Enzymes that are measured in relation to heart damage are commonly referred to as cardiac markers. These markers are substances that can indicate injury to the heart muscle, and their levels in the blood can rise when the heart is under stress or has sustained damage, such as during a myocardial infarction.
Cardiac markers include enzymes such as troponins and creatine kinase (specifically the MB isoform). These proteins are released into the bloodstream when heart tissue is damaged, providing critical information for diagnosing conditions like heart attacks. Monitoring these levels helps clinicians assess the extent of cardiac damage and make informed decisions about treatment.
While hormones, electrolytes, and proteins may also play roles in cardiovascular health, they are not specific indicators of heart damage in the same way that cardiac markers are. Hormones can be involved in various bodily functions and may not directly reflect myocardial injury. Electrolytes are crucial for heart function but do not specifically indicate damage. Proteins, while some may be related to heart function, do not have the specificity that cardiac markers provide in the context of myocardial injury.