Have you ever gone to your medical doctor and had your blood work done, only to be told that everything looked normal? But you KNOW something’s not right because you leave the office, feeling as bad as you did when you walked in. But to someone who has been trained in the art of evaluating lab results from a functional perspective, your blood test can reveal more information than you might realize.
First, it’s important to understand the distinct differences between lab ranges and functional or optimal ranges. Conventional laboratory reference ranges are fairly set and do not vary much by region or geographic location with a few exceptions. One of the most notable markers to be tampered with is the continual decrease in the normal range of cholesterol as compared to what it was 75 years ago. This is largely due to the influence of the pharmaceutical giants with the intention of having as many people as possible on a statin (cholesterol-reducing) drug whether they need it or not. But that’s a conversation for another day.
Functional ranges on the other hand, are narrower than lab ranges and can help pinpoint any possible changes in health before a more serious problem develops. These adjusted ranges do not point to any kind of ‘disease’ but can help guide the trained clinician to know where to look for possible dysfunctions and then provide targeted support to restore and correct what might have otherwise been a problem.
Similar to using a map for planning your route on a cross-country trip, your blood work can provide valuable insight about the direction you’re headed. If one or more of your markers begins to deviate, trending either high or low, it’s much easier to make an adjustment to your diet or lifestyle early on in order to avoid costly delays and wasted time. We recommend looking at the following eight markers to make sure everything is headed in the right direction:
- Glucose
- Hemoglobin A1C
- Total protein
- Alkaline phosphatase
- ALT
- Calcium
- Eosinophils
- Total T4
We believe it’s better to be proactive than reactive when it comes to your health and the health of your family. Sometimes it’s the small adjustments, when made early on, that can make the biggest difference in the long run. We are committed to helping you and your family live vibrantly and with as much health as possible. Thanks for coming with us on your own health journey. We’re happy to have you!
