Homocysteine Test in Bhandup

Your doctor suspects that you are

• Folate or vitamin B12 deficient
• At risk for heart disease
• You have had a heart attack and your doctor is monitoring the levels of homocysteine

Homocysteine test is ordered if your doctor feels that you have symptoms of a vitamin B or folic acid deficiency. These include:

• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Pale skin
• Sore tongue and mouth
• Tingling sensation in the hands and feet that are typically seen in B12 deficiency

Homocysteine is also commonly ordered test in patients who are at risk for heart disease or if you have family history of heart disease. Furthermore, excess levels of homocysteine in your blood can clog your arteries outing you at risk for heart attack and stroke.

Homocysteine is produced by the body. Homocysteine in the body is converted or recycled to methionine or cysteine, which are very beneficial to the body, with the help of several vitamin B proteins (B-Complex proteins), more importantly vitamin B12. A high level of homocysteine makes a person more prone to certain blood vessel damage, and hence seen as a risk factor for development of heart diseases. Your doctor may order a homocysteine test to assess the possibility of suffering from Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency. The levels are also measured in elderly patients and malnourished individuals as they have increased propensity to vitamin B12 deficiency. Homeocysteine levels are also measured in patients known to have an increased risk of heart attack or other heart diseases. Additionally, these levels are also assessed in patient who have a family history of heart diseases but not presenting with any concerned risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity.