Blood analysis detects hormone the organ releases to protect itself.
The government has approved a blood test to help doctors decide whether a patient who is short of breath is suffering from congestive heart failure. Almost 5 million Americans have congestive heart failure. Particularly in early disease when symptoms are subtle, it can be hard to diagnose. Shortness of breath often is a first symptom, but that can signal numerous lung diseases as well as heart disease. BNP is a hormone that helps guard the heart against excess salt and water retention, which occurs as the heart starts to fail.