Digestive Diseases
Definition- disorders of food breakdown and absorption along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract anywhere from the mouth to the anus leading to malnourishment which causes cellular and tissue dysfunction. New research is finding that bacterial and fungal overgrowth in the GI tract communicate with other parts of the body including the brain and alter function. Severe inflammation in the GI tract can cause food to leak into the blood vessels and cause disease as well.
Symptoms-
*Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)- very similar but treated differently
-Crohn's Disease- abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, blood in stool, mouth sores, and fever.
-Ulcerative Colitis- abdominal pain and cramping 20 minutes after eating, diarrhea, weight loss, and blood in stools and rectum.
*Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS)- abdominal pain and cramping, alternating constipation and diarrhea, bloating and gas, white or clear mucous in stool, feeling of incomplete evacuation after bowel movement, spasm
*Constipation- 3 bowel movements or less per week, hard dry lumpy stool causing person to strain, frank red blood sometimes from hemorrhoids
*Diarrhea- loose watery stools 3 or more times a week, mostly caused by bacterial or viral infection, but can be chronic
*Food intolerances- varied for different people, can cause sudden or gradual generalized body and/or sinus inflammation, diarrhea or gas, bloating, nausea, or vomiting
Functional Medicine Approach-
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You will have a full assessment of your current lifestyle, nutrition, stress level and management, and sleep health and hygiene.
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Individualized plans of care will be created by the practitioner and patient.
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Depending on your specific symptoms, there may be more targeted assessment and testing of blood sugar metabolism, thyroid function, pituitary. or hypothalamus function and cardiovascular assessment, gut imbalances, food intolerances, toxin screening, hormone imbalance, antibody intolerances, inflammatory markers, and/or deficiencies of nutrients.
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After finding the root cause of illness plans may be revised. Solutions can be multi-layered and take time, especially auto-immune disease and hormone imbalance. We may need to integrate care with a specialist after referral.
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Detox plans are gentle and supervised if necessary.
Commitment to treatment will improve outcomes.
We will support you every step of the way!