Beyond the Bandaid: An Integrative Approach to Women’s Health
An Interview with Dr. Kathryn Hale, Abundant Health Life
Here at Longevity, we love partnering with and promoting like-minded practitioners in the community as we come alongside our patients on their wellness journeys. One of those practitioners is Dr. Kathryn Hale.
Dr. Hale is a board-certified OBGYN with specialized training in Functional Medicine and Integrative Women’s Health. She has nearly a decade and a half of experience in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She completed her internship and residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, receiving valuable high-risk experience at The Regional Medical Center in Memphis. She served at a community health center in South Carolina before moving to North Georgia, where she practiced for over seven years as part of a single specialty group. She has also spent the past few years working as a Diplomat OBGYN Hospitalist with OB Hospitalist Group.
Dr. Hale believes we are designed to live a whole and vibrant life now, and we can achieve an abundant, healthy life through a holistic approach to wellness. The conditions she treats include hypothyroidism and other endocrine disorders, and hormone imbalances. She also provides preconception/fertility and weight loss support.
We interviewed Dr. Hale to learn more about her practice and the integrative services she offers.
What is the heart and mission behind your practice and the work you do?
I want to empower women to achieve the health and vitality they deserve to live life on their terms.
When it comes to their reproductive and hormonal health, what do you think is the biggest obstacle or risk factor facing women today? What do you wish more women knew when it comes to their overall health and wellness?
The biggest obstacle facing women’s health is that women are often just not heard when they seek care. I wish more women knew that they deserve the time and investment it takes to make their health a priority. If they are well, the benefits trickle down to those they love and care about. They deserve to be well nourished and have the strength and energy to meet the demands of their lives. Achieving better health doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple sustainable shifts can alter the trajectory of your health journey.
So many of our female patients come to us with insomnia issues. What are your recommendations for getting more restorative sleep?
I recommend that women treat their sleep like they treat babies learning to sleep at night. Establish a consistent sleep schedule. Develop a wind down routine that includes blue blocking glasses from sundown, shutting down electronics at least an hour before bedtime. Create safety in your body through relaxation practices such as epsom salt baths and yoga. Release the day by dumping thoughts into a journal. Some women also benefit from natural progesterone supplementation, magnesium glycinate and herbs and supplements that help to calm the nervous system like Lavender and L-theanine. Cut out the afternoon caffeine if you struggle with sleep.
What are some simple steps women can take today to manage stress, prevent disease, and feel more whole and vibrant in mind, body, and spirit?
Slow down. Many women that I see are burned out and suffering the consequences of hormone dysfunction and autoimmune disease. Prioritize hydration, a nutrient dense diet, regular movement and spiritual/mind body practices. I’ve also been discovering more and more that women suffer from lack of meaningful connection and prioritizing joy.
Our practice takes a preventative approach to women’s health, utilizing proactive testing to assess disease development and holistic supporting therapies to promote detoxification. How can our practices work hand-in-hand to help our clients feel their very best?
I love that. I am definitely a fan of regular comprehensive detox and taking a proactive approach to wellness. I have the knowledge and experience to support the whole woman when situations arise that require more expertise in terms of hormonal health and women’s health in general. Abundant Health Life can come alongside Longevity Health when Functional Testing is needed to dig deeper and get to the root of what is impacting a woman’s health. We also offer a wide range of nutrition, hormonal, herbal and if need be pharmaceutical therapeutics to help a woman heal from the inside out. As a telemedicine practice, we also bring this type of care to women who, due to the logistics of life or geography, have challenges in accessing whole body wellness services.
To learn more about Dr. Hale and her practice, visit https://www.abundanthealthlife.com/
