SolveYourProblem Article Series: Heart Health
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Heart Health: Very Important Numbers

While many people are concerned that they have a healthy heart, they may not know exactly what is used to measure heart health. In fact, there are some very basic measurements that you can take regularly to make sure your heart is in optimum condition.

Blood pressure is the first number you’ll want to check. This is actually a measurement of the force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels. It’s made up of two numbers. The top number is your systolic pressure.

This is the pressure on your vessel walls when your heart is actually beating and is at its highest. The bottom number is called your diastolic pressure. This is the pressure at its lowest when your heart is between beats.

Your blood pressure may go up or down because of stress or movement. But overall it should be around 120/80. The bottom number is the one that usually concerns your doctor more because it’s the pressure when your heart is resting. If this number is high, it usually indicates a problem.

Cholesterol is the other number you need to know. There are four numbers here that you’ll want to measure. The first is your total cholesterol. A healthy total cholesterol number is under 200. From 200-239 you’re at borderline risk for heart disease, and higher than 240 puts you at high risk.

Cholesterol can also be broken down into HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein and is the healthy cholesterol. That HDL number should be at least 40 or higher.

LDL is your low-density lipoprotein, or unhealthy cholesterol. Your LDL numbers should be below 100 to have the best heart health. Finally, your triglyceride numbers should be below 150. This is the kind of cholesterol that comes from unhealthy fats.

You also need to know your blood glucose level. This is also known as your blood sugar level. It’s a measurement used to find out if you have diabetes. Many people have high blood sugar and have absolutely no symptoms. However, diabetes can cause an increased risk of heart disease. Healthy blood glucose levels are between 70 mg/dl and 100 mg/dl.

By making an appointment with your doctor, you can have all of these numbers and levels checked. The blood test required for your cholesterol and blood sugar levels is quick and easy. You’ll get your results back in about two weeks. Once you know where you stand, you can make any changes necessary in your lifestyle to improve your heart health.

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