Are you feeling tired, sluggish, and a little low? Have you been to you doctors and had blood tests done to see what might be the problem? You get all excited because you think that finally a reason is going to be found for the horrible way you are feeling. But, even though you have a lot of the your Doc tells you that everything is normal.
Being Proactive with Subclinical Health Problems
The person with a subclinical condition will tell you that something is "not quite right". They may have numerous vague symptoms such as abnormal moods, poor energy levels, sleep problems or a few more aches and pains than normal.. At this stage the blood tests that your doctor has ordered may not reveal any major abnormalities. Sometimes the results of a blood test will be described as "border line normal".
One example of a poorly understood and poorly treated condition is subclinical hypothyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism is a condition where your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels are raised. The role of TSH is to stimulate the thyroid - the organ that controls your body's metabolism. A raised level cannot be viewed as "normal", as the reason why it is raised is to force the thyroid to continue producing the correct amount of T4. This is why a "normal" level of T4 is found in subclinical hypothyroidism.
But sooner or later, the over production of TSH, fails to stimulate the production of T4 and hypothyroidism is diagnosed. Your body is in many ways, much like a car. If the radiator has a slow leak, sooner or later the engine will overheat, and you will have a real problem on your hands.
Early detection of a developing health problem will always produce better results for your longterm health. In the case of subclinical hypothyroidism, it generally progresses to hypothyroidism unless it is treated. Some doctors will treat a borderline condition, however the majority will not. Research has found however, that treating a subclinical disorder can prevent hypothyroidism, so it is wise to take some type of action.
Other Treatment and Testing Options to Consider
Often the problem is that the right tests are not ordered. Your doctor is not always to blame here, as what they do and what tests they order are monitored. Any test that is not standard will be scrutinized and can indeed mean that your doctor is reprimanded. What this means then, is that you need to seek help from a private practitioner who can freely order whatever tests you need.
I would strongly encourage you to pursue other forms of treatment and testing if you know something is brewing. My suggestion is that you gain advice from a natural therapist who will guide you through the whole testing and treatment process or that you purchase a book about energy and fatigue to use as a reference resource.
There are numerous tests that can be done to evaluate the state of your health and correct imbalances before disease occurs. A test that I find particularly useful in practice is a Hair Mineral Tissue Analysis. This hair test may for example, reveal that a person has a low zinc to copper ratio or a low iron to copper ratio which increases the likelihood of thyroid problems developing and subsequently causes fatigue. Alternatively low magnesium might be discovered and this would indicate that your "energy powerhouses" are deficient of the fuel they need to produce energy".
Fortunately preventative or alternative medicine practitioners are aware that the way you feel, is an indication of how healthy you are. To a natural health practitioner, fatigue is a real indication of an imbalance or a health problem.
Having knowledge is empowering and when it comes to health care, if you aren't proactive in looking after your health who else will be? When you have a basic understanding of how your body works, what tests and alternative treatments are available, you become the driver of your health. You are not at the mercy of health care system that fails to address the prevention of disease effectively.
The preventative, investigative approach allows health issues to be corrected before they progress to more serious conditions. Now that's a good health outcome!
Vivienne Savill is a Naturopath and Nurse who runs a natural health clinic in Australia. She is passionate about teaching people how to maintain good health and prevent ill health, through the use of diet, nutrition, lifestyle and herbs. Vivienne is the author of numerous health books. Her book How to Increase Energy Naturally: The Energy Makeover can be found at http://www.recipetohealth.com/
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