As a physician with extensive experience in integrative medicine and mental health, I’ve worked with numerous patients who would be considered overachievers. They are often successful professionals, driven by a relentless desire to succeed and excel in their fields. Yet behind the façade of accomplishment lies a significant cost to their physical, mental, and biochemical well-being.
Over the years, I’ve observed how the traits that propel these people to greatness also become their most significant health risks. 1. Undermethylation She developed chronic tension headaches and gastrointestinal distress due to ongoing stress.
Integrating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with biochemical testing revealed she was undermethylated, which compounded her stress response. Tests for Methylation Whole blood histamine test: This blood test measures histamine levels and helps determine methylation status. Elevated histamine often indicates undermethylation, while low histamine suggests overmethylation.
Serum homocysteine test: Homocysteine levels offer insight into the body’s methylation cycle. Elevated levels are often seen in people with poor methylation function and can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. DNA methylation testing: Advances in testing allow for more direct assessments of methylation patterns through DNA-based tests, which analyze genes involved in the methylation process (such as MTHFR, COMT, and CBS genes).
These tests typically involve a saliva or blo.