Hope for heart attack patients as test could give early diagnosis

Heart attack patients are receiving better care than ever before thanks to a blood test which measures a protein from the heart muscle called troponin.

High levels of the protein indicate damage to the heart muscle, but the real benefit to patients is the ability to detect very low levels and indicate when a patient is at risk of a heart attack before it occurs.

At just 48-years-old, Alison Dickson from Blacktown isn’t your typical heart attack patient.

She was tested after being rushed to Westmead Hospital last week, with her results revealing high levels of troponin.

This early diagnosis means patients can be treated quickly and receive the ‘right’ treatment.

But cardiologists warn that no single test should be relied on – anyone experiencing chest pain should see a doctor immediately.