Heart attack is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year, over 600,000 people in the United States die from heart disease, with heart attacks being one of the leading causes. Early detection of heart attack is crucial to saving lives, and researchers are constantly looking for new biomarkers to help identify those at risk.

What is a heart attack?

Also known as myocardial infarction, a heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscle is cut off, usually due to a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries.

This can lead to serious and sometimes fatal consequences, including heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, and even death.

Traditional methods of detecting heart attack

The traditional methods of detecting heart attack include an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests, and angiography.

An ECG measures the electrical activity of the heart and can detect abnormalities, while blood tests can identify the presence of certain enzymes that leak from damaged heart muscle. Angiography involves injecting a dye into the coronary arteries and taking X-rays to see if there are any blockages. While these methods are useful, they are not always accurate and may sometimes fail to detect heart attack.

New biomarkers for heart attack

Researchers are constantly looking for new biomarkers that can help detect heart attack early. Biomarkers are measurable indicators of a biological process or condition in the body that can be measured and tracked over time.

They can be used to diagnose, predict, and monitor disease.

C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a biomarker that has been found to be associated with heart attack. CRP is a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation.

It is a general marker of inflammation in the body and can be elevated in a variety of conditions, including cardiovascular disease. Elevated levels of CRP have been found to be associated with an increased risk of heart attack.

Myoglobin

Myoglobin is a protein found in heart and skeletal muscle that is released into the bloodstream when muscle cells are damaged. Elevated levels of myoglobin in the blood can indicate muscle damage, including damage to the heart during a heart attack.

Myoglobin levels begin to rise within 2-3 hours after the onset of a heart attack and typically peak within 6-9 hours. While myoglobin levels can be used to detect heart attack early, they are not specific for heart attack and can also be elevated in other conditions that cause muscle damage.

Troponin

Troponin is a protein that is found in heart muscle and is released into the bloodstream when the heart muscle is damaged. Troponin levels begin to rise within 2-3 hours after the onset of a heart attack and typically peak within 12-24 hours.

Elevated levels of troponin in the blood are a strong indication of heart muscle damage and are used to diagnose heart attack.

High-sensitivity troponin tests

High-sensitivity troponin tests are a newer type of troponin test that can detect much lower levels of troponin in the blood than traditional troponin tests.

This allows earlier detection of heart attack and may help identify those at risk of future cardiac events. High-sensitivity troponin tests have been found to be more accurate than traditional troponin tests and can reduce the time to diagnosis of heart attack.

B-type natriuretic peptide

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone that is produced by the heart in response to stress and can be elevated in conditions that affect the heart, such as heart failure and heart attack.

Elevated levels of BNP in the blood can indicate heart muscle damage and may be used to diagnose heart attack.

Conclusion

Early detection of heart attack is crucial to saving lives. Traditional methods of detecting heart attack, such as ECG, blood tests, and angiography, are useful but not always accurate.

Researchers are constantly looking for new biomarkers to help detect heart attack early. Biomarkers such as CRP, myoglobin, troponin, high-sensitivity troponin tests, and BNP can be used to diagnose heart attack and may help identify those at risk of future cardiac events.