Why Traditional Doctors Misdiagnose Diseases in Menopausal Women – Prosperity Health | Functional Medicine Doctor

Functional Medicine Doctors Effectively Treat Menopausal Women

Menopause marks a significant phase in a woman’s life, including the end to monthly periods, as well as eliminating the need for birth control. But menopause also comes with many accompanying changes in the body that can be complex, frustrating, and even dangerous. Unfortunately, many traditional doctors and medical practitioners encounter challenges in diagnosing and treating menopausal women accurately.

By focusing only on a woman’s symptoms – rather that looking at her as a whole person – many conventional OBGYNs and other women’s healthcare providers miss or misdiagnose serious health issues. At Prosperity Health in the greater Southfield, MI area Dr. Nishath Hakim takes a functional medicine approach to addressing menopausal women’s health, that looks at the whole person.

In this article, Dr. Hakim delves into the complexities and shortcomings that often surround outmoded healthcare models for treating menopausal women, that may lead to missed or misdiagnosed conditions. And she explains how a functional medicine approach can better identify, diagnose and treat health concerns of menopausal women – so that they can enjoy life at every age.

Doctor Bias in Diagnosing & Treating Menopausal Women

Bias, whether conscious or unconscious, can affect how medical professionals perceive and treat menopausal women. Stereotypes about mood swings, hot flashes, and other common symptoms may overshadow the individual’s unique health profile. This bias can lead to doctors overlooking other potential health issues that may manifest during menopause. In other words, many traditional doctors simply blame everything on “the natural change of life” – and miss or misdiagnose more pressing individual health concerns.

This is aggravated by the fact that menopausal symptoms can overlap with those of various health conditions, leading to confusion and misdiagnosis. For instance, fatigue, a common symptom of menopause, can also be indicative of thyroid dysfunction or nutritional deficiencies. By closely examining symptoms, conducting thorough diagnostic testing, and considering the broader health context, functional medicine doctors like Dr. Hakim can get to root cause of a woman’s symptoms and treat the underlying condition – so that her symptoms improve, and she can once again enjoy life.

Conditions Commonly Missed by Doctors in Menopausal Women

Thyroid Dysfunction: Menopausal changes may mask or mimic symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. Proper thyroid function is crucial for overall well-being, and misdiagnosing thyroid issues during menopause can lead to inadequate treatment.

Hormone Imbalance: Beyond the hormonal shifts of menopause, imbalances in other hormones can occur, affecting mood, energy levels, and overall health. Identifying and addressing these imbalances is key to comprehensive healthcare.

Nutritional Deficiencies & Gut Issues: Menopausal women might be prone to nutritional deficiencies and gut-related problems. These issues, if overlooked, can contribute to fatigue, digestive discomfort, and a range of other health concerns. Prosperity Health in the greater Southfield, MI area offers GI-MAP stool testing for pathogens, to detect the presence of parasites, fungi, and bad bacteria that may be compromising your health.

Similarly, micronutrient testing of the woman’s blood can determine how her body is absorbing and utilizing the nutrients that it is receiving. Once any deficiencies are identified, a functional medicine doctor like Nishath Hakim, MD can prescribe proper supplementation and nutrition to help treat or remedy your issues.

Cardiovascular Diseases: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the US, claiming over 300,000 lives annually. This accounts for one in every four female deaths in the country.

But while one in four women in the US has some form of cardiovascular disease, it is very concerning that one in three women are unaware they have heart disease. This is because symptoms in women can be atypical and differ from classic presentations in men, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. And although the risk of cardiovascular diseases increases with age, symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath are often attributed to menopause by women and their doctors, when in fact it is cardiovascular issues that need attention.

Mental Health Conditions: Menopause is a time of hormonal fluctuation that can seriously influence mental health. Yet, rather than appropriately treating clinical depression and anxiety, conventional healthcare providers may dismiss these conditions as solely the “mood swings” of menopause. Functional medicine doctors recognize the nuanced relationship between hormonal shifts and mental health and provide appropriate support and interventions.

Functional Medicine: Diagnosing Menopausal Women’s Health Issues

When addressing the symptoms and health issues of menopausal women, functional medicine doctors offer a comprehensive and personalized approach that emphasizes the unique biological complexity of each women. The diagnosis process in functional medicine involves a thorough assessment that goes beyond just treating surface symptoms.

Functional medicine doctors utilize comprehensive lab testing to delve into each patient’s health at a molecular level. This may include checking hormone levels, thyroid function, and markers for nutritional deficiencies. These tests offer a more in-depth understanding of the intricate changes occurring during menopause.

Beyond routine blood tests, functional medicine may involve more specialized blood work to assess specific biomarkers related to menopausal health. This can unveil insights into inflammation, immune function, and metabolic status, contributing to a more holistic diagnostic approach.

Because menopausal women often experience changes in nutrient absorption and gut health, functional medicine doctors may also incorporate nutritional testing and gut health assessments to identify deficiencies and imbalances. Addressing these issues can enhance overall health, improve vitality, and alleviate symptoms associated with menopause.

Functional Medicine Doctors Treat Menopausal Women’s Health

Functional Medicine’s treatment strategies are rooted in identifying and addressing the root causes of health issues rather than merely managing symptoms.

Hormone therapy in functional medicine is tailored to the individual’s specific hormonal profile. Unlike one-size-fits-all approaches, functional medicine recognizes the uniqueness of each woman’s hormonal landscape during menopause. Hormone therapy may include bioidentical hormones to mimic the body’s natural hormonal structure.

Functional medicine doctors also place a strong emphasis on lifestyle modifications. This may include personalized nutrition plans, exercise regimens, and stress management techniques. Lifestyle interventions play a crucial role in supporting menopausal women’s overall health and well-being.

Targeted supplementation is often a part of functional medicine interventions. Based on individual nutritional testing, women may be prescribed specific supplements to address deficiencies and optimize health during menopause.

Functional Medicine Menopause Doctors | Southfield, MI Area

Dr. Nishath Hakim in the Southfield, MI area takes a comprehensive, “whole person,” functional medicine approach to understand the intricacies of each woman’s menopausal health – ensuring the most accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Functional medicine doctor Nishath Hakim, MD offers a comprehensive and individualized approach to diagnosing and treating health issues in menopausal women. By leveraging advanced testing, personalized treatment plans, and addressing root causes, she optimizes health and improve the quality of life for women navigating menopause – so they can live with wellness and vitality at every age.