A new £5 blood test could help doctors find people at risk of heart attacks and strokes much earlier. A recent study shows the test detects hidden heart damage before symptoms begin. It checks for troponin, a protein released when the heart is under stress. By adding this test to standard health checks, doctors can treat patients sooner and possibly prevent serious heart problems.
What Is Troponin?
Troponin is a protein found in the blood when the heart is damaged or overworked. Hospitals already use it to confirm heart attacks. But this study shows it can also spot heart problems early—even in people who feel fine.
Adding the troponin test to regular checks like blood pressure and cholesterol gives doctors a clearer view. It helps them start treatment like statins or lifestyle changes before a problem becomes serious.
Key Study Results
The study included over 62,000 people from Europe and the United States. Researchers followed them for up to ten years. Everyone had their troponin levels measured alongside other risk factors.
People with higher troponin levels were more likely to have heart attacks or strokes. When doctors used troponin along with other data, their predictions became much more accurate. In fact, they were up to four times better than using cholesterol alone.
Helping Those in the Middle-Risk Group
The test was especially useful for people with a moderate risk of heart disease. These are the people who don’t fall into a clear high or low-risk group.
Thanks to troponin, doctors could reclassify about 8% of these people as high-risk. That means they could begin treatment earlier, improving their chances of staying healthy.
Professor Anoop Shah, who led the research, said troponin gives doctors “an extra layer” of useful information. Professor Bryan Williams from the British Heart Foundation said the test could lower hospital visits and save lives.
A Simple Test with Big Benefits
This blood test is quick, simple, and low-cost. It’s already used in hospitals and costs only £5. Experts believe it could soon be part of standard health checks at GP clinics.
If used widely, the test could help thousands of people get the right care before they suffer heart damage. Early action can reduce costs and improve health outcomes across the population.
What It Means for You
If you’re over 40 or have a family history of heart disease, ask your doctor about your heart health. You might benefit from this simple test. It could help you start treatment before symptoms appear.
You can also reduce your heart risk by staying active, eating healthy, avoiding smoking, and managing stress. This test adds a new way to protect your heart even more.