Get to know Troponin and how it relates to heart attacks

Troponin is a protein molecule that is released into the bloodstream when heart muscle is damaged due to a heart attack or serious heart disease. Troponin tests are often performed to diagnose a heart attack or other condition that can cause heart damage. Proteins that are part of the heart muscle and skeletal muscle consist of troponin I, troponin T, and troponin C. In a heart attack, there are blood clots that block blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle. Without oxygen, heart muscle cells will die and release troponin into the bloodstream. The more damage there is in the heart, the greater the amount of troponin T and I in the blood

How Does Troponin Affect Heart Attack?

In healthy people, troponin levels in the blood are generally not detected because they are so low. If there is an increase, even just a little, already shows some damage to the heart. And when a person's troponin level increases a lot, they are more likely to have a heart attack. In people who have a heart attack, troponin levels in their blood usually go up within 6-12 hours. Troponin levels are also likely to remain high for 1-2 weeks after a heart attack. Whereas for sufferers of angina pectoris, troponin examination is usually done if the symptoms of chest pain are getting worse, angina appears when resting, or if there is no improvement in symptoms after treatment. If an increase in troponin levels is found in the condition of angina, this indicates that there is a worsening of the heart condition and the person is at high risk of heart attack. Apart from a heart attack, high levels of troponin in the blood can also occur in the following conditions:

• Very fast and abnormal heart rate.
• Pulmonary hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs.
• Pulmonary embolism, which is blockage of the arteries of the lungs by blood clots, fat, or tumor cells.
• Congestive heart failure.
• Spasm of the heart's blood vessels.
• Myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, is usually due to a virus.
• Prolonged sports (for example, marathons or triathlons).
• Injuries that injure the heart, such as a car accident.
• Cardiomyopathy or weakening of the heart muscle.
• Long-term kidney disease.
• Post medical procedures such as cardiac angioplasty, heart surgery, electroshock therapy to the heart, to heart ablation.

If you, your friends, or your family experience symptoms such as chest pain; the chest feels tight, squeezed, or pressed; pain radiating from the chest to the arms, jaw, neck, back, and stomach; dizzy; hard to breathe; sweating; nausea; gag; cough; and wheezing, it is recommended to go immediately to the emergency department at the nearest hospital, because they are all signs of a heart attack. But if you don't want to experience the things above, adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent heart disease from now. You can start by eating healthy foods and drinks, exercising diligently, not smoking, always maintaining blood pressure and blood sugar levels, avoiding bad cholesterol, controlling stress, and monitoring your weight.