The Homocysteine Test

The simple and effective way to discover and reduce your health risk

We are all becoming more aware of the importance of being health conscious and feel the effects of our modern day lifestyles which include convenience foods and little or no exercise. By following a healthy regime we may think that we are minimising the risk of any future problems. However we could still fall prey to a host of diseases because of a substance called homocysteine . The Homocysteine Test we offer helps identify if you have a raised level of homocysteine in your blood.

Homocysteine – The Facts

Homocysteine is a naturally occuring sulphur containing amino acid. It is involved in essential chemical pathways in the body and an increasing number of medical experts are saying that raised levels in the blood may be as, or more important than, raised levels of cholesterol.

Many factors are thought to raise levels of homocysteine. Among them are poor diet – leading to low levels of vitamins B6 and B12, poor lifestyle especially smoking and high alcohol intake, some prescription drugs, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and poor thyroid function. Normal levels increase with age and higher levels are more common in men than women. As with cholesterol, family history and genetic make up can play a part in causing raised levels as can obesity and lack of exercise.

What effect does homocysteine have on my body?

High levels of homocysteine cause damage to the wall of the arteries. This increases the risk of coronary heart disease and strokes.

Raised levels of homocysteine are thought to be one of the major indicators for coronary heart disease which consistently remains the biggest killer in the Western world. Every year in the UK approximately 270,000 people suffer a heart attack and in England over 110,000 people are killed by a heart attack each year.

Am I at risk?

There are always people who are at high risk and low risk but the only way to find out definitively is to have a homocysteine test. Whatever the state of your health, a homocysteine test can help you to assess what your risk might be – allowing you to take action to reduce that risk and give you peace of mind for the future.

How much does the Homocysteine Test cost?

This test is a pin prick blood test and costs £99. The price includes an initial consultation where the blood sample is collected and a follow up consultation in which your results are thoroughly discussed.

If you want to ensure that you reduce the risk of developing heart disease, or having a stroke then you can take the following steps:

1. Supplementation – If you discover that your homocysteine level is too high you may need to supplement your diet with folic acid; vitamin B6 and B12 as these can help to reduce your levels of homocysteine.

2. Stop smoking – If you smoke your heart receives less oxygen, and it is put under more pressure as it works harder. Smokers under the age of 50 years are five times more likely to die of coronary heart disease than non-smokers.

3. Maintain a healthy balanced diet – By being careful and choosing the correct foods to eat you can improve your health. Eating foods in high fibre can help lower your cholesterol level. A high intake of salt is linked to high blood pressure so avoid processed foods wherever possible and avoid using salt as a seasoning when preparing your food. Reduce your intake of saturated fats and increase your intake of good fats which are omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish, and omega-6 fats found predominantly in olives, nuts, seed and seed oil and some vegetables and grains.

4. Reduce cholesterol levels – High levels of cholesterol can clog the lining of your arteries putting your heart under pressure. By being careful and maintaining a balanced diet low in cholesterol you can reduce your cholesterol levels.

5. Be as active as you can – For general health benefit, adults of all ages should achieve a total of at least 30 minutes moderate activity a day on five or more days of the week.

6. Drink alcohol in moderation – Try to limit your consumption of alcohol to one unit every other day, by doing this you are reducing the risk of coronary heart disease and strokes.

If you have any questions or would like to book a Homocysteine test, please call us on 01303 760001 or email us at enquiries@foremanandjones.co.uk.