For years, doctors have used high blood pressure and cholesterol numbers to be able to reasonably predict who is most at risk for a heart attack. But a new blood test being called the "holy grail of cardiovascular medicine" might be able to tell when a heart attack is imminent.
In heart attack patients, the circulating cells which line blood vessels, called endothelial cells, were misshapen, abnormally large and sometimes have multiple nuclei, according to researchers at
"The ability to diagnose an imminent heart attack has long been considered the holy grail of cardiovascular medicine,"
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in
The researchers say they can make the test commercially available as early as next year, and it might be a useful tool for emergency room and primary care doctors.
"This would be an ideal test to perform in an emergency room to determine if a patient is on the cusp of a heart attack or about to experience one in the next couple of weeks," said
- Let Whole Grains, Milk and Fruit Kick Start Your Day
- Are Eggs Part of a Healthy Diet?
- A Heart-Wise Diet For Life
- Is It a Food Allergy ... or Food Intolerance?
- Peanuts Shell Out Many Health Benefits
- Why Marriage Makes People Happy
- How to Protect Yourself from Bad Break-Ups
- Why Good Friends Make You Happy
- How to Find Happiness on Social Networks
- 'Holy Grail' of Heart Medicine Could Predict Heart Attacks
- Youthful Legs No Matter Your Age
- Travel Health: How to Fight 7 In-Flight Ailments
- Top 10 Hotspots for Human Longevity
- The Workplace Workout
- Researchers Develop Vaccine for the 'Parasitic Version of HIV'
- Popular but Dangerous: 3 Vitamins That Can Hurt You
- Popular Sleeping Pill Ambien Linked to Increased Death Rate
- How to Meditate and Why
- The 'Fit But Fat' Debate
- 4 Health Emergencies You Should Be Ready for
- Healthy Mouth Means Lower Disease Risk
- Fast Breakfasts That Boost Your Health
- 8 Healthy Foods That Make You Happy
- Do Rich People Live Longer?
- 13 Key Diet Trends
- Diets for Dessert Gottahaveits
- Diets That Don't Starve You
- Diets With Harsh Rules
- Could Super Plants Be the New Cancer Killers?
- The Cost of a Good Night's Sleep
- Universal Flu Vaccine Could Be Available by 2013
- Diets That Let You Drink Alcohol
- Top 9 Stealth Health Diet Strategies
- Coffee Offers Potential Health Perks
- Do 'Energy Boosters' Really Work?
- Try These Foods to Fight the Blues
- Best Picks for Grab-and-Go Eating
- Say Cheers to Drinking (Moderately)
- Vegetables from Under the Sea
- Say Cheers to Drinking (Moderately)
- 'Holy Grail' of Heart Medicine Could Predict Heart Attacks
- The Surprising Secret to Happiness
- 4 Best Steps to Keep Your Youth
- Vitamins That Keep Your Brain Young
- The Best Time to Do Everything
- Think Yourself Thin
- Is Organic Really Better?
- The Facts About Fat
- The Truth About Low-Acid Foods
- No More Headaches
- When Do You Need Antibiotics?
Copyright © 2012 Tribune Media Services Inc.