High Sensitivity Troponin I Test

A troponin test looks for certain types of the protein troponin, in your bloodstream. Those types of troponin only occur in heart muscle cells and only enter your blood because of heart muscle damage. That makes troponin invaluable in diagnosing heart attacks and other heart-related problems.

Facts you should know about high-sensitivity troponin

• Troponin is a protein found in the body, specifically in heart muscle cells. The three main types of cardiac troponin proteins are I, T, and C.
• During a heart attack, troponin spills into the bloodstream and it is a biomarker that can indicate cardiac injury.
• Troponin testing is what doctors refer to as "cardiac enzymes."
• The main use of testing troponin levels is to diagnose a heart attack.
• The high-sensitivity cardiac troponin test (hs-cTnT) allows for detection of very low levels of troponin T, helping to diagnose heart attacks more quickly.
• Troponin levels may be used to help diagnose other heart-related conditions, for example:
  • Obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD)
  • Stable angina
  • Congestive heart failure (CHF)
  • Cardiomyopathy
• A heart-healthy lifestyle with a nutritious low-fat diet and regular exercise is the best way to prevent heart disease and heart attack.