Rebecca has been battling chronic migraines for years. Despite visiting numerous specialists, no one can pinpoint the cause. Each provider focuses on treating the symptoms, prescribing medications that offer only temporary relief. No one asks about her home, nestled in a valley frequently blanketed with wildfire smoke, or her office, located near an industrial zone known for poor air quality. Unless her physicians know to look for these pieces of the puzzle, the connection between Rebecca’s environment and her migraines will go unnoticed.
As environmental health threats become more prevalent throughout the United States, our most vulnerable communities are often the ones that suffer the most.
To improve health outcomes, providers must consider how environmental factors contribute to patient health. That’s why University of Western States emphasizes a whole person approach to care, helping clinicians consider not just the immediate symptoms but also the broader context in which their patients live.
Learn how you can stay informed about environmental impacts on health—and how you can use this knowledge to adopt a whole person approach to health care.
A Whole Person Approach to Treatment
Rather than isolating individual symptoms, clinicians who adopt a whole person approach take into account the physical, mental, emotional, and environmental factors influencing a patient’s well-being.
At the UWS, degree programs in naturopathy and chiropractic prepare students to take a holistic and individualized approach to health.
For example, naturopathic medicine includes an emphasis on nutrition, lifestyle adjustments, and detoxification strategies to help patients manage chronic diseases influenced by environmental stressors.
In chiropractic care, practitioners often explore how lifestyle and environmental conditions impact the musculoskeletal system, integrating techniques such as spinal adjustments, exercise therapies, and ergonomic counseling to reduce the risk of chronic pain.
Environmental Factors in Patient Care: Practical Applications for Clinicians
Incorporating environmental considerations into clinical practice requires vigilance and adaptability. Utilizing the following strategies, clinicians can make a significant impact on their patients’ overall health, aligning care with a whole person approach.
Ask About Environmental Exposures During Assessments
Incorporate questions about a patient’s environment into your intake process. This could include asking about:
- Air quality in their area (e.g., exposure to pollution, wildfire smoke)
- Potential exposure to harmful environmental factors in the workplace
- Proximity to environmental hazards (e.g., mold, pests, or extreme weather conditions)
- Access to clean water and healthy food sources
Monitor Local Environmental Conditions
Stay informed about environmental conditions in your region, particularly if you’re practicing in areas prone to wildfires, drought, or high levels of pollution.
Tracking local air quality, water contamination levels, or pesticide use can help you tailor your care. For example, during periods of poor air quality, you might advise patients with respiratory conditions to stay indoors and use air filters.
For example, the state of Oregon has the Oregon Tracking Program, designed to “provide data and information on environmental hazards, exposures, and health effects in an effort to promote public health action and reduce the burden of environmental-related health conditions.”
Address Nutrition and Detoxification
Many environmental toxins accumulate in the body through food and water sources. Some health care providers can encourage patients to follow a diet rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods to help the body combat environmental stressors.
In the Naturopathy program at UWS, future physicians are trained in evidence-informed natural health care that considers environmental impacts in their whole-person approach. “Our program is designed to address the body, mind, and spirit with a focus on functional medicine,” says Marcia Prenguber, ND, FABNO, dean of the College of Naturopathic Medicine. “We aim to provide graduates with a wide array of tools they can use to work with patients, including training in botanical medicine, physical medicine, pharmacology, clinical nutrition, and homeopathy.”
UWS’ Role in Promoting Whole Person Care
At the UWS, we are committed to training health care professionals who see the patient as a whole person—not just a collection of symptoms.
Our programs in naturopathy and chiropractic equip clinicians with the knowledge and tools to implement integrative approaches that include a deep understanding of environmental factors. This training encourages a whole person approach to care, helping clinicians consider not just the immediate symptoms but also the broader context in which their patients live.
By fostering a mindset that acknowledges the significant influence of a patient’s surroundings, UWS graduates are better prepared to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care. We believe that healing the body, mind, and environment are intertwined processes, especially in regions where nature and climate shape the health landscape.
Environmental Impact on Health: Takeaways for Clinicians
The environment plays an undeniable role in shaping the health of individuals, particularly in ecologically diverse regions such as Oregon.
UWS’ programs encourage health care providers to adopt a whole-person perspective, empowering them to not only address symptoms but also to identify and mitigate the root causes of illness shaped by environmental stressors.
By integrating environmental awareness into clinical practice, practitioners can offer patients a path that honors the deep relationship between mind, body, and the world around us.
For clinicians seeking to enhance their understanding of holistic health and environmental influences, programs in naturopathy and chiropractic at UWS offer the education and training needed to make a meaningful impact.
Learn more about how you can advance your career and help patients achieve better health outcomes through integrative, whole person care.