Know your #health #numbers
Your #heart works hard for your body every second of the day and keeping it healthy is an important part of your whole health. Even though #heartdisease doesn’t always show #physical signs until it causes a bigger issue, such as #heartattack or #stroke, the body has other ways of telling us when something’s not right.
That’s why it’s so important to make sure you and your doctor regularly check these #four (4) measurements:
1.????????#cholesterol
2.????????#bloodpressure
3.????????#bloodsugar
4.????????#bodymassindex #BMI
Learn what each measurement means, how often it should be checked, and how to keep it in a heart-healthy range.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that runs through the blood. Two important types are #ldl, often called “bad” cholesterol, and #hdl, the “good” cholesterol. Too much bad cholesterol can build up and increase the chance that blood flow is blocked in the arteries, causing a heart attack or stroke.
None. Only a blood test can tell if cholesterol is too high.
Most healthy adults need cholesterol tests every year. However, doctors may want to test more often if there is a family history of high cholesterol or other risk factors.
A heart-healthy diet is one of the best ways to lower cholesterol. Focus on foods low in saturated and trans fats, like #freshfruits and #vegetables, #wholegrains, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, and healthier vegetable oils such as canola, corn, and olive. A type of medication called “statin” can also help lower bad cholesterol.
Blood pressure is a measure of the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. High blood pressure, also called “#hypertension,” that measure is higher than normal, and it can lead to heart failure, heart attack, or stroke.
There are usually no symptoms.Aa higher percentage of Indian adults have high blood pressure, and many of them don’t know it.
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It depends on your risk factors, but doctors should check your blood pressure at least once a year.
Some factors for high blood pressure are out of your control, such as family history, age, gender, or race. However, healthy habits can often keep it in check, including regularly exercising, not drinking too much alcohol, eating right, and maintaining a healthy weight. The #dash (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet focuses on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and is designed specifically to help lower blood pressure.
Blood sugar comes from food and is the body’s main source of energy. When blood sugar is too high, especially for long periods of time, it can damage the blood vessels and nerves, and lead to issues like heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. High blood sugar is most often linked with diabetes.
Very high levels can lead to frequent urination, increased thirst, blurry vision, feeling overly weak, tired, confused, dry mouth, or nausea and vomiting. These symptoms can develop slowly over several days or weeks.
Doctors should test blood sugar every one to three years, depending on the risk factors. People who have diabetes need to check their blood sugar several times a day.
Stress, overeating, illness, being overweight, or not having enough insulin can all trigger high blood sugar. Exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, finding healthy ways to cope with stress, and following a diabetes-friendly diet can help lower blood sugar.
BMI is a number that estimates your level of obesity. It is calculated by dividing a person’s weight by the square of their height. BMI numbers are used to screen for weight categories that might make health problems more likely. It is not an exact science — many factors affect BMI, such as gender, race, age, and even muscle makeup, and not all of these factors are necessarily linked to a higher risk of health problems. However, there’s a lot of research showing that people with BMIs in the obese or morbidly obese ranges face a much higher risk of high #bloodpressure, #diabetes, #highcholesterol, and #heartfailure, as well as other issues like trouble #sleeping, #breathingproblems, or #backpain and #jointpain.
High BMI doesn’t have symptoms. Instead, a high BMI is the most common sign of being overweight or obese. Obesity is considered a serious medical condition.
If you know your weight and height, you can check your BMI anytime with a BMI calculator. Doctors typically check BMI once a year and consider it, along with many other health factors, to decide if it’s an issue.
A heart-healthy food, I specifically mention health food, not a diet, and regular exercise can help lower BMI. Aim to exercise at least 150 minutes a week (or 30 minutes a day for five days).
#Knowledge is #power
It’s hard to make healthy changes if you don’t know you need to make them in the first place. Start by scheduling an #annual #healthcheck...
P.S. - This information is meant to be #educational. It should not be interpreted as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor about changes that may affect your health.