Coronary heart disease by itself is the most common cause of death in the UK accounting for around 125,000 deaths a year. It is also the main cause of premature deaths in the UK.

Are you at risk?

Established risk factors contributing to coronary heart disease and strokes include:

Poor Diet	Family History	High Blood Pressure
Raised Cholesterol	Stress	Low Physical Activity
Being Overweight	Excessive Alcohol Consumption	Diabetes
Smoking

There are many standard steps you can take to help prevent or reduce your risk of a stroke or coronary heart disease. Even if you've already suffered with heart disease or stroke, making lifestyle changes can help you live a longer, healthier and more enjoyable life.

One important step is to check and monitor the level of homocysteine in your blood, which research is now showing as being more predictive than cholesterol in assessing coronary heart disease risk.

WHAT IS HOMOCYSTEINE (Hcy)

Homocysteine is a harmful sulphur bearing amino acid produced in the body. Elevated levels of homocysteine are recognised as a risk factor for heart disease and stroke independent of established risk factors such as cholesterol, smoking and obesity.

Homocysteine has also been linked to Alzheimer's disease, problem pregnancies, risk of neural tube defects in children from mothers with high levels of homocysteine and other congenital defects, and some cancers.

Factors contributing to elevated levels of homocysteine

Increasing Age	Smoking	Genetic traits
B Vitamin deficiencies	Oestrogen deficiency	Alcohol
Kidney & Bowel disease	Hypothyroidism	Low physical activity
Some drugs (methotrexate, corticosteroids, fibrates)	Strict vegetarianism	Excessive coffee or tea

YORKTEST have developed a unique kit whereby you can take your own blood sample. A few drops of blood from a pin-prick are dropped onto a card and the membrane within the card then separates the plasma from the blood cells. This plasma blood sample is then sent back to the laboratory and tested using technology designed specifically for the precise and routine measurement of homocysteine in blood plasma.

Priced at just £75.00, the Homocysteine test kit represents a breakthrough in home testing.

Lowering elevated levels of Homocysteine

Elevated homocysteine levels can be reduced to normal levels and controlled simply and inexpensively using the correct combination of vitamin supplements. By taking the appropriate nutritional therapy, homocysteine levels will often start to reduce to normal within one to two months.

The most effective treatment from clinical studies is increased intake of certain B vitamins such as folic acid and vitamin B12, which are essential to the biochemical pathways that break down homocysteine.

It is important to get your homocysteine levels rechecked after you have been taking the correct supplementation for 2 months and, like other heart and stoke risk factors, it is advisable to monitor your levels 2 to 3 times per year

YORKTEST strongly advise you to discuss your results with your GP if you have raised Homocysteine levels.

"The British Cardiac Patients Association welcomes this initiative by YORKTEST Laboratories. It is vitally important that people are informed about all the possible risk factors for heart disease. However, information must go hand in hand with the availability of testing whether at the local pharmacy or at home."
                                                                        
British Cardiac Patients Association