Keeping Tabs on Homocysteine: Prevention, Testing and Treatment

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Homocysteine is an essential element of the human body. It is actually something called a homologue of cysteine, which is an amino acid.

While homocysteine is naturally occurring in the body, in high levels it can be very dangerous to your wellbeing. Elevated homocysteine can occur when the body is deficient on one or more of:

- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Folic acid (Vitamin B9)

And while supplements can reverse this problem, if the levels have been high for quite some time, the damage may already be done. Lowering your levels is always a good idea and can help prevent further damage.

So what kind of damage do elevated homocysteine levels cause anyway? That is a good question, because many people have never even heard of this substance, let alone know it is bad for you. Briefly, this substance can cause scar tissue to develop in the arteries, which increases your chances of developing high cholesterol, heart disease or even stroke. It has also been linked to a higher rate of bone fractures in the elderly.

While a vitamin deficiency of some sort is the typical cause of elevated homocysteine levels, a heredity disease called homocystinuria could also be to blame. This disease is passed on from parent to child, requiring both parents to be affected in order for the child to develop the condition. Essentially, those with homocystinuria do not process homocysteine normally, meaning they accumulate large quantities of the substance in their blood. If caught and treated early, those who suffer from the disease should expect to lead a normal life. However, if left untreated, death before the age of thirty is not uncommon, typically due to heart attack. The standard treatment is vitamin supplements and a low-protein diet.

It is fine and well to have an understanding of what elevated homocysteine levels are and the problems they can cause, but how can you tell if you have a problem? Symptoms are virtually undetectable in the early stages, when the damage begins, so a test is in order.

A test called a wellness panel can be conducted at home that will detect up to ten substances at a time. In essence, the goal is to find out whether or not you are healthy by measuring the levels of certain substances in the body and then comparing them to normal levels.

This is a simple test and you will receive your results in a few days. This way, you can avoid a doctor trip and find out if there may be something wrong first. If your levels of homocysteine are abnormally high, you can find out and then set up an appointment with your doctor knowing exactly the problem that needs to be addressed.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

This Article is written by Lena Butler, the author of Home Testing Blog - Testing It Up, and a constant contributor to Home Testing Questions & Answers, a longer version of this article is located at Keeping Tabs on Homocysteine and resources from other Early Disease Detection & Health Assessments.

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