Blood tests are useful in screening for heart failure and to look for possible causes or triggers.
A blood sample will be taken from you by a doctor, nurse or phlebotomist (healthcare professional who specialises in taking blood samples).
They will be looking for signs of anaemia, problems with your liver or kidneys, levels of natriuretic peptides (BNP) and thyroid function.
Anaemia, liver and kidney problems and hyperthyroidism are all conditions that can either cause or complicate heart failure.
High levels of BNP in your blood have been linked with heart failure and the test is useful both in diagnosis and management decisions.
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