Laboratory Testing

What You Don’t Know Can Prolong Your Suffering…

Sitting up in bed, late into the night, staring at WebMD on your smart phone or laptop is not a smart strategy for attaining good health.

Perhaps it may seem like a reasonable idea if, after all, you’re having sleep issues anyway.

In truth, not only will it fail to provide reliable information, but that sedentary, mental activity is a known contributor to the stress that worsens virtually every health condition.

There simply is no substitute for gaining at least some of the basic information that can be acquired by properly chosen laboratory testing.

…while a Little Knowledge Can Be Game-Changing

Now in her late fifties, Roberta was not doing well. Difficulty sleeping was only part of her picture. She found herself generally anxious, irritable, and at times weeping.

Her energy level was too low to be explained by her sleeping challenges alone.

However, none of this might come as a surprise when we take into account the fact that one year prior, her husband for 36 happy years had suddenly collapsed, unable to be revived.

She had been in counseling ever since and was making definite progress. Nonetheless, it may be tempting to attribute all of her symptoms to such a devastating turnabout in her life.

And There It Was, Plain as Day

Yet in the interest of thoroughness, we screened her for illnesses of the autoimmune variety in addition to the more basic tests.

Roberta tested positive for Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (PSS). Like other diseases whose symptoms arise from autoimmune inflammation, PSS may begin in a subtle way, as it did in this case.

We began her on a course of Low Dose Naltrexone, a medicine that in tiny doses has been shown to balance the immune system. And within weeks her moods, quality of sleep, and energy improved dramatically.

The Wide Range of Information Available Today

Laboratory testing has come a long way over the years. Blood, urine, and saliva all have their own valuable uses in specific clinical situations.

Depending upon the needs of the individual patient, we often utilize not only the more common laboratory tests, but also other highly sensitive tests to investigate the possibility of inflammation, infection, chemical toxicity, digestive disturbances, and adrenal, thyroid, and sex hormone imbalances.

Careful thyroid testing may be especially important, as all too often only a cursory screening has been done, leaving the evidence of an underactive thyroid undiscovered.

And beyond an initial diagnosis, lab testing is essential for monitoring the progress of a chronic condition as it is being treated.

Cancer is a perfect example, in that the effectiveness of the intervention must be evaluated periodically to justify its continuation.

Testing Provides Data for Both Diagnostic and Preventive Purposes

In the case described above, the clear value of testing was to discover an underlying diagnosis that led to an effective means of treatment.

Yet apart from that benefit, we can also discover factors of deficiency or toxicity that can be corrected before they lead to a serious illness.

The Time to Investigate is Now

Don’t quietly suffer mysterious symptoms, hoping they will magically go away.

Take control of your health and regain control of your life.

Call (615) 373-0555 today to empower yourself with quality information that can change everything.