COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 70
For example, a conventional TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
range might go up to 4.5 or 5.0 uIU/mL, while functional ranges
often consider 1.032.0 uIU/mL as optimal for thyroid function. These
optimal ranges allow for early detection of dysfunction and more
proactive care.
The Failure of Conventional Reference Standards
The goal of functional interpretation is to identify patterns of
imbalance before a diagnosable disease manifests, supporting
true prevention and deeper clinical insight.
The Consequences of Flawed Diagnostic Norms
Importantly, conventional lab ranges are not only broad but often
misleading. Because they are based on data from the general
population4including individuals with chronic diseases, metabolic
syndrome, inflammation, and other dysfunctions 4they reflect a
statistical average of an already unwell population.
This creates a serious diagnostic flaw: physicians using these
conventional ranges may overlook early dysfunction or dismiss
symptoms that fall within "normal" but are far from optimal.
Distorted Health Standards and Institutional Denial
Medical decisions, insurance coverage, and pharmaceutical
prescriptions are frequently built upon these ranges,
institutionalizing a definition of health that tolerates imbalance
and dysfunction.
In this way, conventional diagnostics 4while standardized4can
contribute to missed or delayed identification of preventable
conditions.
This reality is not only a clinical flaw 4it is a profound
embarrassment for conventional medicine.
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