Lab Testing in Hinsdale IL

Routine Blood Work vs Functional Medicine Blood Work in Hinsdale IL

Routine blood work, typically ordered during a regular check-up, is a set of standard tests designed to evaluate general health, identify common diseases or conditions, and assess how well various organs (like the liver, kidneys, and heart) are functioning. Our chiropractic clinic in Hinsdale IL, generally includes these tests :

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): To evaluate overall health and detect conditions like anemia, infection, and many other disorders.
• Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP): To assess blood sugar levels, kidney function, and electrolyte balance.
• Lipid Profile: To measure cholesterol and triglyceride levels, assessing cardiovascular risk.
• Thyroid Function Tests: To evaluate the basic functioning of the thyroid, usually TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) levels.
• Liver Function Tests: To check liver enzymes and overall liver health.

These tests provide a broad overview of your current health status and help detect serious health issues early.

Functional medicine blood work goes deeper and focuses on identifying underlying causes of health issues. It takes a more personalized and holistic approach, often looking at how lifestyle, genetics, and environmental factors may be affecting your health. These tests are generally more comprehensive and can include markers that routine tests might overlook, such as:

1. Nutrient Deficiencies: Blood work in functional medicine often looks at vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients (e.g., vitamin D, B12, magnesium, and folate). These deficiencies can impact energy, immunity, mental clarity, and overall health.
2. Inflammatory Markers: Tests like hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) or ferritin can reveal chronic inflammation in the body, which is associated with a variety of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.
3. Hormone Balance: Beyond basic thyroid function, functional medicine may test for more detailed hormonal imbalances such as cortisol (stress hormone), estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA. These imbalances can affect mood, weight, sleep, energy, and overall vitality.
4. Gut Health: Functional medicine may include tests like zinc/copper ratio, gut microbiome markers, and food sensitivities (like IgG testing) to identify digestive imbalances or food sensitivities contributing to inflammation or other health concerns.
5. Blood Sugar Regulation: In addition to standard glucose testing, functional medicine may include a Hemoglobin A1c test (a 3-month average of blood sugar levels) and markers like insulin resistance to evaluate pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome risks more accurately.
6. Detoxification Capacity: Some tests assess how well your body detoxifies by looking at liver enzymes, heavy metals (e.g., mercury, lead), and other detoxification markers that could indicate a need for dietary or lifestyle changes.
7. Methylation and Genetic Markers: Functional medicine may look at genetic tests to assess how your body processes certain nutrients or detoxifies, such as MTHFR gene testing, which is linked to B-vitamin metabolism and can impact mood, cardiovascular health, and more.

Why Should You Get Functional Medicine Blood Work Done?

1. Deeper Insights into Health: Functional medicine blood work provides a more comprehensive look at your body’s systems and can identify subtle imbalances that might not be picked up by routine blood tests. These tests help uncover root causes of symptoms, such as fatigue, weight gain, digestive issues, or mood swings.
2. Personalized Treatment: By identifying specific deficiencies or imbalances, functional medicine blood work allows for personalized treatment plans, which may include dietary changes, targeted supplements, stress management techniques, or lifestyle modifications. This is different from the generalized approach of routine tests, which mainly focus on detecting diseases once they’ve developed.
3. Prevention and Early Detection: Functional medicine emphasizes preventive care. Blood work in this field can identify early-stage issues (like insulin resistance or nutrient deficiencies) before they develop into chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or autoimmune conditions.
4. Optimize Wellness: Even if you're not experiencing any symptoms, functional medicine blood work can help optimize your health, boost energy, improve sleep, and enhance mental clarity. It focuses on overall well-being and can help you thrive, not just manage illness.
5. Comprehensive Hormonal and Digestive Health: Routine blood work often looks at only basic hormones and doesn’t delve deeply into adrenal function, reproductive hormones, or the gut microbiome. Functional medicine provides a more complete picture of your hormone and digestive health, helping to address issues like digestive discomfort, sleep disturbances, or mood imbalances.
6. Tailored Nutrition and Supplementation: Many people struggle with chronic health issues that can be improved with better nutrition or specific supplementation. Functional medicine blood work helps identify areas of nutritional deficiency (e.g., vitamin D, B12, magnesium), allowing for targeted supplementation.

In Conclusion

If you're dealing with unexplained symptoms (like fatigue, chronic pain, digestive issues, or mood swings), or if you want to take a more proactive, preventive approach to your health, functional medicine blood work can provide a deeper, more personalized insight into your body’s unique needs. While routine blood work is essential for general health monitoring and disease detection, functional medicine blood work can uncover hidden imbalances, optimize overall wellness, and help you create a tailored plan for long-term health.