85 percent of chronic disease is caused by environmental factors like diet, behavior, environmental toxins, and lifestyle. More specifically, chronic disease is the direct result of a mismatch between our genes and biology on the one hand and the modern environment on the other.
What if you had a medical team member specifically trained in the art of functional medicine to help guide you in your pursuit of better health? First, what is functional medicine? And how can this integrative more personalized approach help you achieve your health goals?
Functional medicine seeks to identify and address the root cause of the disease and views the body as one integrated system, not a collection of independent organs divided up by medical specialties. Functional medicine addresses the underlying cause of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. This is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the health care needs of the 21st century. By shifting the disease-centered focus of medicine to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, and not just a set of isolated symptoms.
Functional medicine’s core principles involve spending time with patients, listening to histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex chronic disease states. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual. We have found the best course of action in helping a patient to achieve optimal wellness is by partnering with their physicians to provide a personalized, preventative health plan that can consist of pharmaceutical-grade nutritionals, customized compounds and metabolic support systems.
At TLC Medical Centre, we offer consultations and lab assessments for hormones, adrenal and thyroid function, food allergies, stool testing for gut health, micronutrient testing to test for nutrient deficiencies impacting health, genetic testing to determine whether you can metabolize certain medications or nutrients, sleep balance, weight management and more. We provide therapy recommendations for prescriptions and supplements to correct any imbalances. The ultimate goal of these programs is to work in concert with the patient and physician in achieving overall optimal health for the patient.
You might not realize just how important some of the everyday factors are in your life. Your diet can affect your energy, and stress can affect your sleep, which all work together either to improve your health or negatively impact it. Our compounding pharmacist with board certification and special training in anti-aging, metabolic and functional medicine at TLC Medical can help you learn how to easily manage them and control your life.
Get back into health with a little guidance and coaching based on your individual health concern. We don’t have to get used to being sick or feeling bad most of the time. It’s time for a change and the new paradigm of healthcare may be able to help you get to the root of the problem in order to implement a plan that can get you back to a healthier you.
By Zoom H. Heaton, RPh., CDE, ABAAHP, FAAMFM
TLC Medical Centre pharmacy is a traditional pharmacy offering specialized services such as medical equipment, compression stocking fittings, diabetic shoes fitting with shoe selection on site, vaccinations throughout the year and medical compounding (our compounding lab is located inside TLC called Custom Prescription Compounders, LLC). Our compounding pharmacist Zoom H. Heaton is also board certified in Anti-aging, Metabolic and Functional medicine. She works with patients needing help with various medical needs such as bio-identical hormone management, adrenal and thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, weight management, pain management compounding, nutritional guidance using specialized testing and much much more. If you feel that your health needs a change for the better, call us at 803-648-7800 extension 200 and make an appointment. The first 15 minutes of your consultation with Zoom is free.
