In a study conducted by the University of Edinburgh, a test has been discovered which is considered to be more sensitive to the release of the protein troponin when heart cells are damaged.

Experts believe that this blood test really helps in detecting heart attacks and it could become a potential lifesaver for patients.

Dr. Nicholas Mills, who was part of this research, believed that bringing this test into practice would surely improve the outcome of patients suffering from chest pain and heart attacks.

Data suggests that more than 500,000 people are taken to hospital every year with acute chest pains but more than three out of four are discharged without a proper diagnosis.

This test is known to be much more sensitive than the regular test which fails to detect heart muscle damage whereas this new test measures a protein which is released when heart muscle cells are damaged after being starved of oxygen owing to a blood clot blocking a coronary artery during a heart attack.

Dr. Nicholas Mills, of the British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science at the University of Edinburgh, said, "Unfortunately, the use of outdated diagnostic thresholds for troponin continues to be widespread and lowering this threshold remains a highly contentious issue among doctors. The research shows it is not just patients with major heart attacks where treatment can make a difference”.