Why Chronic Symptoms Persist: Finding the Root Cause

Send us Fan MailPersistent symptoms can be frustrating, especially when you have been searching for answers and still do not fully understand why you do not feel well. Chronic health concerns are often complex, and understanding them may require looking at broader patterns and contributing factors rather than focusing on one symptom in isolation.In Part 1 of the ANEW Insight Podcast, Dr. Supatra Tovar speaks with Dr. Kevin Smith, DC, functional medicine practitioner, published author, and founder of the Chronic Conditions Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more than two decades, Dr. Smith’s work has focused on helping people investigate persistent health concerns and explore factors that may contribute to ongoing symptoms.The conversation explores the functional medicine perspective on chronic health concerns and what it means to search for contributing factors rather than focusing exclusively on symptom suppression. Dr. Smith discusses how he approaches metabolic and musculoskeletal concerns, the role of laboratory testing, chronic inflammation, blood sugar regulation, gut health, hormones, stress, and the nervous system.Dr. Tovar and Dr. Smith also discuss the connection between psychological stress and physical health, how the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems influence the body, and practical approaches to nervous system regulation. The conversation then turns to insulin resistance, how insulin functions, dietary patterns, and differing perspectives on factors that may contribute to metabolic dysfunction.You will learn about:• Why chronic symptoms may have more than one contributing factor• What Dr. Kevin Smith means by a root-cause approach to chronic health concerns• How functional medicine approaches persistent symptoms• The difference between metabolic and musculoskeletal health concerns• Why Dr. Smith looks at patterns rather than individual symptoms alone• How automatic thoughts and emotional states can influence health behaviors• The connection between stress, mindful eating, and digestion• What insulin resistance is and why it matters for metabolic health• How insulin helps regulate glucose and energy• Why constantly eating throughout the day may affect insulin levels• Dr. Tovar and Dr. Smith’s perspectives on diet, saturated fat, carbohydrates, and insulin resistanceTimestamps00:00 Welcome and introduction to Dr. Kevin Smith02:00 Why chronic symptoms may have multiple root causes04:00 Symptom management vs. searching for root causes06:00 How the gut, nervous system, and metabolism are connected09:00 Inflammation, movement, nutrition, and individualized testing10:00 Chronic stress and the autonomic nervous system13:00 Practical strategies for stress and nervous system regulation15:00 Automatic thoughts, emotional eating, and health behaviors17:00 Breathing, the parasympathetic nervous system, and mindful eating18:00 Understanding insulin resistance19:00 How insulin works and why blood sugar regulation matters22:00 Insulin signaling, saturated fat, and competing perspectives25:00 Closing thoughts and what’s coming in Part 2Key Topics CoveredPersistent health symptomsChronic health concernsFunctional medicineRoot-cause approachesChronic illnessMetabolic healthMusculoskeletal healthChronic inflammationGut healthBlood sugar regulationInsulin resistancePrediabetesType 2 diabetesCONNECT WITH DR. KEVIN SMITHLearn more about Dr. Kevin Smith and his work:Website:https://metabolicsolutions.net/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinsmithdc/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kevinsmithdc/X:https://x.com/kevinsmithdcFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/cccpa1Connect With Dr. Supatra TovarFollow Dr. Supatra Tovar on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and TikTok:@drsupatratovarContinue Your JourneyBook:Deprogram Diet Culture: Rethink Your Relationship with Food, Heal Your Mind, and Live a Diet-Free LifeCourse:Deprogram Diet Culturehttps://anew-insight.comVisit the Website:https://drsupatratovar.comWatch More Episodes:ANEW Insight PodcastWatch the TEDx Talk:Rethinking Your Relationship with Food in the GLP-1 EraSupport the showThank you for joining us on this journey to wellness. Remember, the insights and advice shared on the ANEW Body Insight Podcast are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine. To learn more about the podcast and stay updated on new episodes, visit ANEW Body Insight Podcast at anew-insight.com. To watch this episode on YouTube, visit @my.anew.insight. Follow us on social media at @my.anew.insight on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads for more updates and insights. Thank you for tuning in! Stay connected with us for more empowering stories and expert guidance. Until next time, stay well and keep evolving with ANEW Body Insight!