Chronic diseases (such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis) have become more and more common. In fact, society as a whole is experiencing a sharp increase in the incidence of chronic disease! However, the current medical system is set up for treatment of acute illness, not chronic disease.

As functional medicine approaches disease differently, it is better suited for helping patients deal with chronic disease because chronic disease treatment needs a more involved methodology and tools to take into account the unique genetic makeup of each individual.