BNP Test

[ChatterAlly]

I am thinking Flycaster should read this:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/services/tests/labtests/bnp.asp

Saw this and thought of you.  Take care, Ally

[ireneo]

Morning (again). I see you found the post I mentioned. Good.

[ChatterAlly]

Please keep me informed!  I will be lifting you and your wife in prayer today!  Take care, Ally

[Flycaster305]

Actually, I did see that article, Ally, in the hospital after learning my EF dropped and the BNP level was so high (averaged 760 with five tests, it was surprisingly the same each test).  It does justify my recent complaints of fatigue and breathlessless.  I didn't have another heart attack, thank God, but I've been warned that trying to power my way through angina symptoms has to stop with a weakened heart muscle, that's how I ended up in the hospital again.  It's noted that I have "severely decreased left ventricular ejection fraction of 34% with akinesis of the septum and otherwise fairly diffuse hypokinesis.  There are fixed defects in the basal and med anterior and anterior wall and the apex."  I don't want to  understand the diffuse hypokinesis term.  Diffuse means 'spread out' and hypokinesis means weakness I think.  Sounds like I have simply a weakened heart muscle.  I'm meeting with with primary cardiologist next week and figure all this out.  

[ChatterAlly]

At least this part of the article:

Results
BNP levels below 100 pg/mL indicate no heart failure
BNP levels of 100-300 suggest heart failure is present
BNP levels above 300 pg/mL indicate mild heart failure
BNP levels above 600 pg/mL indicate moderate heart failure.
BNP levels above 900 pg/mL indicate severe heart failure.

Ally