When we think about chronic illness, we often focus on the symptoms, but the true story begins at the cellular level. Over the years, I’ve seen that mitochondrial dysfunction isn’t just about fatigue - it’s about how the body responds to threat. Mitochondrial heteroplasmy reflects a breakdown in how our energy systems adapt to stress. When mitochondria shift from energy production to defense, the body moves from thriving to merely surviving. Whether triggered by infection, toxins, or trauma, thi