When you understand what's happening in your body, you become a more active participant in your care.
Below are introductions to conditions we commonly see in practice, viewed through a functional medicine lens
that asks "why" rather than just "what."
Autoimmune Conditions
In autoimmune disease, the immune system—designed to protect you—mistakenly attacks your own tissues.
Conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease
fall into this category. While genetics play a role, research increasingly points to environmental
triggers that can activate or worsen autoimmunity.
A functional perspective: Rather than only suppressing symptoms, integrative approaches
often focus on identifying and addressing potential triggers—things like gut health, chronic infections,
food sensitivities, stress, and toxic exposures. Supporting the immune system's balance, rather than
just dampening it, is often part of the strategy.
Questions to bring to your appointment: What might be triggering or perpetuating my
immune response? Would testing for food sensitivities or gut health be helpful? How can I support my
body alongside conventional treatment?
Thyroid Imbalances
Your thyroid is a small gland with an outsized impact—it influences metabolism, energy, mood, weight,
body temperature, and more. Thyroid dysfunction is remarkably common, particularly among women, yet
it's often underdiagnosed or incompletely treated.
Standard screening typically relies on TSH alone, but a fuller picture requires looking at free T4,
free T3, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. Symptoms like fatigue, weight changes, hair loss, or
feeling cold can persist even when TSH appears "normal"—which is why comprehensive evaluation matters.
Worth exploring: Has a complete thyroid panel been run, or just TSH? Could nutrient
deficiencies (iodine, selenium, zinc) be affecting thyroid function? If you're on thyroid medication,
is it optimally dosed for you?
Digestive Concerns
Bloating, reflux, irregular bowel movements, abdominal pain—digestive symptoms are incredibly common
and often dismissed as "just IBS." But these symptoms are signals, and understanding what's driving
them can open the door to meaningful relief.
Digestive health involves many moving parts: stomach acid production, enzyme secretion, bile flow,
the gut microbiome, intestinal barrier integrity, and the nervous system's influence on gut function.
When any of these are off, symptoms can follow.
Topics often worth discussing: Could SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
be a factor? Is low stomach acid contributing to symptoms? Would food sensitivity testing or a
comprehensive stool analysis provide useful information? How do stress and the gut-brain connection
fit into the picture?
Persistent Fatigue
When rest doesn't restore your energy and fatigue becomes a constant companion, something deeper
is usually going on. Chronic fatigue isn't a diagnosis in itself—it's a symptom with many potential
underlying causes that deserve investigation.
Common contributing factors include: thyroid dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies
(iron, B12, vitamin D), blood sugar dysregulation, sleep disorders, chronic infections (like
reactivated Epstein-Barr virus), hormonal imbalances, mitochondrial dysfunction, and HPA axis
dysregulation (sometimes called "adrenal fatigue").
If fatigue is affecting your quality of life, consider asking: What testing
would help identify the cause? Are there obvious lifestyle factors (sleep, stress, diet) that
need attention? What might a systematic approach to restoring energy look like?
Heart Health & Prevention
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death, yet it's largely preventable. And
prevention goes beyond just knowing your cholesterol number—it involves understanding the
multiple factors that contribute to heart health over time.
Key insight: Inflammation, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress often play
bigger roles in cardiovascular risk than cholesterol alone. Advanced testing can reveal particle
size (small, dense LDL is more problematic), inflammatory markers like hs-CRP, and other factors
that standard panels miss.
Proactive questions to consider: Would advanced lipid testing give me a clearer
picture of my risk? What role do blood sugar and inflammation play in my cardiovascular health?
Beyond medication, what lifestyle factors have the biggest impact on heart disease prevention?
