An acute disease is characterized by a relatively sudden onset and short duration of mild, moderate, or severe symptoms and includes conditions like the flu, pneumonia, and strep throat. Even mild conditions, like a cold, can be very uncomfortable and have an effect on your activities of daily living. With that being said, many people still don’t consider going to the doctor when they are sick until their condition worsens and becomes much more severe. As an Alternative Medical Practitioner my approach to acute disease is includes alleviating symptoms, supporting the immune system, preventing more severe conditions, and decreasing the length of the infection.
Your office visit will include:
- History and physical exam
- Pertinent office treatments, hydrotherapy, or physiotherapy
- Herbs and supplements to support the healing process and boost immune function
- Recommendations for home treatments to enhance healing
- Education about your condition and how to prevent future occurrences
Chronic diseases are disease of long duration and slow progression. In the United States alone, there are over 90 million people suffering from chronic disease. This means that nearly one in two Americans has a chronic medical condition. About 70% of deaths in the US are due to chronic illnesses. Four modifiable health risk behaviors—lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption—are responsible for much of the illness, suffering, and early death related to chronic diseases.
Treating chronic disease involves so much more than just prescribing medications to relieve your symptoms. It includes slowing and eventually stopping the progression of the illness by addressing the underlying causes of your disease. Our goal is to heal the cells and tissues of the body. As a Naturopath, Dr. Melissa ND can serve as your primary care physician, or work in conjunction with your other physicians to co-manage your health care.
Ongoing care to address chronic disease may include:
- Complete and comprehensive medical history
- Reviewing previous medical records include lab work and imaging
- Ordering additional lab work as needed to determine progression of the disease throughout treatment. Treatment schedules, which may include diet and lifestyle recommendations, supplements, home treatments, hydrotherapy treatments, etc.
- Ongoing health education, because knowledge is powerful.