Heart disease has become a menace across the world, it is the leading killer of both men and women across the globe. Yet, it does not seem to have made a deep enough impact on people. People are going on living a sedentary lifestyle (the major reason behind heart disease). One solution that could go a long way towards alleviating this problem is adopting healthy lifestyle measures. Yes, there are heart disease risk factors—like age, gender and family history—that can’t be changed, but there are others you can take control of- high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking…starting now.
While the best way to prevent
heart disease, to protect yourself from it, is by leading a healthy lifestyle,
however, knowing
your numbers: cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, and blood sugar can go a
long way towards keeping heart disease at bay.
Here are the numbers you
should know, and discover if your numbers are where they should be. Accordingly get tips for disease prevention and heart-healthy
living. By the end of it all you should be able to rattle off these numbers
without a second thought. These crucial numbers add up to good health (provided
they are in a healthy range):
Blood pressure (BP) -
High blood pressure is a major heart disease risk factor, and a health risk
linked to stroke and heart attack. This necessitates regular check-ups. Aim for
120/80 mm Hg or less. Starting from age 20, you should get your BP readings and
continue at every annual appointment with your doctor.
Cholesterol-
Cholesterol is a vital consideration for a healthy ticker. High LDL (“bad”)
cholesterol is another major heart disease risk factor. You should aim for a total
blood cholesterol lower than 200 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL, HDL
(good) cholesterol greater than 60 mg/dL, and Triglycerides – should be under
150 mg/dL.
Cholesterol screenings
typically also begin at 20 years of age, which must be performed every five
years. But if there is a personal or family history of high cholesterol or
other heart disease risk factors, cholesterol screening every year is
necessary.
Blood sugar (blood
glucose) - Your healthy target: up to 100 mg/dL. High blood sugar levels put
you at a greater risk for developing pre-diabetes (levels of 100 to 125 mg/DL) or diabetes (anything
above 125 mg/DL), which is a dangerous condition by itself, and also a leading
heart disease risk factor. The best way to take control of your heart disease
risk is by taking appropriate measures to control blood sugar.
Weight- It’s an important number to
know for the health of your ticker. Being overweight or obese can definitely
increase your risk for heart disease, however, the thing that especially can be
detrimental to your health is where you carry your weight, for
example, around your waistline, which is specifically associated
with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and respiratory issues.
To sum everything up, the
aforementioned numbers are key indicators of your overall health, especially
heart health. Unlike your family
history, age and gender, which you cannot do anything about, you can alter
these factors by making the right lifestyle choices every day. If your blood pressure,
cholesterol, weight and other numbers are higher than normal, you must work
towards lowering them. On the other hand, if your numbers are within a healthy
range, you can rest easy knowing you’re on track with your current healthy
lifestyle habits. Learning your heart health numbers will allow you to take steps to
lower your risk for heart disease.
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