Client Testimonials

I’m 45 years old and my wife and I began our family late in life for various reasons. I have always assumed that I was healthy and like many other people, I had never had a complete and detailed physical examination until I suffered chest discomfort. I underwent cardiac catheterization which fortunately demonstrated mild, medically treatable disease which did not require surgery. Needless to say I suddenly became acutely aware of my inevitable mortality.

I wanted to change my life but had no real plan of how to do this. My primary care doctor told me to eat better and exercise and told me that he would repeat my labs in 1 year. Good bye and see you later. It’s no exaggeration to tell you that I lost sleep and performed poorly at work as I continued to focus on my poor health. I suddenly began to realize that I had never really taken care of myself and that it was likely that my family including my wife and children would reap the consequences of my medical inattention.

I did a lot of internet searches and ultimately found Dr Patel at The Institute for Optimal Health. I was interested that she had advanced training in this new field of medicine referred to as Age Management medicine. I just got the sense from my primary care doctor that since I did not have an outward appearing, visible condition, I was not getting the time, attention, or instructions to change the things that were necessary to alter my health.

I initially underwent a comprehensive two day evaluation of my body as well as an assessment of my eating habits, nutrition, exercise regimen and stress management regimen. When I say comprehensive, I mean comprehensive. This was a two day evaluation that followed my blood draw. I’m very busy with my duties at my law firm as a managing partner so the phlebotomist came to my office to draw the blood. When I arrived for my evaluation, Dr Patel performed a 90 minute history and examination. She asked questions and received information that no one had ever inquired about. What’s even more important is that I was able to ask questions and get adequate explanations. I don’t know about you but at my primary care doctor’s office, I tend to feel a little hurried like it okay to ask one question but that I should keep it brief and not expect to detailed of an answer. One thing that Dr Patel described to me resonates in that she described herself as a health coach and that she want to guide me to better health, not impose upon me. That’s an interesting concept because as I talk to more and more friends about this, we agree that most doctors tend to dictate to us.

After this comprehensive assessment, we reviewed an extensive battery of laboratories that I had. Dr Patel took the time to review this 15 page list of labs and to explain what the normal and abnormal values meant. How they affected my body. It was very educational but I think her goal was facilitate my investment in the process by educating me. I think it worked because it was no longer just a number, it meant something. What’s just as interesting is even though I had a questionable heart attack just several months before, many of these very significant lab bloodwork parameters were being done for the first time. Most of the labs were cutting edge screening tools which can predict disease at a very early stage but just are not cost effective to the HMO’s to do on everyone. Im not naïve but it is still very eye-opening to realize that in some cases, if you have the financial wherewithal you actually are more like to get better healthcare. Generally, we assume that in this prosperous country of ours, everyone with insurance gets the same top of the line healthcare.

We spent a great deal of time reviewing my eating habits which were based on the four food groups that I learned about in grade school. Little did I know that the pyramid had undergone several modifications and that my failure to get this health memo was contributing to my health crisis. The old "Im a healthy meet and potatoes eating man" was driving me to my grave…prematurely.

I was evaluated by a special computerized body age assessment system that revealed my physiologic age versus my chronologic age. Chronologic, meaning my birth age and physiologic meaning my body’s demonstrated age. Without going into painful detail, this demonstrated that I my body was 10 years older than my age. This system generated a computer printout for the exact changes that I would need to make for my diet, nutrition and exercise. It even recommended the nutritional vitamin supplements that I should take and in what quantities. I completed my day and departed with a detailed plan of what I would need to do to improve my health.

Honestly, now I feel more empowered and I have arranged for my wife to undergo the same evaluation. I would recommend for anyone who wants to live their life at a different level. I really think that we owe it to ourselves and those around us who count on us to be there over time. In addition to my periodic visits to see Dr Patel, I routinely visit the Optimal Health Today site to get updates on the Self Development content.

"I didn’t know what optimal health meant until I met Dr Patel. For 7 years after I turned forty, I was told by everyone that continual decline in energy was to be expected. Doctors, my wife and all of my friends. Every time I complained about it at my annual checkup my Dr would give me a look like "There are people starving and we’re at war, stop complaining". Dr Patel has given me my life back. A chance to enjoy my family, excel at work and live again"

Tom M., Age 47

"I noticed a progressive decline in intimacy between my wife and I. We tried to deny it, but it really did effect our relationship to the point of near-separation. I tried the Big V but an erectile dysfunction drug is no substitute for "sex drive". Enrolling in the Age Management program allowed me to change my lifestyle, optimize my hormone level and improve my relationship. I feel confident again"

Rich M., Age 52

"There is so much information out there about this vitamin and that supplement. I try to keep up but every month it seems to change. I had a consultation with Dr Patel and she structured a supplement regimen based upon my age, lifestyle and health goals. I’m very active and run 20 miles per week and I’ve seen a noticeable difference with how I recover after workouts."

Heather T. Age 39

"I have struggled for a long time trying to balance the demands of my job in corporate management with my children and wife. Even though my life looked great, it didn’t feel great. I focused on stress reduction with Dr Patel and after several sessions, I started to feel more productive and fulfilled. I guess I pulled myself off that uphill treadmill ride."

Steven M. Age 43

"D Patel is amazing. Inner Health and Outer Beauty works. For years I’ve tried to prevent the signs of aging with every cream out there. After I consulted with her, she explained that it’s just as important to monitor what you put in your body. We combined a new skin care regimen designed for my special problem, dry skin, with the new Pixel ablative laser. I can’t get enough of the compliments from everyone, even strangers"

Courtney L. Age 50

"It’s nice to have a Dr who takes the time to listen as much as she talks. She really wants to hear what I have to say. She’s coaching me to better health by offering options to my health issues. Deborah P, Age 57"I’m a physician and I can see why are large majority of Dr Patels clients are professionals from all walks of life. She’s quite knowledgeable and it’s truly an interactive learning process. Physician’s are notoriously poor patients and I was no exception, but now I’ve actually started to take better care of my self in a number of different ways."

Timothy C.

"Dr Patel emphasizes the point that no two skin types are alike. I like that. I think that’s why she was able to get amazing results with my skin that no one else was able to achieve. I feel more confident and the mild acne that left me with some noticeable scars is gone.

Priti P.