Numbers That Provide a View of Heart Health
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter published an article on the five important numbers which provide an overall view of hearth health and what the target numbers should be. While these are specific recommendations, Ms. Corliss also says the ideal values are good goals for most people but your doctor may suggest different numbers based on your age and other health conditions.
Current recommended blood pressure numbers are less than 120/80 mm Hg. Systolic blood pressure is the first number and diastolic blood pressure the second number, and together they measure how hard your heart is working and the condition of your blood vessels. High blood pressure (HBP) can damage blood vessels and increase a person’s risk for a stroke or heart attack.
Your LDL cholesterol numbers should be less than 70 mg/dL and your triglycerides less than 150 mg/dL. A cholesterol test is done through a blood draw after a person has fasted and if both your numbers are high, it increases your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Another important number is your blood sugar levels, which is how diabetes is typically diagnosed. Doctors say blood sugar levels should be less than 100 mg/dL.
Finally, the last number you should pay attention to for better health is your waistline measurement. Experts say the circumference should be either lower than: less than half your height in inches; or for women less than 35 inches, and for men less than 40 inches. The problem with big numbers is what doctors call “abdominal or visceral obesity” typically an indication of fat surrounding the internal organs. Use a tape measure placed just above your navel (belly button) to get your number.
Ms. Corliss goes on to give universal advice to improve all the measures of heart health. She states “Eating a healthy, plant-based diet can help. Regular exercise also helps; aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise like brisk walking most days. Other lifestyle habits that can lower your heart disease risk include getting seven to eight hours of sleep nightly and managing your stress level.”
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This post is intended for informational purposes only. Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.
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