Blood tests for heart failure: Types and what to expect

Blood tests are an important tool for diagnosing heart failure. Doctors can also use blood tests to monitor treatment progress and check for potential complications.

Doctors may order blood tests for people who have suspected heart failure.

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Several conditions, including coronary artery disease and high blood pressure, can cause heart failure.

This article outlines different types of blood tests and what to expect from the procedure. It also discusses results and other diagnostic tests doctors may use.

Certain blood tests can help evaluate for heart failure and guide further treatment. They can also check the function of other organs in the body.

Blood tests to assess the heart measure certain blood proteins, hormones, and electrolyte levels.

Doctors use the results of these blood tests to determine the best course of treatment. Comparing the results from several tests also helps doctors monitor the effects of treatment.

In people with suspected heart failure, doctors may order the following blood tests:

Basic metabolic panel (BMP)

A

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)

A BNP test is a valuable tool for diagnosing heart failure. BNP is a hormone that the heart produces and releases into the blood when it is under strain and has to work harder. The hormone helps to regulate blood pressure and blood volume.

If a test reveals a rise in BNP, this can be an early warning sign of heart failure, and doctors will want to investigate further.

Doctors may also test for N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), an inactive hormone released alongside BNP.

Troponin

The body releases the protein troponin when the heart muscle is damaged. Troponin levels are an important indicator of cardiac health.

The test can help identify those at risk of developing heart disease and provide a warning sign of impending cardiac events.

However, other conditions, such as renal failure and stroke, can also cause elevated troponin levels. As such, this blood test cannot diagnose heart failure on its own, and additional clinical assessments are necessary to reach a diagnosis.

A healthcare professional usually performs blood tests in a doctor’s office. This person is often a phlebotomist.

Drawing blood typically involves the following steps:

• The professional cleans an area of the arm with an antiseptic.
• They place a tourniquet around the person’s arm to ensure the blood flows to the chosen vein, making access easier.
• They insert a needle into the vein and collect a small amount of blood into one or more tubes.
• After removing the needle, they apply pressure to the area before placing a small bandage over the site.

The process typically takes a few minutes. It can sometimes take longer if the healthcare professional cannot find a vein easily. This can happen for various reasons, such as when a person is dehydrated.

Blood test results can be ready the same day, but results can take up to several days.

Does it hurt?

Typically, people feel a small, sharp prick when the needle enters the skin, but it should not cause much pain. A person who fears needles, or has a history of responding adversely to them, must inform the healthcare professional. It is also important for people to sit down during these tests. People may develop a small bruise over the needle insertion area, but this should resolve itself over the next few days. Lab results usually show measurements of substances in a person’s blood alongside the normal ranges for those substances. If a person’s measurements fall outside the typical range, a doctor will likely order more tests to help with diagnosis. The results of a blood test will vary depending on what is being tested for. A sequence of tests may also be more beneficial for diagnosis than a single reading.

BNP and NT-proBNP

BNP levels in a healthy person are usually

The results range for NT-proBNP is different. For this, a result of more than 400 pg/ml is classed as ‘elevated’, and a person will require additional tests to investigate the cause further.

Troponin

Doctors measure troponin blood levels in nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml). 0 to 0.04 ng/ml is often classified as a ‘normal’ range. A result between 0.04 and 0.39 ng/ml may indicate a heart function problem, while a result of 0.4 ng/ml and higher indicates heart damage.

Other

• Cardiac catheterization: Using a dye, this process can reveal blockages in the coronary arteries.
• Echocardiography: An echocardiogram allows a doctor to help evaluate a patient’s heart pumping function and for any valve problems.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): EKGs are tests that shows doctors a persons heart rhythm and can give insight into previous or current heart attack.
• Exercise stress test: This measures how well a person’s heart works under stress.
• X-ray: An X-ray can help doctors identify enlargements of the heart or fluid in the lungs.

Heart failure is a serious condition where the heart cannot pump blood around the body efficiently.

Doctors can use several blood tests to evaluate heart failure and help guide management. These tests include BMP, BNP, and troponin blood tests.

Early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure are essential to reduce the risk of long-term complications.