In functional medicine, mitochondria are often described as the power plants of your cells. Their role is to take nutrients from food and oxygen from the air you breathe and convert them into ATP, the molecule that fuels nearly every cellular process in the body.
Every organ depends on this energy, but tissues with especially high energy demands—such as the brain, muscles, heart, and nervous system—are the first to suffer when mitochondrial function declines. For many people in the Dallas–Fort Worth area dealing with chronic fatigue, pain, brain fog, or poor recovery, mitochondrial dysfunction is an overlooked root cause.
Top Chronic Pain and Fatigue Doctor in Dallas/Ft. Worth
What Happens When Mitochondria Are Not Working Properly
When mitochondria become damaged or inefficient, cells cannot generate enough energy to support normal repair, detoxification, and communication. This creates a cascade of dysfunction throughout the body.
Chronic Fatigue and Low Energy
Fatigue develops because cells are literally low on fuel. To compensate, the body slows metabolism and downregulates non-essential functions. Over time, this leads to persistent exhaustion that does not improve with rest.
Chronic Pain and Inflammation
Poor mitochondrial function increases oxidative stress, meaning free radicals accumulate faster than the body can neutralize them. This drives inflammation across tissues.
In the nervous system, inflammation can cause nerve hypersensitivity and exaggerated pain signaling even when imaging shows no structural injury. In muscles and connective tissue, mitochondrial dysfunction often appears as soreness, stiffness, or fibromyalgia-type pain.
An Energy-Depleted State
As dysfunction persists, the body becomes “energy bankrupt.” This state is marked by low ATP production, chronic inflammation, impaired detoxification, and reduced cellular repair. It is commonly seen in chronic fatigue syndrome, long-standing pain conditions, autoimmune disease, and post-infectious illness.
Chronic Pain and Inflammation
Poor mitochondrial function increases oxidative stress, meaning free radicals accumulate faster than the body can neutralize them. This drives inflammation across tissues.
In the nervous system, inflammation can cause nerve hypersensitivity and exaggerated pain signaling even when imaging shows no structural injury. In muscles and connective tissue, mitochondrial dysfunction often appears as soreness, stiffness, or fibromyalgia-type pain.
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer is the growth of malignant cells in the thyroid gland. Symptoms may include a lump in the neck, changes in voice, and difficulty swallowing. The cause multifactorial and due to the oxidative stress from numerous sources, but genetic factors and exposure to radiation can also increase risk.
Major Factors That Interfere With Mitochondrial Function
Mitochondrial dysfunction rarely occurs in isolation. In functional medicine, it is usually the downstream effect of chronic stressors that are common in modern life and frequently seen in Dallas–Fort Worth patients.
Toxic Load
Common contributors include:
- Heavy metals such as mercury, lead, arsenic, and aluminum
- Mold exposure and mycotoxins
- Environmental chemicals including pesticides, solvents, and plastics
- Pharmaceutical and anesthetic residues
These toxins bind to mitochondrial enzymes and disrupt the electron transport chain, reducing ATP production and increasing oxidative stress.
Infections and Immune Activation
Examples include:
- Chronic viral infections such as Epstein–Barr virus, CMV, and HHV-6
- Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections
- Chronic bacterial, fungal, or parasitic overgrowth
These infections trigger ongoing immune activation and cytokine release, which damages mitochondrial membranes and impairs energy production.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Key mitochondrial nutrients include:
- CoQ10
- B vitamins, particularly B1, B2, B3, and B5
- Magnesium
- Alpha-lipoic acid
- Carnitine
Low antioxidant reserves, such as glutathione and vitamins C and E, further increase oxidative damage inside mitochondria.
A Functional Medicine Approach to Restoring Mitochondrial Health
A root-cause approach focuses on identifying and correcting the factors that impair mitochondrial function, including:
Reducing toxic burden
- Addressing chronic infections and immune imbalance
- Replenishing key mitochondrial nutrients
- Restoring gut health
- Supporting stress resilience and sleep quality
- Encouraging appropriate movement and recovery
When mitochondria begin producing clean, efficient energy again, people often notice improvements in stamina, mental clarity, mood, pain levels, and overall resilience.
For individuals in Dallas–Fort Worth dealing with chronic fatigue, widespread pain, or unexplained low energy, mitochondrial dysfunction is often a missing piece of the puzzle. Functional medicine offers a personalized, systems-based approach that supports healing at the cellular level rather than masking symptoms.
By restoring mitochondrial health, the body regains its capacity to heal, adapt, and thrive—often leading to meaningful improvements in energy, cognition, and quality of life.
Supporting Cellular Energy in Dallas/Fort Worth
→
Check out some of our most popular resources here.
Dr. David and the entire Integrative Wellness Fx team are passionate about sharing their expertise to empower you with knowledge supportive of your holistic health & lifestyle.
Join our tribe and stay connected with the latest updates, events, workshops & more!
Subscribe to our newsletter
Subscribe
You're all signed up!
Be sure to whitelist our email address so that all the goodies make it to your inbox.