About-Cardio
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We provide our users the most up-to-date and accurate information on the treatment and prevention of cardio pathologies in accordance with current American and European clinical guidelines.
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment.
Cardiac Markers Blood Test
Introduction
Cardiac markers are substances released into the blood when the heart is damaged or stressed. Doctors use blood tests to measure these markers and diagnose heart conditions, particularly heart attacks (myocardial infarction).
Key Cardiac Markers
1. Troponins (Troponin I and Troponin T)
- Most specific and sensitive marker for heart muscle damage.
- Levels rise within 3-6 hours after heart damage and stay elevated for up to 14 days.
2. Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB)
- Rises 3-6 hours after damage, peaks at 18-24 hours, and normalizes within 2-3 days.
- Less specific than troponins but still useful for detecting reinfarction.
3. Myoglobin
- Appears in blood very early (1-4 hours) after heart muscle injury.
- Fast clearance from the blood makes it less specific.
4. B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and NT-proBNP
- Used to assess heart failure rather than heart attacks.
- High levels suggest poor heart function.
When Are Cardiac Markers Tested?
- Suspected heart attack (chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea).
- Monitoring of heart conditions in critically ill patients.
- Evaluating treatment response in heart diseases.
What Do Abnormal Results Mean?
- Elevated troponin → Possible heart attack or severe heart stress.
- High CK-MB → Suggests recent heart muscle damage.
- High BNP → Indicates heart failure.
Conclusion
If you are experiencing symptoms of a heart problem, your doctor may order these tests. Early detection and treatment can save lives, so understanding these markers is essential.
Source recommendations
1. American Heart Association Guidelines
- https://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-and-statements
- https://www.heart.org/
- https://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-statements
- https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults
- https://cpr.heart.org/en/resuscitation-science/cpr-and-ecc-guidelines
2. European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on Acute Coronary Syndromes
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Acute-Coronary-Syndromes-ACS-Guidelines
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/38/3720/7243210
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37622654/
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001309
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26320110/
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If you or your loved ones experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor in time. Remember that self-medication can be dangerous, and timely diagnosis will preserve the quality and life expectancy.
The heart is an organ that does not know how to "keep silent" if something goes wrong. Chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness, and rhythm disturbances are the symptoms that require our attention. The best prevention of heart disease is careful attention to your health, regular checkups with a doctor, and a healthy lifestyle. Take care of your heart, and it will serve you for many years!
Our advantages:
Best practices from USA, EU and Japan
Our answers to your questions are based on the clinical recommendations of countries with the most developed healthcare systems in the field of cardiology in the USA, the EU and Japan.
Always up-to-date information
On a daily basis, we monitor for you all new scientific research publications in leading scientific journals on medical issues of interest to you.
We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
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Every 3-5 years, half of the scientific approaches to treatment in the field of cardiology are reviewed as a result of specialized scientific discoveries. With us, you don't have to wait these years to learn about the best ways to treat you and your loved ones.