Blood Tests

There are a few blood tests that need to be done to diagnose heart failure and to track how a person with heart failure is doing.

What it Shows:

• One of the blood tests is called BNP. When a high amount of BNP is found in the blood, it usually means that the heart is not working properly. People with heart failure normally have high levels of BNP.
• As excess fluid is excreted through the kidneys. it is important to do blood tests to see how the kidneys are working, and also the liver, and whether you have the right balance of other important hormones in your body.
• Another of the blood tests is referred to as Thyroid Function Tests. These tests will reveal whether the thyroid is overactive or underactive and whether this is responsible for heart failure.
• Other specialized blood tests may be performed based on the characteristics of your heart failure.