What is the difference between conventional medicine and functional medicine?
Conventional medicine excels in areas like emergency care 🚑 and surgery, and we are truly blessed with the many medical breakthroughs over recent years.
However, it often falls short when it comes to managing chronic conditions, especially complex ones.
💡 The reality is clear — the Western world is facing ever-increasing numbers of patients with chronic diseases such as Diabetes, Morbid obesity and Dementia
For complex chronic issues like Autoimmune diseases, Chronic gastrointestinal disorders and Lyme disease conventional medicine has even fewer answers
Is New Zealand Really Much Better?
New Zealand might look like a clean and green paradise, but when it comes to our health, the picture isn’t nearly as perfect. Too many Kiwis are walking around with serious conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and dementia — without even knowing it. These issues often don’t show clear signs until it’s too late.
That’s why it’s so important not to wait for something to go wrong. If you haven’t had a proper check-up in a while, now’s the time to book in with your GP.
Take the lead when it comes to your own health — ask questions, get screened, and stay on top of things.
Looking after your health isn’t just your doctor’s job. It starts with you.
🩺 Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
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Prevalence: Approximately 20% of adults in New Zealand have high blood pressure.
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Undiagnosed Cases: Many individuals are unaware of their condition, as hypertension often presents no symptoms.
❤️ Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD)
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Prevalence: Over 170,000 people in New Zealand are living with coronary artery disease, also known as ischaemic heart disease.Heart Foundation NZ
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Undiagnosed Cases: Some individuals may have undiagnosed IHD, as it can be asymptomatic until a significant event like a heart attack occurs.
💔 Heart Failure
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Prevalence: Heart failure is a common condition, especially among older adults.
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Undiagnosed Cases: Early stages may be undiagnosed due to subtle symptoms or attribution to aging.
🩸 Diabetes
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Diagnosed Cases: Over 250,000 people in New Zealand are living with diabetes.Heart Research Institute NZ
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Undiagnosed Cases: Approximately 100,000 individuals may have undiagnosed diabetes.
🧠 Dementia
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Prevalence: As of 2020, approximately 70,000 people in New Zealand were living with dementia.Alzheimers New Zealand
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Projected Increase: This number is expected to rise to 100,000 by 2030 and 170,000 by 2050.
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Undiagnosed Cases: Early symptoms are often subtle, leading to underdiagnosis.
| Condition | Estimated Total Cases | Estimated Undiagnosed Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Hypertension | ~800,000 | ~500,000 |
| Ischaemic Heart Disease | ~170,000 | Some cases undiagnosed |
| Heart Failure | Data not specified | Some cases undiagnosed |
| Diabetes | ~250,000 | ~100,000 |
| Dementia | ~70,000 (2020) | Many cases undiagnosed |
Core Principles of Functional Medicine
While conventional medicine views the body as a collection of isolated parts, leading to specialists for each individual system, functional medicine takes a holistic approach. It sees the body as an interconnected system where every aspect of health influences the others. Treatments are personalized, based on the concept of “biochemical individuality.”
Root Causes of Chronic Disease
Gut Dysfunction and Microbiome Imbalances:
Over 70% of the immune system resides in the digestive tract, which plays a critical role in overall health. At Neff Functional Medicine Clinic, we conduct comprehensive testing to identify issues like yeast overgrowth, dysbiosis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and gut inflammation. Gut issues can manifest not only as digestive problems but also as skin rashes, cognitive impairment, joint pain, and more.
Autoimmune Activation:
Autoimmune diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and Crohn’s disease are rising rapidly. Conventional medicine typically uses medication to suppress the immune response, but at Neff Functional Medicine Clinic, we focus on identifying the root causes of immune overactivation. Often, gut dysfunction and chronic infections are key triggers that must be addressed to calm the immune system and restore balance.
Hormonal Imbalances:
Hormones like thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) must function in harmony for optimal health. At Neff Functional Medicine Clinic, we use lifestyle changes, nutritional interventions, and, when necessary, bio-identical hormone support to restore hormonal balance.
Chronic Infections:
Some microorganisms, such as those causing Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and mold illness, can persist in the body, exacerbating symptoms. Identifying and treating these chronic infections is essential for recovery.
Inflammation:
Chronic inflammation is a major driver of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. Our approach involves pinpointing the sources of inflammation, whether from gut dysfunction, infections, or lifestyle factors, and addressing them to support long-term health
Environmental Exposures:
Epigenetics, the study of how environmental factors influence gene expression, reveals that diet and lifestyle choices play a more significant role in health than genetics alone. Neff Functional Medicine Clinic uses this knowledge to empower patients to make informed choices about their health
Nutrients and food as a medicine:
At Neff Functional Medicine Clinic, we view food as foundational to health. We prioritize nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods in all treatment plans to promote healing and restore health.
Stress and allostatic load:
Chronic stress significantly impacts health, from accelerating aging to disrupting hormones. We help our patients identify and reduce stressors to lower their allostatic load, allowing the body to recover and thrive.
Sleep:
Sleep is vital for health. Poor sleep increases the risk of numerous diseases. We offer comprehensive sleep assessments and interventions to improve sleep quality and restore overall well-being.
Movement and exercise:
Regular physical activity is essential for mental and physical health. At Neff Functional Medicine Clinic, we work with patients to incorporate more movement into their lives, improving gut health, mental well-being, and longevity.
Respecting the Role of Diet and Lifestyle
Conventional medicine often pays lip service to the importance of lifestyle in managing chronic disease but lacks comprehensive guidance on these areas. In contrast, Neff Functional Medicine Clinic places a strong emphasis on diet, sleep, exercise, and stress reduction. We provide practical tools and support to help patients make meaningful changes.
Functional medicine is challenging but transformative. Our team at Neff Functional Medicine Clinic is committed to helping you achieve your health goals by addressing the root causes of disease and guiding you on the path to wellness.