Our heart is a vital part of our body, which we can’t easily take for granted. It’s responsible for pumping blood throughout our bodies. If we don’t take care of our heart, we may suffer from various heart diseases, such as a myocardial infarction or, otherwise known as, a heart attack. And there are many reasons why a person will have a heart attack. One example is when there’s a blockage in the heart’s arteries, such as fat, cholesterol, or other substances. If you think you have a heart attack, you can get a cardiac enzyme test to make sure.
A Cardiac Enzyme Test is a tool often used by a doctor to check if you’re having a heart attack or if you already had one. If you are prone to heart attacks due to various reasons, you need to remember the multiple symptoms. It will help you in the future because you can act quickly and go to the emergency room as soon as you can. Let’s check out what kind of symptoms you need to watch out for and what a cardiac enzyme does.
The Various Symptoms of a Heart Attack or Blockage in Your Heart’s Arteries
One of the many symptoms of a blockage in your heart’s arteries is chest pain, pressure, tightness, or a squeezing and aching feeling that never seems to go away. It may also spread on your arms, neck, chest, jaw, or back. So if you’re feeling this type of pain, remember to go to a doctor immediately because it’s not something you can wait for to go away. Another batch of symptoms includes nausea, heartburn, indigestion, or abdominal pain. But some heart attack patients won’t notice these symptoms.
Most of the time, a heart attack accompanies shortness of breath, cold sweat, sudden dizziness or lightheadedness, and fatigue. So if you feel like you are having a case of a heart attack or if your heart’s arteries are clogged, go to the emergency room and let the physicians check on you through a cardiac enzyme test. It’s the fastest and easiest way to determine if a heart attack is happening or if you already had one.
How a Cardiac Enzyme Test Works
A Cardiac Enzyme Test is a tool that doctors typically use to know if you are having a heart attack or if the heart attack has already happened. It will measure specific levels of enzymes in your bloodstream, which are usually a sign that your heart is damaged. Higher levels of these chemicals mean that your heart muscle is damaged, and these are called biomarkers. During the test, doctors measure the chemicals, which are also known as the protein troponin T levels. It’s the primary biomarker, which reveals if your heart has been under a lot of stress.
Even if all other enzymes have gone back to normal and the protein troponin T levels are still high, that seals the deal. A Cardiac Enzyme Test will also reveal if your heart is getting enough oxygen. So if you or any of your family members are experiencing a heart attack, you must go to the doctor as soon as possible because every second or minute counts.
