The Problem with “Normal” Labs

If you know me, you know that I’m a HUGE fan of labs, especially functional medicine labs.

That’s because, in the world of functional medicine, we are looking at this data through the lens of health OPTIMIZATION, not simply scanning for the absence of disease.

What I really love about functional medicine is that we get to see you, the woman, in a whole new light. It’s not about matching your unique numbers up against some external definition of “normal” (what even is that, anyway?). It’s all about shedding light on what’s been going on inside you, so we know where you are now and how to get you where you want to go.

To really understand labs from this functional perspective, it’s important to know a few things:

• “Normal” is not necessarily good

• Not understanding specific biomarkers can mean that functional imbalances get missed

• Your doctor may only be looking for the presence or absence of disease and NOT have his eye on optimizing YOUR health

• Catching a functional imbalance now can save you years of your life (and may prevent true illness down the road)

Let’s break these down.

“Normal” is not necessarily good

Do you know where the definition of “normal” comes from in most bloodwork?

Scientists and health professionals have taken hundreds of thousands of samples and laid out the results on a graph so they form a bell curve. They took 95% !!!!! of the results, all those in the middle, and call those results “normal”. That means that only the highest and lowest 2.5% lab results on either end of the curve will be deemed “abnormal” and wave a red flag at your doctor.

Not only that, but as our population gets sicker, the results get even more skewed. Now we have people who are clearly unwell routinely defining what is “normal” from a healthcare perspective.

Labs have long now been an essential tool for making a diagnosis. But when we look at them through such a simplistic lens, we miss the potential to implement the life-changing science-based knowledge that is right in front of us.

As a functional medicine expert, I look at tighter ranges of blood work because I’m looking for clues that can point to what’s going on below the surface. I’m also looking at these labs through the lens of health optimization, not simply diagnosis or exclusion.

Not understanding specific biomarkers can mean that functional imbalances get missed

Labs were initially created to provide a thorough assessment of organ function and biochemical analysis; now, however, busy practitioners often glance over them, see no “abnormals,” and move on to the next patient.

This is a huge missed opportunity. That’s because these values can tell us a lot individually about the body’s function, and even more when we look at them as parts of a bigger picture. For example, simple blood tests can tell us a lot about

• Liver and kidney function

• Electrolyte imbalances

• Acid/Base balance

• Under- or over-breathing (a sign of chronic stress which has implications for brain health, cardiovascular health, sleep, and so much more)

• Early blood sugar issues and insulin resistance (which happen LONG before diabetes sets in)

• Chronic inflammation (individual markers may or may not catch this)

• Nutrient deficiencies

• Hydration status

And much, much more.

Imagine having a specialist walk you through all that, and more? Suddenly that blood draw seems a lot more worth it!

Your doctor may only be looking for the presence or absence of disease and not have his eye on optimizing YOUR health

You invest in yourself. You take care of yourself. You want, and deserve, a doctor who will meet you there and move you forward. Who can reassure you not that “everything’s normal,” but who will instead reassure you that you are indeed strong, healthy. A doctor who can point out specific nuances and tell you exactly what to do about them.

This takes two things from your practitioner: a trained eye, and time.

You are worth both of those things.

Catching a functional imbalance now can save you years of your life (and may prevent true illness down the road)

We do this work now not only to help you feel better fast, but also to reduce the risk of developing illness later. While no one can predict the future, how you feel is a good marker for what’s going on inside. If you feel great, things are probably pretty balanced and healthy inside.

If you don’t feel good, well there’s probably a reason for that too.

Catching issues now, while they’re minor, saves you years of time (that you would have spent feeling crappy and hiding out in your pj’s between mandatory pants-required meetings). It may also prevent future illness.

Isn’t that worth your time, energy and financial resources?

Isn’t your health, your happiness, and your life worth it?