GET TO KNOW YOUR CARE TEAM

Chances are you may have seen a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA) during a doctor’s office visit sometime in your lifetime. While they are not medical doctors, these highly trained health care providers work hand in hand with physicians as part of your health care team.

These providers have the expertise to diagnose and treat patients in a variety of specialties. They undergo years of medical training — in fact, most have a master’s degree or a doctorate. Working under the supervision of your doctor, PAs and NPs perform clinical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order labs and tests, and prescribe medications. Houston Methodist is home to dozens of such providers, who provide expert, compassionate care throughout the system.

Risks: Excess cholesterol can build up in the walls of the arteries, leading to narrowing or blockages in your vessels, which increases your risk of heart attack or stroke.

Some risk factors are genetic or out of your control, like family history, age and sex — but there’s still a lot you can do to keep your numbers in a healthy range.

How Your Pcp Can Help

The best way to know your numbers and understand how they impact your health is to visit your PCP. As your health partner, they can perform or order tests to check these important measurements and help you make a personalized plan to get back within healthy range if necessary. Plans can include increasing your activity level, adopting healthy eating habits, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol and learning how to check and manage your blood pressure.

Building a partnership with your PCP and working with them to know and manage your numbers can dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease and other health complications. •

YOUR HEALTH by the numbers

For these key measurements, keeping your results within these healthy ranges will go a long way toward maintaining your best heart health.

Blood Pressure: Less than 120/80 mmHg

Body Mass Index: 18.5 to 25 kg/m2

Fasting Blood Sugar: 80 to 99 mg/dL

Total Cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL

Houston Methodist provides primary care that’s personalized for you and your unique needs. To find a primary care provider near you or make an appointment, visit houstonmethodist.org/ pcg/east or call 713.441.7965

Talk with your primary care provider about these important tests and steps you can take to get back in a healthy range. If you have diabetes or other health conditions, your goal numbers may vary.