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Four Numbers to Know for Your Heart Health Your heart: It’s the engine that helps your body function and allows you to enjoy all life has to offer — from favorite activities to relationships with friends and family members. This February, celebrate this amazing organ during National Heart Month. Heart disease affects approximately 84 million Americans and is the number one cause of death for men and women every year. Take control of your heart health by learning about four key numbers — and what you can do to keep them where they need to be.
cancer, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome and heart disease. Your BMI is a calculation based on your height and weight and can indicate whether you are overweight or obese. People are considered overweight starting at a BMI of 25 and obese at 30 or higher. tension: Higher than 140/90 Your doctor will help you understand what these new targets mean for you and if any treatment is necessary. Treatment may include a heart-healthy diet, more physical activity or medication to help control your blood pressure.
deciliter (mg/dL). An annual blood test can monitor your levels and help your doctor make recommendations tailored to your health.
3. Blood Sugar High blood sugar levels may indicate that you have diabetes or pre-di1. Blood Pressure abetes, two conditions High blood pressure is that can greatly increase a leading cause of heart the risk of heart disease failure and stroke. Also and stroke. The Amercalled hypertension, 2. Cholesterol ican Heart Association high blood pressure can cause blockages in Cholesterol is a natural- considers diabetes to be ly occurring substance one of the major conthe arteries, reducing that is found in the trollable risk factors for the flow of oxygen to heart disease. the heart and making it body and produced in the liver and other cells. work harder. It can also come from A normal blood sugar The American Heart eating foods that are level after fasting is 100 Association released high in fat. High levels mg/dL. new guidelines for of cholesterol can cause blood pressure and blockages of the arter4.Body Mass Index treatment. ies, potentially leading (BMI) • Normal: Under to a heart attack. Being overweight 120/80 or obese is a major • Elevated: 120-129/80 A desirable total chorisk factor in many • Stage 1 Hyperten lesterol level is less life-threatening diseassion: 130-139/80-89 than 200 milligrams per es, including diabetes, • Stage 2 Hyper-
15 Minutes Fifteen minutes is all it takes to save a life. That’s how long it takes to get a simple health screening that gives you the information you need to live a heart healthy life. Talk to your primary care provider about what preventive measures or screenings are right for you. Your doctor can also assess your heart health at your annual physical, an important part of managing your whole health. It’s just one of many reasons you should see a doctor in times of both health and wellness.
