In a new study, researchers have discovered a new way to help predict heart attacks nada strokes in people based on a simple blood test.
The research was conducted by a team from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
According to the researchers, the blood test can detect very low levels of proteins called troponin in the body.
The proteins are released by the heart muscle when damaged.
Previous research has shown that this test can be used to diagnose heart attacks in people who come in with chest pain or other symptoms.
In the current study, the team found that this test can be used in healthy middle-aged and older people to predict their risk for developing heart disease and stroke.
The researchers tested more than 8,000 people aged 54 to 74 no history of heart disease and stroke.
They found that 85% of the group showed troponin levels in the blood test.
Higher levels of the troponin were linked to a higher risk of heart disease, especially heart failure.
The team also found that highly sensitive troponin tests were very effective at predicting cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes.
The test results could help calculate a person’s 10-year risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
The team suggests that the finding may make the blood test widely used in the general population to predict future health risks.
The test result may help people choose healthier lifestyle habits and manage their chronic conditions better, such as lowering blood cholesterol and blood pressure.
Future work needs to test if troponin tests could help pave the way for assessing risk for heart disease in the world.
One author of the study is Dr. Christie Ballantyne, cardiology chief at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
The study is published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
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