Functional Medicine Interest Underlined by Ongoing Research in Inherited Traumas, says Dr. Michael Farzam of House Call Doctor Los Angeles
The Los Angeles-based internist comments on a recent article that the growing science of epigenetics, which looks at the possible impacts of environment on later generations of an organism, may help point to the possible benefits of a less traditional, more holistic approach.
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- An October 16 article in The Atlantic by Olga Khazan discussed the implications of recent research which found that the offspring of Civil War POWs who had survived poor conditions in Confederate prison camps were more likely to suffer premature death, despite having grown up in far less stressful conditions than their fathers. The article speculates on the possibility that historical traumas could literally be passed on to later generations in a way that suggests that genetics can be altered to some degree by physical events. Ms. Khazan speculates that such matters as the stereotypical notion that Ashkenazi Jews tend to be neurotic could be related to instances of mass oppression such as the Holocaust; it also mentions the possibility that the ancestors of people who have suffered because of historical racism might also be prone to particular issues. Dr. Michael Farzam of House Call Doctor Los Angeles notes that this fascinating research is an example of why the less traditional approach of functional medicine, which goes beyond traditional modes of healthcare, may sometimes provide added benefits for certain patients.
Dr. Farzam notes that one benefit of taking advantage of house call doctors is that they are able to provide a more individualized approach than physicians who work as part of standard medical groups. Indeed, being able to visit patients in their homes or offices can often yield insights that can make an important difference. For example, a doctor visiting a home might find out details about a person's family history that, while it might not relate to historical oppression, might well suggest genetic predispositions to certain types of illnesses. Or, says Dr. Farzam, it may be that personal habits or household hazards that might not come up in standard consultation can be gleaned come from a home visit. For example, patients may be embarrassed to admit to smoking but the smell of tobacco smoke is extremely difficult to hide, says the doctor.
There are many syndromes that are extremely difficult for standard doctors to diagnose that may be related to an individual's environment or personal habits, says Dr. Farzam. A house call doctor is able to visit an individual's personal space and take the time to explore their entire situation in a way that simply cannot be replicated in an ordinary office visit, he adds. While skeptics might have serious questions about certain aspects of functional and holistic medicine, there's no question that being able to learn more about a patient's personal life and family history can yield enormous medical benefits that are beneficial from any point of view.
Interested readers can learn morae about Dr. Michael Farzam and House Call Doctor Los Angeles by calling 310-849-7991 or visiting http://www.HouseCallDoctorLA.com.
SOURCE House Call Doctor Los Angeles
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