Can the “Good Cholesterol” HDL Ever Be Too High?
Can too much of a great thing ever be bad – at least when it comes to HDL cholesterol?
This is the “good” cholesterol that’s supposed to be high. But if it’s as high as a kite, does that mean more good or harm? (more…)
Can the Pain of a DVT Come and Go or Is It Constant?
Can that pain in your calf that keeps coming and going, on and off, possibly be a DVT?
A deep vein thrombosis classically causes calf pain that’s hard to ignore. (more…)
Left or Right Temple Pain Waking You Almost Every Night?
Can waking nearly every night with left or right temple pain mean an aneurysm or a brain tumor? (more…)
Weakness & Fatigue of Chronic Heart Failure vs. ALS: Comparison
Both chronic heart failure and ALS cause weakness and fatigue.
For both conditions, here is a detailed rundown of the differences and maybe some similarities between fatigue vs. weakness. (more…)
Does Elevated Troponin Always Mean a Heart Attack?
A person who’s diagnosed with a heart attack in the ER based on an elevated troponin result may not have had a heart attack after all.
The European Heart Journal has a 2018 study (Thygesen et al) that says “many doctors have not understood that elevated troponin levels in the blood are not sufficient to diagnose a heart attack.”
The paper explains that a heart attack causes injury to cardiac muscle. The protein troponin is used for cardiac muscle contraction.
But it’s released into the bloodstream upon injury to that specialized muscle.
A highly sensitive blood test will tell if there’s even the must subtle rise in troponin.
The reason that an abnormal level of troponin doesn’t always mean a heart attack is because there are other situations that injure cardiac muscle.
Does elevated troponin automatically mean the patient has had a heart attack?
“Not always, but the most common reason to order a troponin level is usually to rule out a heart attack,” says Christopher J. Hanifin, PA-C, who was previously a physician assistant in open heart surgery with Cardiothoracic Surgery of South Bend in South Bend, IN.
“Anything that severely stresses or damages the heart can cause an elevation of troponin, though not usually to the extent seen in a heart attack.
“Heart failure, trauma, pulmonary embolism and even kidney failure can lead to elevated troponin levels.” So can a body-wide infection (sepsis).
Correct identification for the reason of a rising troponin level is crucial because even different types of ischemia to the heart have different causes. Different causes mean different treatments.
One type might require antiplatelet drugs, while another treatment (for a different cause) may require beta blocker drugs.
In some cases, the cause of an elevated troponin result is not known, though the cause may be strongly suspected, such as chronic heart failure in an elderly patient.
Christopher J. Hanifin, PA-C, is currently Department Chair and Assistant Professor, Department of Physician Assistant, Seton Hall University, NJ.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Robert Kneschke
Source: sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180825081713.htm
Undigested Red Food in Poops vs. Drops of Blood: Comparison
Red food clumps or particles in your poops can mimic the appearance of blood smears or clots from a disease.
Here’s how to tell whether the red you see is food vs. blood. (more…)
Symptoms of Heart Disease in Men Different from Women
Heart disease, not heart attack, is what we’re talking about here, and the symptoms of the disease itself in women are quite different than in men, says Momina Mastoor, MD, a board certified cardiologist in Gettysburg, PA. (more…)
Can Very Physically Fit Middle Agers Still Have Heart Disease?
A surprising study shows that even hardcore exercisers in middle age could have severe degrees of coronary heart disease: very blocked arteries.
This is especially true if the athlete has other risk factors for CHD such as a family history, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. (more…)
Can Tingly Numb Fingers Be Caused by Heart Trouble?
If you suddenly have tingling and numbness in your fingers and have risk factors for a heart attack, there may be more to what’s going on than just some pinched nerve somewhere. (more…)
Can Chest Tightness Be the ONLY Symptom of a Heart Attack?
Is it true that if you have only the one symptom of chest tightness, and no other symptoms, that you could still be having a heart attack?
You probably already know at least a few of the symptoms that a heart attack often causes. (more…)
