Final answer:
The most regarded cardiac enzyme used to detect heart damage is troponin. It elevates in the blood plasma 2-4 hours after injury to the heart, making it a reliable marker for diagnosing myocardial infarction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cardiac enzyme that is most regarded by providers when evaluating a patient with chest pain is troponin.
Troponin levels in the blood plasma elevate 2-4 hours after injury to the heart, making it a reliable marker for detecting heart damage.
Other cardiac enzymes such as myoglobin, CK-MB, and CK are also used in diagnosing myocardial infarction, but troponin is considered the most important.