The Evolution of a Heart Attack

It's not a static event, but rather one that develops over time. Doctors use different terms to indicate how serious a heart attack is at any given point.

Published: October 24, 2018

Immediate testing is done to determine whether or not a heart attack has occurred. These include an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a blood test for troponin, a protein that spills into the blood when heart muscle dies. If the troponin test is negative, a heart attack has likely not yet occurred. These patients are given several types of medication to prevent their condition from deteriorating.