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Hi!
When Ellen first walked into our clinic, she carried a stack of lab reports all stamped with the same conclusion: “NORMAL.” Yet she felt anything but normal.
At 58, Ellen was experiencing concerning symptoms: fatigue that made even simple activities exhausting, unexplained weight gain despite careful eating, and most worryingly, occasional heart palpitations and elevated cholesterol that had recently earned her a prescription for statins.
“Every doctor tells me my thyroid is fine,” she explained during our first meeting. “But I know something isn’t right. My mother had thyroid problems, and my symptoms match everything I read about hypothyroidism. Why don’t my tests show it?”
A closer look at Ellen’s labs revealed the problem. While her TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was technically within the reference range at 4.2 (with many labs considering anything under 4.5 “normal”), it was far from optimal. More importantly, no one had measured her free T3—the active form of thyroid hormone that actually powers cellular metabolism.
Comprehensive testing revealed what standard panels had missed: while Ellen’s body produced adequate T4 (the storage form of thyroid hormone), she couldn’t efficiently convert it to active T3—a common but frequently overlooked pattern that directly affects cardiovascular function.
Ellen’s thyroid wasn’t just affecting her energy and weight—it was directly impacting her heart:
* Her “borderline high” cholesterol was largely driven by suboptimal thyroid function
* The palpitations she experienced were related to her body’s attempts to compensate for low metabolic energy
* Her blood pressure fluctuations correlated with thyroid hormone variations
* Her fatigue wasn’t just making exercise difficult—it was a sign her heart muscle wasn’t getting adequate metabolic support
With targeted support to optimize her thyroid function—not just bring it within “normal” limits—Ellen experienced transformation over the next few months:
* Her cholesterol improved without medication, dropping 42 points
* Heart palpitations resolved completely
* Energy returned, making exercise enjoyable again
* Sleep quality deepened, supporting heart recovery
* Persistent brain fog lifted, improving quality of life
“I had accepted that I would just feel tired and heavy for the rest of my life,” Ellen shared six months later. “Finding the connection between my thyroid and heart symptoms opened up possibilities I didn’t know existed. I feel like I’ve reclaimed years of my life.”
Ellen’s story illustrates a critical principle in functional medicine: “normal” doesn’t always mean optimal, especially when it comes to thyroid function and heart health. By addressing the underlying thyroid dysfunction—rather than simply treating the resulting cholesterol changes—we were able to create improvements in Ellen’s cardiovascular health that medication alone couldn’t achieve.
If you’re experiencing unexplained cardiovascular symptoms alongside fatigue, weight changes, or temperature sensitivity, your thyroid might be the missing piece of your health puzzle—even if standard tests fall within “normal” ranges.
As we conclude our Heart and Hormone Health month, remember that these systems work in concert. Addressing one without the others rarely produces optimal results.
You are invited to join Perks of Wellness
In person, Quantum Surfing: An Energetic group session. Come get energy work done is a group setting, by donation. Wednesday, February 11th at 6:30pm. You can sign up by responding to this email or calling the office. See our Meetup group or go to Perksofwellness.com for more information.
Ask the Doc, a virtual Q&A for 30 minutes. Each month come and ask your questions are a particular topic, join the free conversation. This month we will be looking at heart & hormone health on, Tuesday, February 17th at 6:30pm. The Meetup will be online, the Google Meet link will be emailed the day of to anyone who RSVPed. RSVP in the Meetup group or responding to this email.
Heart & Hormone Health: The Overlooked Connection on Tuesday, February 24th at 6:30pm. The Meetup will be online, the Google Meet link will be emailed the day of to anyone who RSVPed. RSVP in the Meetup group or responding to this email.
🌐 **Join Our Community:** I’m also excited to announce the launch of our new virtual Meetup group, Perks of Functional Medicine. This group is dedicated to exploring the world of functional medicine and getting to the root causes of your health issues. Whether you’re a seasoned health enthusiast or just starting your journey to wellness, there is something here for everyone. Join us for informative discussions, workshops, and events that will empower you to take control of your well-being and live your best life.
Meetup Group (https://www.meetup.com/perks-of-functional-medicine/)
P.S. If you found this tip helpful, keep an eye on your inbox. I’ll be sharing more valuable insights to help you take control of your health each week.
Be Good to Yourself,
Dr. Brian Perks DC, MPH
Perks of Wellness
2333 First Avenue #105
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 238-0345
drperks@perksofwellness.com
https://www.facebook.com/PerksofWellness
Perks of Wellness (https://healthrestorecenters.com/california/)
https://facebook.com/PerksofWellness
Facebook (https://facebook.com/PerksofWellness)
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