Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C48iOblL6jD/ Does the word troponin sound familiar?  Maybe not, but troponin1 is an enzyme released into the bloodstream when cardiac tissues are damaged..  Over hours, rising troponin1 levels indicate that a patient has suffered a heart attack. University of Alabama-Birmingham cardiovascular researchers now report another use of repeat troponin1 level measurements.  They studied some 8,000 under active treatment for high blood pressure for whom multiple troponin1 measurements occurred over a one year period.  Some subjects were receiving standard therapy and some were receiving intense therapy for their blood pressure elevations. Those individuals receiving the most intense therapy for blood pressure control enjoyed decreasing troponin1 levels over time AND a lower risk of subsequent cardiovascular incidents including not only heart attacks but also stroke, heart failure, and death from any cardiovascular disease. Serial troponin1 measurements appear to be useful no