Let’s Get Back to Your Physical Health
It took an unexpected tragedy in my family this summer to scare my husband enough to start to make his health a priority. And since that, he has been all in, and I am so proud of him for that. It’s far too common for us parents to take the time to get the kids to the doctors frequently while completely neglecting our own health. Understanding the grave and devastating consequences of that was something my extended family had to deal with this summer, and it shook all of us.
Getting your health in check can be completely overwhelming. There is just so much information out there and so many opinions. But a great place to start at any age, no matter what you believe, is bloodwork. Lab testing is going to get to the bottom of what is causing your symptoms in the fastest way. My husband already handled his, and bloodwork is first on my list, too. There are several ways you could get your bloodwork done. You could go to your primary physician, assuming you have one, and they can order traditional labs to be done. Or you could do one of those online programs - Function is a very extensive one - where 100+ lab tests are done and you get a guide to your results. Or you could go to a functional medicine doctor, who will oversee a comprehensive panel of bloodwork and consult with you about the results and give recommendations. And I am going with the later, the reasons of which I will get to shortly.
To come to this conclusion, I first had to learn what a functional medicine doctor is. Of course, I heard the term before. My brother actually swears by his. But I had no clue what functional medicine meant, until I visited with Dr. Adam Leid at Core Clinic in Villanova. Dr. Leid is what you could call a functional medicine doctor. He could also be called a concierge doctor, which is essentially like having your own personal doctor. And he is sometimes even considered your more traditional doctor, prescribing medications and working his other job as a wound care physician. But when I called Adam a functional medicine doctor, he corrected me because he prefers to be called “a longevity and preventative doctor”. And that makes total sense now knowing what I know after talking to him about functional medicine.
Looking for a good read on the subject of functional medicine, check these out.
Functional medicine is all about getting your body to function properly. It involves information gathering in order to get to the root cause of a symptom. The bloodwork is going to be way more thorough and thus more insightful into your overall health. Unlike traditional medicine, which treats an illness, a symptom or a disease, functional medicine is getting to the why of that illness, that symptom or that disease. And the overall goal is to give patients a better quality of life. Dr. Adam calls it “lifestyle medicine” and centers his practice around nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management.
Functional medicine is focused on the individual and is a more proactive approach. It can also be helpful for the person who isn’t satisfied with the results that traditional medicine has yielded for them. And the difference is that functional medicine doctors can do more. Their protocols don’t need FDA approval. A lot of what the functional medicine doctor prescribes will be anecdotal, learned through the doctor’s own experience and research. And while most functional medicine doctors did go to medical school, you’ll want to find a doctor you trust. Ultimately, functional medicine doctors are going to filter all of the information around you to help you heal and live a longer, healthier life.
Functional medicine can involve non-medicated therapies and supplements, but functional medicine doctors may also prescribe medication, if necessary. Functional medicine doctors may refer the patient to a specialist. I find functional medicine to be a more detailed, personal approach, encompassing all parts of the patient’s well being. And this is why I decided to go in this direction. Most of Adam’s patients are between thirty and fifty years old (me). They come to him because they are not feeling their best. They start noticing little things (me again), and they don’t want those little things turning into bigger things down the road. And that is exactly where I am right now.
Chatting with Dr. Adam at the Core Clinic in Villanova.
So what does an appointment with a doctor like Adam look like? Every functional medicine doctor has their own protocol, but with Adam, you are first going to complete an intake form, answering lots of questions about your medical and family history, symptoms and lifestyle. Next, you are going to go for your bloodwork, testing about 35 panels, including hormones, inflammatory markers, nutrient levels, autoimmune markers and thyroid health. And after that, you’ll go over the results with the doctor and come up with a “longevity plan” of recommendations in the areas of nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management. After the initial consultation, you can take your recommendations and be on your way, or you can continue to work with Dr. Adam and some of the other services offered at the Core Clinic, such as chiropractic and massage therapies.
Another way to get the full body, wellness picture is by getting a Dexascan. A Dexascan is an X-ray that uses very low levels of radiation to measure body composition, including body fat percentage and the weight of fat pounds, lean muscle mass, bone density and visceral fat. This test is way more comprehensive than the typical body composition test you may find in your gym. In just six minutes, you can get a complete picture of what makes up your body and how much fuel you need for your body to function.
Getting a Dexascan at Bucky Plastic Surgery.
The Bucky Body Center in Center City was the very first place in the area where people could walk in and get a Dexascan without a prescription. And Dr. Bucky just got another machine in the Bucky Plastic Surgery office in Ardmore. Prior to these walk-in locations, you’d have to wait for your doctor to order a Dexascan, either because of your age (65 is the age for women) or an issue. But finding out information from a Dexascan that late in the game isn’t the only way to live. Being proactive in your own health warrants a much earlier Dexascan to do things now to prevent future problems like osteopenia and osteoporosis.
The medical implications of the Dexascan go well beyond BMI. I find myself caring a lot more about the visceral fat around my organs than my overall body fat, and my bone density instead of my muscle mass. I guess I am growing up.
On Monday, I’ll be going live with an exciting GIVEAWAY on my instagram. One lucky person, will win two Dexascans (valued at close to $400). The first scan will provide a baseline. And the second scan, done three to six months later, will track improvements or any deteriorations made over time. In between the two scans, the winner will receive some fitness classes at my favorite spot, XTraining in Bryn Mawr, to help jumpstart their wellness journey this month. If improving your overall health is on your to-do list, you do not want to miss this giveaway!
Up next week: Let’s get back on track with FOOD.