About BNP
B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) is a hormone produced by your heart. Its main role is to help manage blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. It is released in response to changes in pressure inside the heart, often related to heart failure or other cardiac conditions. Elevated BNP levels are often used as a marker of heart stress and can signal that heart function is impaired.
Reference Values
Optimal Range
0 - 100 pg/mL
Elite Value
Not specified
Health Implications
{'high': 'Elevated levels may indicate heart failure, as they suggest that the heart is under stress and struggling to pump blood effectively.', 'low': 'Low levels may be associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, but could also be observed in individuals undergoing aggressive treatment for heart failure.'}
Symptoms
High
May include shortness of breath, rapid weight gain, fatigue, regular dry coughing, and swelling in the legs or abdomen.
Low
Can include dizziness, fainting spells, weakness, shortness of breath during exertion, and a tendency to tire easily.
Lifestyle Factors
Specimen Type
Testing Methods
Also Known As
Scientific Sources
- Yancy, C. W., Jessup, M., Bozkurt, B., Butler, J., Casey, D. E., Drazner, M. H., ... & Wilkoff, B. L. (2017). 2017 ACC/AHA/HFSA Focused Update of the 2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 70(6), 776-803.
- Januzzi, J. L., Jr., Mahler, S. A., Christenson, R. H., Newby, L. K., Body, R., McCord, J., ... & Peacock, W. F. (2019). Recommendations for Institutions Transitioning to High-Sensitivity Troponin Testing: JACC Scientific Expert Panel. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 73(9), 1059-1077.
- McDonagh, T. A., Metra, M., Adamo, M., Gardner, R. S., Baumbach, A., Böhm, M., ... & Seferovic, P. M. (2021). 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure. European Heart Journal, 42(36), 3599-3726.
- Clerico, A., Zaninotto, M., Passino, C., & Plebani, M. (2020). New issues in the assessment of natriuretic peptides in heart failure patients. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 58(3), 457-467.
- Maisel, A. S., & Daniels, L. B. (2017). Breathing not properly 10 years later: what we have learned and what we still need to learn. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 60(4), 277-282.