Time To Take Charge And Be Your Own Health Advocate!

But you don’t have to do it alone.

By Dr. Susan Slipacoff B.Kin, ND, Clinic Director

Do you find it odd that your automotive dealership reaches out to book maintenance checks on your car more regularly than many doctor’s offices do for check-ins on your health? When did you have your last blood work up done or when was the last time your doctor went over the results with you in detail? Sadly, it seems as though doctors’ appointments are more difficult to come by.  Walk-ins are becoming a regular point of contact for a doctor’s visit, and as a result, these important health maintenance checks are no longer a regular occurrence.

In my personal practice, I have spoken with many patients over the age of 50 who didn’t know to start their screening process (i.e. colonoscopy, mammogram and/or bone density). It is important to start early so that a baseline can be established. What if at 65 one of your screening test comes back abnormal?  How would you know if this has been an issue for 1 yr, 5 yrs or longer unless you had the test done years prior? What if a female has a mammography at 60 and a nodule is revealed? Is it something new, or has the nodule been there for many years? Due to the many gaps in our healthcare system, it is more important now than ever to take the reins, and become your own health advocate.

But fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone, Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) can help!

Did you know that NDs can order blood work, perform a physical exam and make a naturopathic diagnosis? In addition to running all commonly performed blood tests, we can also order more comprehensive laboratory tests including digestive health panels, in dpeth cardiovascular blood panels and more. We not only run these tests, but we will also review the results with you in detail, so that you not only know which levels are outside of normal, but which are borderline and need your attention. We can also advise you on which screening tests you should be getting done and when to do them, based on your age and genetic or lifestyle predispositions. Our goal is to not only treat ongoing concerns, but more importantly, to prevent disease from occurring in the first place.

Once the assessment is complete, most naturopathic treatments include diet and lifestyle recommendations, guidelines on the key supplements to take to offset nutrient deficiencies and other bodily imbalances, acupuncture treatments, and some with additional certification can also provide prescription treatments including natural thyroid and hormone prescriptions, vitamin IV treatments and/or B12 injections.  In terms of insurance coverage, most private policy’s cover a portion, if not all of the naturopathic appointments so check with your individual insurer for details.

If you are interested in learning more about the care our Naturopathic Doctors provide, click here and/or call to set up an appointment. If you are at all unsure, feel free to schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation.  Hope to see you soon!