Troponin is a protein found in your heart muscle and in your other muscles.¹ If your heart muscle is damaged, troponin gets into your blood. So how much troponin you have in your blood helps doctors to figure out whether you have unstable angina or have had a heart attack.

Unstable angina can sometimes turn into a heart attack. That means you will need to have more than one troponin test. You will probably have one when you first get to the hospital and another one some hours later.¹

From the results of your troponin test, doctors will be able to figure out whether you need to be treated for a heart attack. If the test is negative, doctors need to find out how high your risk is of having a heart attack or other serious heart problems later on. This will affect what treatment you have. For more, see Unstable angina: figuring out your risk.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.