The diagnosis of heart attack is based on three findings:
If two of the three findings are present, it will confirm the diagnosis of a heart attack. The ECG is the most useful test as it usually shows characteristic changes within minutes of a heart attack. It also gives cardiologists a good sense of whether electrical activity is normal and which parts of the heart might be overworked. Furthermore, this test has no pain or risks involved.
The eventual confirmation of heart attack is in blood tests, which detect proteins released into the bloodstream when part of the heart muscle dies. However, these proteins (cardiac enzymes) can only be detected four to six hours after a heart attack. As such, the blood test cannot be used as the only diagnostic tool – especially for urgent heart attack cases – because it could result in delayed treatment or even death.
An early diagnosis is crucial to the treatment of a heart attack as it allows interventional cardiologists to open up the blocked artery quickly and effectively to minimise the extent of damage to the heart muscle.
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