13 years ago
Heart Health by Numbers
Heart diseases are the number one killer across the globe. It doesn't discriminate anyone. It strikes males and females, young and old - basically all and any. When we say heart diseases, we mean multiple conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. Heart disease includes coronary artery disease, pulmonary heart disease, and hypertension.
The good news is that most types of heart disease are preventable and can be managed or even treated through a combination of diet, exercise, medication, and monitoring. While many people are aware they have should have a healthy heart, they may not know exactly what is used to measure heart health.
Heart health is determined by a few health indexes such as blood pressure, weight, and blood sugar. Each health index is a number and each index has a range which is considered acceptable. If your number is outside the range then you should be concerned. Regular appointments with your doctor can help you keep track of these health indexes. Here are a few of the most important health numbers you should know and why they matter.
Blood pressure
One of the most principal vital signs of a heart disease is Blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. It's measured with two numbers:
* Systolic: The top number is the pressure when the heart beats.
* Diastolic: The bottom number is the pressure when the heart rests between beats.
Numbers:
* Safe: Lower than 120/80 mmHg (Less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic is normal).
* Risky: Equal to or higher than 140/90.
A reading over 120/80 up to 139/89 is considered pre-hypertension. However take the reading multiple times to verify. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, but increases the heart's workload and raises the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, or kidney problems. Even if your blood pressure is normal, you should consider making lifestyle modifications to prevent the development of high blood pressure and improve your heart health.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a soft fat-like substance in your blood stream and cells. Our body uses it to make cell membranes, hormones, Vitamin D, and bile salts for absorption of fat. There are 3 different types of cholesterol:
* High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the healthy or "good" cholesterol.
* Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the unhealthy or "bad" cholesterol.
* Finally, triglyceride which is the kind of cholesterol that comes from unhealthy fats.
Only about 20 percent of the cholesterol we need comes from the food we eat. The remainder (approximately 80 percent), is made by our liver.
Numbers:
The numbers for LDL, HDL and triglycerides combine to give a "lipid profile" score, but the three individual scores are most important.
* Safe:
o Total cholesterol: Lower than 200 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter of blood)
o LDL: Lower than 100 mg/dl. If you are at a very high risk for heart disease, then lower than 70 mg/dl.
o HDL: Higher than 50 mg/dl for women, and higher than 40 mg/dl for men.
o Triglycerides: less than 150 mg/dl
* Risky:
o Total cholesterol: Higher than 200 mg/dl
o LDL: Higher than 160 mg/dl
o HDL: Less than 40 mg/dl
o Triglycerides: Higher than 200 mg/dl
Although cholesterol is essential for life, high levels are associated with atherosclerosis. Cholesterol builds up in the artery walls causing high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
Heart diseases are the number one killer across the globe. It doesn't discriminate anyone. It strikes males and females, young and old - basically all and any. When we say heart diseases, we mean multiple conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. Heart disease includes coronary artery disease, pulmonary heart disease, and hypertension.
The good news is that most types of heart disease are preventable and can be managed or even treated through a combination of diet, exercise, medication, and monitoring. While many people are aware they have should have a healthy heart, they may not know exactly what is used to measure heart health.
Heart health is determined by a few health indexes such as blood pressure, weight, and blood sugar. Each health index is a number and each index has a range which is considered acceptable. If your number is outside the range then you should be concerned. Regular appointments with your doctor can help you keep track of these health indexes. Here are a few of the most important health numbers you should know and why they matter.
Blood pressure
One of the most principal vital signs of a heart disease is Blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. It's measured with two numbers:
* Systolic: The top number is the pressure when the heart beats.
* Diastolic: The bottom number is the pressure when the heart rests between beats.
Numbers:
* Safe: Lower than 120/80 mmHg (Less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic is normal).
* Risky: Equal to or higher than 140/90.
A reading over 120/80 up to 139/89 is considered pre-hypertension. However take the reading multiple times to verify. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, but increases the heart's workload and raises the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, or kidney problems. Even if your blood pressure is normal, you should consider making lifestyle modifications to prevent the development of high blood pressure and improve your heart health.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a soft fat-like substance in your blood stream and cells. Our body uses it to make cell membranes, hormones, Vitamin D, and bile salts for absorption of fat. There are 3 different types of cholesterol:
* High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the healthy or "good" cholesterol.
* Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the unhealthy or "bad" cholesterol.
* Finally, triglyceride which is the kind of cholesterol that comes from unhealthy fats.
Only about 20 percent of the cholesterol we need comes from the food we eat. The remainder (approximately 80 percent), is made by our liver.
Numbers:
The numbers for LDL, HDL and triglycerides combine to give a "lipid profile" score, but the three individual scores are most important.
* Safe:
o Total cholesterol: Lower than 200 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter of blood)
o LDL: Lower than 100 mg/dl. If you are at a very high risk for heart disease, then lower than 70 mg/dl.
o HDL: Higher than 50 mg/dl for women, and higher than 40 mg/dl for men.
o Triglycerides: less than 150 mg/dl
* Risky:
o Total cholesterol: Higher than 200 mg/dl
o LDL: Higher than 160 mg/dl
o HDL: Less than 40 mg/dl
o Triglycerides: Higher than 200 mg/dl
Although cholesterol is essential for life, high levels are associated with atherosclerosis. Cholesterol builds up in the artery walls causing high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
