| You're at your doctor's for an annual physical. He | | | | expect from their doctor when going for their yearly |
| checks your blood pressure, listens to your heart, | | | | physical exam? Most practitioners agree on the |
| takes some blood and may even have you cough. He | | | | basics: A. Checking the vital signs. B. Palpation |
| tells you that you're as healthy as an ox, but just | | | | (examining) of the breasts, prostate, lymph nodes |
| shrugs his shoulders when you complain of low | | | | and testis. C. Auscultation (listening) to the heart, |
| energy, joint pain and lowered libido. The health care | | | | lungs and bowel sounds. D. A complete blood count |
| professionals at the December 2000 conference of | | | | and chemistry panel. E. Cancer screening tests such |
| the American Academy of Anti-aging Medicine stated | | | | as PSA, mammograms, testing for occult blood and |
| that this type of treatment is outdated. 3100 doctors | | | | colonoscopy. But this is where the consensus ends. |
| from 30 different countries listened to researchers | | | | The use of these new "high-tech" methods often is |
| from Harvard, Scripps, Stanford and Brown schools | | | | determined by the philosophy of the doctor that you |
| of medicine. Some of their views seemed | | | | choose. Dr. Alan Mintz feels that a comprehensive |
| revolutionary. "The stethoscope should be relegated | | | | exam should include: A. Sophisticated cardiopulmonary |
| to the Smithsonian," says Dr. Harvey Eisenberg, | | | | stress tests which includes nuclear imaging. "It is the |
| former professor of Radiology at U.C.L.A. The new | | | | most thorough way to check for heart disease (the |
| full body CT scan, "Can, in seconds, uncover the | | | | number one cause of death in our country)." B. Full |
| earliest stages of disease that traditional tests would | | | | body bone density and body composition analysis |
| not see for years." Even blood tests are taken to | | | | which are "excellent biomarkers and are extremely |
| task. "Blood tests, as typically ordered by most | | | | important indicators of overall health and possible |
| doctors, checks for diseased organs but will not | | | | early aging." C. Blood tests to comprehensively |
| catch the early abnormalities seen in functional | | | | measure hormone levels. Dr. Mintz asserts that |
| laboratory tests," says Dr. Bradley Rachman, director | | | | "normals change with age, but optimal levels don't." D. |
| of the department of medical sciences at Great | | | | Neurocognitive Chronometric Analysis-a computer, |
| Smokies Laboratory (a leading functional laboratory). | | | | interactive program that detects early signs of |
| Dr. Ronald Klatz, M.D., D.O., founder of the American | | | | dementia. Jeffrey Bland, PhD., president of the |
| Academy of Anti-aging Medicine agrees with the | | | | Institute for Functional Medicine and Chief Science |
| need for functional laboratory testing but laments | | | | officer of Metagenics, Inc., suggests the following |
| that most doctors, "Don't learn functional medicine in | | | | tests as part of your yearly examination: A. |
| medical schools." Dr. Klatz continues, "If we want to | | | | Homocystein blood level which is an excellent |
| keep people well, we have to test and optimize their | | | | predictor of cardiovascular diseasee, stroke, cancer |
| metabolism ...not just check for disease as has been | | | | and psychiatric illness (including Alzheimer's and |
| done in the past." Samual Fink, M.D., internist and | | | | Dementia). B. Genetic markers to find your |
| spokesman for the Los Angeles County Medical | | | | predisposition towards various diseases allowing the |
| Association, disagrees with this untraditional approach. | | | | patient and doctor to be more vigilant about |
| " 'High-tech' and expensive procedures and tests are | | | | prevention. With the advent of such advanced and |
| no substitute for spending time with the patient." He | | | | sensitive testing as full body CT scans, genetic |
| feels that a thorough case history and such time | | | | markers and neurocognitive analysis, today's physical |
| honored protocols as colonoscopies (for those over | | | | examination is going through a renaissance. Whether |
| 50 years old), chest x-rays in smokers and baseline | | | | your doctor makes use of them appears to depend |
| E.K.G.'s may not be glamorous, but have proven | | | | more on his philosophy, education and your financial |
| value. He feels that much of the newer tests show | | | | ability than probably your need. As in all forms of |
| many positive findings that lead to unnecessary, | | | | consumerism, the buyer should be aware, informed |
| dangerous and expensive follow-up procedures. Alan | | | | and ask a lot of questions. Years from now the |
| Mintz, M.D., director of Cenegenics, one of the | | | | sensitivity and reliability of these tests will be known |
| nations largest anti-aging centers, is adamant about | | | | and others will be called into question. Our office uses |
| using the latest examining tools. "We are at our best | | | | the latest tests and information and makes our |
| around 30 years of age, having the lowest incidence | | | | patient's aware of their benefits and limitations. It's |
| of disease, accidents and other health concerns. Later | | | | the partnership between us our patients, and their |
| our beneficial hormones drop and others may rise to | | | | medical physicians that guarantee their best health |
| our detriment." He asserts that this leads to a | | | | and longevity. |
| decrease in muscle mass, mental alertness, bone | | | | Dr. Rick Morris is the founder of the The Morris Spinal |
| density, libido, energy and mood. So what should one | | | | Stenosis and Disc Center in Santa Monica, Ca. |