Know Your Numbers
Being heart healthy means knowing and treating the following key numbers:
© 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.
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Blood pressure goal is 120/70 or less |
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Less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic is normal |
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120-139 systolic and 80-89 diastolic is considered prehypertension |
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Blood pressure readings of 140 and higher are serious and require medical evaluation and treatment |
© Blood glucose, also commonly referred to blood sugar, is used to evaluate the presence of diabetes. Women with diabetes are at higher risk of heart disease
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Blood glucose (mg/dl) -fasting |
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Below 100 is normal |
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100-125 is considered pre-diabetes |
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126 or higher requires additional testing and treatment |
© Blood Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced in the body; but foods high in saturated fats can produce an excess amount, increasing your risk of heart disease. Total cholesterol is the sum of all types of cholesterol in your blood. A goal of less than 200 is desirable for total cholesterol, but the HDL and LDL levels are also important in equation. Does treatment require medications and other behavior changes?
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Total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dl |
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Low- density lipoprotein or LDL (“bad”) less than 100 mg/dl |
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High- density lipoprotein or HDL (“good”) more than 60 mg/dl |
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Triglycerides less than 150 mg/dl |
© Coronary Artery Calcium Score. The coronary artery calcium score tells you if you have coronary artery disease and your risk of heart attack or death from heart disease. It is appropriate for adults without heart disease or symptoms, such as chest pain. To learn more about this pain free non invasive procedure, download the Calcium Scoring PDF file.
© Body Mass Index (BMI) is a mathematical formula of weight and height. The formula is weight in pounds multiplied by 703, divided by height in inches, divided by height in inches.
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Body Mass Index calculation |
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703 x weight ¸ height ¸ height |
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For example, 703 x 165 lbs = 115995 ¸ 66” = 1757.5 ¸ 66” = 26.62 (overweight) |
The BMI goal is less than 25. A BMI of more than 25 is overweight and a BMI of greater than 30 is considered obese.
For more information on BMI visit: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi
Along with the BMI, the waist circumference measurement is important since abdominal fat (“spare tire”) increases the risk of heart disease in women and men.
Waist measurements should not exceed 35”.
Record your numbers. Print a PDF file of the chart.
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Numbers to Know |
Goal |
Your Numbers |
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Body Mass Index |
Less than 25 |
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Waist Circumference |
Less than 35 |
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Cholesterol:
LDL
HDL
Total cholesterol
Triglycerides |
Less than 100
More than 60
Less than 200
Less than 150
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Blood Pressure |
Less than 120/70 |
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Blood sugar |
Less than 100 |
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Website resources for information about heart disease in women are:
http://www.Americanheart.org
http://4women.gov/FAQ
http://nih.govhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/heartdiseaseinwomen.html