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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.
life-threatening diseases, including diabetes, 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
than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). An annual blood test can monitor your levels and help your doctor make recommendations tailored to your health.
15 Minutes Fifteen minutes is all it takes to save a life. Your doctor will help That’s how long it you understand what takes to get a simple these new targets mean health screening that for you and if any gives you the informatreatment is necessary. tion you need to live a Treatment may include 3. Blood Sugar heart healthy life. Talk a heart-healthy diet, High blood sugar levels to your primary care 1. Blood Pressure may indicate that you High blood pressure is more physical activity provider about what have diabetes or pre-di- preventive measures or a leading cause of heart or medication to help abetes, two conditions failure and stroke. Also control your blood screenings are right for pressure. that can greatly increase you. called hypertension, the risk of heart disease high blood pressure and stroke. The Amer- Your doctor can also can cause blockages in 2. Cholesterol Cholesterol is a natural- ican Heart Association assess your heart health the arteries, reducing ly occurring substance considers diabetes to be at your annual physical, the flow of oxygen to one of the major conthe heart and making it that is found in the an important part of body and produced in trollable risk factors for managing your whole work harder. the liver and other cells. heart disease. The American Heart health. It’s just one It can also come from Association released of many reasons you eating foods that are A normal blood sugar new guidelines for should see a doctor in high in fat. High levels level after fasting is 100 times of both health blood pressure and of cholesterol can cause mg/dL. treatment. and wellness. blockages of the arter• Normal: Under ies, potentially leading 4.Body Mass Index 120/80 (BMI) • Elevated: 120-129/80 to a heart attack. Being overweight • Stage 1 Hyperten A desirable total choor obese is a major sion: 130-139/80-89 lesterol level is less risk factor in many • Stage 2 Hyper-
