Day 252 of 365 - Questionnaire Health Care
It is not uncommon these days for individuals to be suffering from various physical symptoms, but just not seeming to fit a diagnostic category for treatment. For example, maybe five years ago, when I went to my doctor for a physical, I was concerned about menopausal weight gain and wondered if my thyroid function might be low. Routine blood work showed it was normal. Despite getting regular exercise and healthy eating, I was tired more often and just not shedding abdominal weight. The response was that this is 'just something that happens in midlife'. Well gee, thanks, that's so helpful!
I tend to do my own research about health related issues and look for strategies I can implement on my own. As such, I have some books which contain questionnaires based on symptoms. The results are meant to guide you in taking steps to feel better. I have used those results to make dietary and supplement changes which have indeed been helpful to me.
Today I listened to an interview with an integrative medicine physician, Dr. Taz Bhatia. She has written a book called Super Woman Rx. I have not read it, but would be interested in browsing it if the library has it. She says fatigue is one of the most reported symptoms by her clients. It can be difficult to figure out because it is a symptom of so many conditions. However, in her twenty plus years of practice, she has found that nutrition, nutritional deficiencies, gut health and inflammation are the top causes.
Dr. Taz, as she is called, noticed patterns emerging over her years of seeing thousands of patients. She found that combinations of personality/behavior types, Eastern medicine perspective types based on symptoms and Western medicine lab results showed consistent groupings. She decided to define what she called Five Power Types to describe them and uses them to help clients understand their combination of characteristics and symptoms as a starting point on the healing journey. She has found people tend to relate to them and are then more open to trying different approaches.
To make them more appealing and interesting, she gave them fun names. Those are Gypsy Girl, Boss Lady, Savvy Chick, Earth Mama and Nightingale. Each is a profile of typical lifestyle orientation along with the medical issues that might need addressing. (Sorry guys, she is working on categories specific to men too but they are not named yet.)
Of course, protocols have been developed for each type including nutritional guidance, fitness guidance, stress management techniques and so on. For clients coming to her clinic, this a strategic starting point. To meet demand, they have also created online guidance programs as an option.
And yes, there is a questionnaire. You can go to doctortaz.com to take it if you like. I did it out of curiosity. There are 19 questions or statements for which you choose what best describes you. They cover areas like energy, pain, skin, sleep, thinking patterns and so on. It only takes a few minutes.
I could see where she was going, in terms of trying to get people more on board with exploring different options for treatment of their symptoms. The ideal scenario would be for everyone to have access to personalized consultation and specific lab work which explores more than what is included in a typical physical. The reality is that the average person does not even know where to begin looking for these kinds of services. In that case, a book and website like the one described is at least a place to start.
I tend to do my own research about health related issues and look for strategies I can implement on my own. As such, I have some books which contain questionnaires based on symptoms. The results are meant to guide you in taking steps to feel better. I have used those results to make dietary and supplement changes which have indeed been helpful to me.
Today I listened to an interview with an integrative medicine physician, Dr. Taz Bhatia. She has written a book called Super Woman Rx. I have not read it, but would be interested in browsing it if the library has it. She says fatigue is one of the most reported symptoms by her clients. It can be difficult to figure out because it is a symptom of so many conditions. However, in her twenty plus years of practice, she has found that nutrition, nutritional deficiencies, gut health and inflammation are the top causes.
Dr. Taz, as she is called, noticed patterns emerging over her years of seeing thousands of patients. She found that combinations of personality/behavior types, Eastern medicine perspective types based on symptoms and Western medicine lab results showed consistent groupings. She decided to define what she called Five Power Types to describe them and uses them to help clients understand their combination of characteristics and symptoms as a starting point on the healing journey. She has found people tend to relate to them and are then more open to trying different approaches.
To make them more appealing and interesting, she gave them fun names. Those are Gypsy Girl, Boss Lady, Savvy Chick, Earth Mama and Nightingale. Each is a profile of typical lifestyle orientation along with the medical issues that might need addressing. (Sorry guys, she is working on categories specific to men too but they are not named yet.)
Of course, protocols have been developed for each type including nutritional guidance, fitness guidance, stress management techniques and so on. For clients coming to her clinic, this a strategic starting point. To meet demand, they have also created online guidance programs as an option.
And yes, there is a questionnaire. You can go to doctortaz.com to take it if you like. I did it out of curiosity. There are 19 questions or statements for which you choose what best describes you. They cover areas like energy, pain, skin, sleep, thinking patterns and so on. It only takes a few minutes.
I could see where she was going, in terms of trying to get people more on board with exploring different options for treatment of their symptoms. The ideal scenario would be for everyone to have access to personalized consultation and specific lab work which explores more than what is included in a typical physical. The reality is that the average person does not even know where to begin looking for these kinds of services. In that case, a book and website like the one described is at least a place to start.
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