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BLOOD TESTS DON’T NECESSARILY REVEAL ‘THE
TRUTH’
REFERENCE RANGES DON’T ACKNOWLEDGE HOW YOU FEEL |
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Blood tests for hormones can be unreliable due to external
factors, such as the ingestion of drugs e.g. the birth
control pill.
Physicians often ignore blood test results that are within
the ‘normal reference range’. Sadly these un-addressed
results often still contribute to weight gain and other distressing
symptoms.
Symptomatic diagnosis as an alternative to blood testing
is nothing new. Your GP, your gynecologist and nearly all
health professionals have used this technique for over 100
years.
MassAttack has used a proven form of symptomatic diagnosis
for the past 6years.
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It is extraordinary that more than 100 years since the
first treatment of hormonal imbalances, debate is continuing
about their diagnosis and management.
A traditional way to test hormone levels has been with a
blood test that measures the blood serum or blood plasma
content of the hormones. These tests can be somewhat unreliable
because they do not give your biologically active hormone
levels. The tests are only able to measure 1-9 percent of
the biologically active hormones circulating in your body.
Ninety percent or more remains undetected by these results!
Gynecologists have found that “blood tests for hormones
are unreliable, and diagnosis should rely more upon the description
of the symptoms one is feeling” .
The results of diagnostic blood tests can be altered by external
factors such as ingestion of drugs (such as the birth control
pill); and internal factors such as abnormal fluctuations.
Reference Ranges for hormonal function tests are based on
statistical averages. They are not based on standards of
biological activity at different levels of hormones. Each
individual has a unique hormonal function. The individual
reference ranges for test results are narrow, compared with
group reference ranges used to develop laboratory reference
ranges. Accordingly, a test result within laboratory reference
limits is not necessarily normal for an individual.
There is a growing awareness in the medical community that
the current
reference range for determining what is a "normal" TSH
is too wide.
Based on new data, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
recommends that the normal reference range for the TSH blood
test be
reduced by nearly half, down to 0.50-2.50 from the current
0.50-5.00.
Other sources suggest the new upper range should be 3.33.
(The higher
the number, the more hypothyroid you are.) Until all physicians
and labs
can agree on a new range for TSH, many women will continue
to be
frustrated by inaccurate diagnosis.
If you are still feeling unwell do not accept that a blood
test is 'normal' just because the result falls within the
Reference Range. Some patients seeking an explanation for
feeling "below par" are disappointed when blood
tests are normal. Unable to accept that there may be psychosocial
reasons for their symptoms, they believe that hormonal imbalances
may exist even though their serum concentrations are “within
a normal range”.
Symptoms of hormonal imbalance are often specific to hormones,
such as weight gain, low mood, cold sensitivity and fatigue.
As successfully utilised by MassAttack, Symptomatic diagnostic
techniques simply means the symptoms you are showing are
indications of imbalance within the body and are usually
noticed by you on an ongoing basis – thus they can
give a more consistent result.
Many conditions and diseases have symptoms. A cough is a
symptom of an upper respiratory infection. Pain is a symptom
of a physical problem.
When someone has the common symptoms associated with a hormonal
imbalance they are symptomatic. We urge you to make sure
that your symptoms are being documented & heard. Tell
your practitioner of all of your symptoms. Don't "isolate" your
symptoms but look at the whole spectrum. Whether your blood
tests are ‘normal’ or not, if you feel as if
you are falling apart and “nothing seems to be working
properly", chances are you are right! |
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MassAttack is a recognised specialist in
the natural treatment of hormonal weight and health
conditions. We don’t ignore the symptoms we address
their source. |
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Menopause News, Vol. Issue 2 March /April p.1
Stig Andersen et, “Narrow Individual Variations in Serum T4 and T3 in Normal
Subjects: A Clue to the Understanding of Subclinical Thyroid Disease” Journal
of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2002 March; 87(3):1068-72. |
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