Scientists in Edinburgh have discovered that measuring the level of a specific protein in a person's blood stream can predict whether a person is actually at risk of having a heart attack, according to the Telegraph.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found that high levels of troponin spell danger, while low levels of the protein suggests that there is no imminent threat.
They say that millions could be saved in hospital costs by administering this simple blood test, since millions of people are admitted to the E.R. with complaints of chest pain.
"We want to ensure no heart attack diagnosis is missed, but we equally don't want to see people go through unnecessary tests and spend extended periods in hospital," said Jeremy Pearson of the British Heart Foundation.
According to the scientists, these tests would more than likely save around 400,000 people from unnecessary hospitalizations every year, according to the Guardian.
"Over the last two decades the number of hospital admissions due to chest pain has tripled, but the overwhelming majority of these patients do not have a heart attack," said lead author Anoop Shah.
Scientists believe that the test can also pinpoint whether a person will have a heart attack within the month, according to the Irish Examiner.
