A cardiac enzyme test is one tool doctors use to see if you’re having -- or already had -- a
. You might also get the test if you have symptoms of a blockage in your
’s
such as:
or pressure
Feeling very weak or
Shortness of breath
and cool, clammy
Throwing up or feeling like you need to
Severe stress on the
can damage its muscle. When that happens, your heart releases certain enzymes -- a kind of
-- into your
.
, the level of these enzymes can get pretty high. So checking them is a good way for your doctor to know something serious is going on.
A cardiac enzyme test does just that. Your doctor might want to measure your enzymes to figure out what’s happening with your heart.
Your doctor will most likely test for an enzyme called troponin. It goes into your
soon after a heart attack. It stays at high levels even after other enzymes have gone back to normal.
It’s a lot like any other blood test.
Your doctor uses a thin needle to take a small amount of blood, most likely from your arm near your
. You’ll feel a pinch or sting when the needle goes in, but that’s usually all.
It only takes a few minutes. You can get your results quickly since these tests usually are urgent. Your doctor may do the same enzyme tests over time to see how your levels change.
The cardiac enzyme test gives you a number measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml). This tells your doctor how much of the enzyme is in your blood.
It can find even very small amounts. It takes 1 billion nanograms to make just 1 gram.
Labs test for enzymes in different ways, so what’s normal depends on where you had the test done. Your doctor can help you understand what your numbers mean. They’ll also give you a
and look at other test results to get the full picture of what’s happened.
lf you had a heart attack, your doctor will talk to you about next steps, such as treatments, follow-up care, medicine, and lifestyle changes such as
,
, and how to handle
.