Functional Medicine is the Best Approach for Health and Well-Being
If you are tired of going to your primary care doctor’s office every few months to get a prescription refill for your current medical condition, it may be time to change doctors. Conventional medicine continues to deal with chronic illness by targeting symptoms without really taking the time to investigate what is causing the problem in the first place.
This is the biggest difference between a traditional medical practice and the type of service you will find at a functional medicine office. Functional medicine focuses on the patient as a whole and not just on symptoms. Our mission is to study the patient’s medical history as well as family history and all possible factors that are contributing to disease so we can treat the root cause of the problem. It is all about recreating balance.
Do not get me wrong, there are conditions that are so serious they must be addressed immediately, but this doesn’t mean we should ignore the origin of the disease. If we only treat symptoms and ignore the underlying causes, we enter a never-ending cycle of pill-popping that will eventually affect organs and other areas of health.
If a patient comes in with high cholesterol, for example, we do need to immediately rush for the prescriptive medication to treat the condition, rather we need to investigate what is causing the anomaly. Is it the family history or the patient’s lifestyle—in many cases it is a combination of factors. Changes in lifestyle, diet and nutraceuticals may be enough to control cholesterol so it is critical we identify the possible triggers and emphasize the importance of “prevention.”
A traditional doctor will tell patients that they need to eat healthier but many patients don’t even know where to start or what “healthy” even means. At a Functional Medicine Practice, lifestyle—including your food choices—are part of the conversation at every visit because we can’t ignore the importance of these factors in overall wellness and health.
One growing area in the medical field is that of hormone replacement. This is where Bellissimo Medical stands out as a functional medicine practice, as we specialize in Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy for both men and women. This treatment has been used effectively worldwide since the 1930s and numerous scientific studies have proven its effectiveness. However, patients need to work with qualified practitioners because hormones are a delicate subject and not everyone is trained to provide this service.
Bio-identical hormones, also known as natural hormones, are substances that have the same chemical structure as the hormones that are produced by the human body. Because these are naturally occurring substances that are found in us all, they produce the same physiologic response and there are virtually no side effects.
Although they can bring about many health benefits and improved quality of life to those who need it, we will never prescribe hormones unless absolutely necessary. We will evaluate the patient’s current health condition and learn about their medical history to be able to develop a comprehensive program that targets unique needs. Hormone levels are tested before, during and after the treatment to ensure these are maintained at optimum balance.
Call us today and schedule your free consultation at 954.384.8989. Dr. Jean-Claude Nerette is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Functional Medicine and Stephanie Muniz Nerette is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner and a Diplomate to the Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. Bellissimo Medical is located at 2665 Executive Park Drive, Suite #3, in Weston.
