Why Treating Symptoms Isn’t Enough: How Functional Medicine Takes a Different Approach
In Austin, we pride ourselves on doing things differently.
We question the status quo.
We care about quality, longevity, and living fully, not just getting by.
Yet when it comes to healthcare, too many people are told the same thing over and over again:
“Your labs are normal.”
“This is just part of getting older.”
“Here’s a prescription”
For many patients in midlife, that approach is not just frustrating it’s life deflating.
The Problem With Symptom-Based Medicine
Traditional medicine is excellent in emergencies. If you’re having a heart attack, a stroke, or an acute infection, it saves lives.
But when it comes to chronic symptoms; fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, anxiety, hormone changes, gut issues, insomnia, it often falls short.
Why?
Because symptom-based care asks:
“What drug treats this symptom?”
Functional medicine asks:
“Why is this happening in the first place?”
Those are two very different questions and they lead to very different outcomes.
A Patient Story We See Every Week
One of our patients came to us in her early 40s. She lived in Austin, worked full-time, ha kids, exercised regularly, and “did all the right things.”
And yet:
She was exhausted by mid-afternoon
She gained weight despite eating clean
Her anxiety was worsening
Her sleep was fragmented
She no longer felt like herself
She had seen multiple doctors. Her labs were “normal.” She was told:
“This is perimenopause.”
“This is stress.”
“This is just aging.”
She was offered antidepressants, sleep medications, and reassurance but no answers.
By the time she came to us, she wasn’t asking for perfection.
She just wanted to feel like herself again.
What We Did Differently
Instead of chasing symptoms, we looked at her entire system:
Thyroid signaling (not just TSH)
Sex hormones and adrenal function
Gut health and inflammation
Nutrient deficiencies
Metabolic markers
Lifestyle stressors and recovery capacity
Food sensitivities
What we found wasn’t surprising it was missed.
Her thyroid was under-functioning at the tissue level.
Her estrogen and testosterone were low for her stage of life.
Her gut microbiome showed clear imbalance.
Her vitamin D and essential fatty acids were depleted.
None of these were emergencies.
But together, they were slowly stealing her vitality.
The Result
Over the next several months, we addressed root causes:
Restoring gut health
Eating foods that are meant for nourishment not inflammation
Replenishing nutrients
Optimizing hormones
Supporting metabolic and thyroid function
Building a plan she could actually sustain
She didn’t just “improve.”
She slept through the night again.
Her energy returned.
Her anxiety quieted.
Her weight normalized.
Her confidence came back.
Her words, not ours:
“I didn’t realize how bad I felt until I felt better. I thought this was just what midlife was supposed to feel like.”
Midlife Is Not a Decline It’s a Transition
There is a dangerous narrative in healthcare that says:
Fatigue is normal.
Weight gain is inevitable.
Brain fog is expected.
Hormone changes mean you should accept less.
We reject that narrative.
Midlife is not the beginning of the end.
It is a biological transition that requires a different strategy.
When you support the body correctly, this phase can be one of the strongest, clearest, and most empowered seasons of life.
Why Local Austin Patients Are Choosing Functional Medicine
Austin patients are informed. They care about prevention. They value longevity, performance, and living well.
Functional medicine aligns with that mindset because it:
Treats the whole person, not isolated symptoms
Uses advanced testing to uncover root causes
Focuses on optimization, not just disease management
Builds long-term partnerships, not 7-minute visits
This is not about doing more medicine.
It’s about doing better medicine.
You Deserve More Than “Normal”
If you’ve been told:
“Your labs are fine.”
“This is just aging.”
“There’s nothing else to do.”
Know this:
There is almost always more to look at.
Feeling less than yourself is not a requirement of midlife. It is often a sign your body needs a different kind of care.
We can help!
-Lauren Hutson MD, MBA, CFMP
Meet the Author
Dr. Lauren Hutson is an experienced Primary Care Provider with degrees in Neuroscience and Biology from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed her residency at Baylor Scott & White, Texas A&M, with ABIM certification in Internal Medicine and has developed a strong focus on preventive care and chronic illness management. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she provided critical care as a Hospitalist in New Mexico, exemplifying her commitment to saving lives.
Dr. Hutson is also trained in Functional Medicine, is ABHRT and SSRP certified, and holds ABCN certification pending- these tools help exemplify her passion for root cause approach and healing the body as a whole. She practices medicine at the cellular level, focusing on enhancing longevity and optimizing long-term health by addressing root causes. She believes that all disease can start in the gut, and has authored a book on gut health to share her insights on the microbiome’s role in overall wellness.
Her front-line experiences during the pandemic inspired her to emphasize preventive health and health span over lifespan, investing in personalized strategies that empower patients to live healthier, longer, and more vibrant lives.
