HEALTH NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW How Your Doctor Helps You Stay Healthy

Your primary care provider, or PCP, is one of your most important health resources. But what does a PCP do?

“As your PCP, my job is to help you stay healthy,” explained Dr. Julie Nguyen, a family medicine physician at Houston Methodist Primary Care Group in League City. “I can diagnose things that might not feel right and help you keep an eye on your health. PCPs work with our patients to help prevent problems and learn the best ways to maintain your health.”

Your PCP performs annual check-ups and is usually the first stop if any illness or health concerns arise. They help you understand and reduce your risk for developing a wide variety of health problems. PCPs monitor your health and can recommend testing or refer you to specialty care when needed. Together, you and your PCP can help you continue to live the life you love.

“A doctor and patient should be partners in health,” Nguyen said. “Working together, we can help you live a healthy life.”

To keep an eye on your health, your PCP monitors several key numbers to check your risk for developing serious diseases. For a helpful next visit, be prepared to talk with your doctor about these important indicators and other risk factors you may have.

Important Numbers To Know

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the U.S. By understanding your numbers, you can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease as well as other health conditions, such as stroke, diabetes and obesity.

■ Blood Pressure: A measurement of the amount of force your heart needs to pump blood throughout your body. Blood pressure is measured by two numbers: systolic (when your heart pumps blood out) and diastolic (when your heart rests between beats).

✓ Healthy target: less than 120/80 mmHg

Risks: High blood pressure can negatively affect the function of your heart and other major organs, such as the kidney and brain. It’s also the leading cause of stroke.

■ Body Mass Index: A measure of your weight divided by your height, squared.

✓ Healthy target: 18.5 to 25 kg/m2

Risks: The higher your BMI, the greater your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.

■ Fasting Blood Sugar: A measure of the amount of glucose in your blood after fasting for eight to 12 hours.

✓ Healthy target: below 100 mg/dL

Risks: Also called hyperglycemia, high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart over time. It can also lead to type 2 diabetes.

■ Total Cholesterol: A measurement of cholesterol (a fat-like substance made in the liver and found in foods) in your blood.

✓ Healthy target: less than 200 mg/dL. Talk to your doctor to understand all of your cholesterol (lipid) levels, including LDL, HDL and triglycerides, and what they mean for your heart health.

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. •