Wednesday, October 5, 2016

heart health in numbers

Though numbers are an integral part of our lives — phone, PIN, stocks and other numbers — not many of us understand numbers much when it comes to heart health. A lot of people would not know how to read 140/<90 mm Hg and 100-199 mg/dL unless explained. Making sure that you can decode these numbers will help you immensely to keep your heart health in check. Doctors recommend that one must get frequent check-ups done. Here are a some numbers you must know more about...

Blood Pressure <140/<90 mm Hg
The force of blood against the blood vessel walls as the heart pumps blood, is blood pressure. It is measured by a device that uses Hg or the height of a column of mercury, to show the circulating systolic and diastolic pressures. The first number systolic pressure is the peak pressure in the arteries, and diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure. Systolic measures artery pressure when the heart is contracted and diastolic measures it when the heart is relaxed. Normal is around 130/80 mm Hg though, for some, it may
be lower.

Total Cholesterol 100-199 mg/dL
Cholesterol is a factor that increases your chances of developing heart disease. But since it has no symptoms, one must keep a check. There is good cholesterol, HDL, and bad cholesterol, LDL and the combined levels should be around 100-199 mg/dL. The HDL should be above 45 mg/dL and the LDL below 130 mg/dL.

Exercise 30 minutes, daily
Reams have been written about how regular exercise essential. Experts state that every day spending at least 30 to 40 minutes exercising (aerobics, swimming and brisk walking) can reduce your risk of developing a heart ailment.

Blood Sugar <100 mg/dL
The sugar in our blood provides us our daily energy and to allow it to enter cells insulin is needed. Too much sugar in your blood, however, can lead to diabetes and heart disease. The blood sugar levels varies widely from person to person. The general recommended level is fasting sugar less than 100mg/dl.

BMI 18.5-24.9
One of the strong risk factors for heart disease is obesity. The BMI or the body mass index is one way to measure it. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is healthy. Anything less or more could indicate a problem.
*The figures mentioned apply to an average adult. One should always consult the doctor for the most accurate information that applies to you.

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