Troponin Levels ...always a sign of heart attack? How high can they go?

[SaxoBill]

66 yrs old. Had HA in Jan 23. Collapsed in race resulting in 2 stents and ICD. Recovery difficult for 1st few months but then got up to walking 5-6miles per day. Two weeks ago started running. Very light. 2 succesful runs of 2.5 and 3miles with break half way. Last week overdid it(?) ran 4 miles. After run felt same symptoms as after HA mainly nausea. Never had any pain. Went to A & E. Bloods showed Troponin level of 70 and later 77. Told norm was 30 or below. Monitored for 24 hrs. Not given def answer but told unlikely I'd had HA. No abnormality on ECG. ICD interrogated and again no activity and also told Troponin levels can go in to the 1000s so not to worry. Is that the case? Has anyone had experience of this. Trying to speak to cardiologist but in meantime trying to get further information. Interested in hearing others experiences. Thankyou

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

I have limited experience of Troponin levels but know mine were once raised due to a rib cracking blow to the chest. Any recent knocks, bumps or falls?

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

Troponin is released into the blood stream when the heart is damaged or bruised such as a heart attack.

The other possible causes of troponin blood levels are, inflammation or infection such as myocarditis, endocarditis or pericarditis.

Arrthymias, very high heart rate.

Blood clots forming including pulmonary embolism.

Heart failure

Kidney problems

Trauma

Extreme exercise.

When there is a mismatch between the supply the heart needs and receives.

Troponin blood levels need to be intrepreted in the context of a person's other symptoms such as ECG changes and chest pain.

As well as contacting your Cardiologist another option is getting in touch with the Cardiac Rehab team, they can be very knowledgeable.

[Maisie2014]

Hello. I was 68 when I had my heart attack. The ambulance staff said I wasn’t having a heart attack but took me to A&E because BP was high. They took ECG and said it was normal. Hospital told me to wait on a chair in waiting room and I was there all night with various relatives taking it in turns to sit with me. So I didn’t get up and go home. I was in pain all night. After a 9 hour wait I had a blood test and ECG. My troop in was 24. Luckily my triage nurse was a cardiac nurse and, after reading ECG ambulance staff left, told me I’d dodged a bullet! My daughter was a cardiac intensive care nurse and she bullied the hospital into finding me a bed and, after 3 days, putting me on a monitor. After being in hospital for 8 days I was still not believed despite being told not to get out of bed, not even for the toilet. When the junior doctor came to tell me I would it be going to theatre for another day I told him to read the printouts from the monitor at the nurses station. He came running back and said I was the next one down!

Now, 4 years on, I realise that you need to push the medics into looking into your health. They’re only human but you need to tell them what’s going on with you. There is no such thing as a normal troponin level I was told by the consultant. If you feel you’re having a heart attack you need to let them know. Take care.