Energy Blood Tests

If you don't have enough energy, you can ask your doc to explain your results on the following tests. The complete test is available through Biophysical at www.biophysicalcorp.com. But your doc can also order routine blood tests to measure many of these functions. Remember, we still believe that your history is the key to diagnosis, but these can aid your doctor.

Thyroid Function Tests

These tests look to see if you have hypo-or hyperthyroidism, both of which are often associated with lack of energy (yes, hyper-causes you to feel hyper before you feel fatigued).

TSH Level: The thyroid gland is regulated by a pituitary hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH is one of the best indicators of how your thyroid gland is functioning. Hyperthyroidism usually results in a decreased TSH level, while hypothyroidism usually results in an elevated TSH level. Subclinical hyperthyroidism typically occurs when you have a low or borderline low TSH level and normal levels of triiodothyronine (T3) or thyroxine (T4). Subclinical hypothyroidism, on the other hand, typically occurs when an individual has a high or borderline high TSH level and normal T3 and T4 levels. Subclinical hypothyroidism is more common in people over 60.

Free T4 Level. This is the less active hormone from the thyroid that is converted to the more active T3 to regulate metabolism. Too much T4 leads to excessive energy and a profound feeling of the jitters— not to mention weight loss. This is hyperthyroidism. Too little T4 leads to reduced energy and a profound feeling of the blahs—and of course weight gain.

Free T3 Level. This is the most active thyroid hormone, and it regulates metabolism in much the same way as T4. Both of these hormones influence the pituitary’s secretion of TSH. If there is too little T3 or T4 in circulation, TSH goes up. If there is too much T3 and T4 in circulation, the TSH goes down. This seesaw between pituitary hormone and the active hormone of the gland is known as a feedback relationship.

Thyroglobulin Ab and Thyroid Microsomal Ab are autoantibodies to the thyroid gland. This means that some people make antibodies against their own thyroid rather than an intruder bacteria or virus, which is what our antibodies are designed to do. People who have thyroid autoantibodies and an elevated level of TSH progress to overt hypothyroidism at a rate of 3 to 5 percent per year. These are the two most common thyroid autoantibodies seen in people with hypothyroidism.

Anemia or hemochromatosis Levels: These tests look to see if you have abnormal blood cell amounts that are commonly associated with fatigue. By the way, if you have anemia as a cause of fatigue, you need more tests to determine the cause of your anemia.

Hgb Level: Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. All of our tissues need oxygen. This is an essential energy source. Without enough hemoglobin, the tissues lack oxygen and the heart and lungs must work harder to try to compensate. Low levels of hemoglobin may indicate anemia, excessive bleeding, nutritional deficiencies, destruction of cells because of a transfusion reaction or mechanical heart valve, or abnormally formed hemoglobin such as is found in sickle-cell anemia.

Ferritin: Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the blood. The ferritin level is a sensitive indicator of the body’s iron stores. Serum ferritin levels are very helpful in the evaluation of blood disorders such as iron-deficiency anemia. In this variety of anemia, the hemoglobin is low because there is not enough iron in the body. Usually this is the case because of very gradual blood loss from menstrual periods or from the stomach (ulcers) or colon (polyps). Hemochromatosis is a condition in which the ferritin level is elevated and therefore the body’s iron stores are quite high. If you have it, too much iron can build up and hurt vital organs such as the liver and the pancreas. This condition is uncommon and affects 1 in 600 people.