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Know Your Numbers

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Why should I know my numbers?

Your risk for heart disease and stroke can be assessed by knowing your numbers for body composition, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and blood sugar and by understanding what they mean.

Body composition tests

Your body is made up of water, fat, protein, carbohydrates, and various vitamins and minerals. If you have too much fat -- especially in your waist area -- your risk for heart disease and stroke is higher.

Body mass index

Body mass index (BMI*) is a of a person's weight to height. BMI is commonly used to classify weight as "healthy" or "unhealthy."

BMI less than 18.5 Underweight
BMI 18.5 - 24.9 Healthy
BMI 25.0 - 29.0 Overweight
BMI 30.0 or more Obese

*BMI may not be the most appropriate indicator to determine health status for certain groups of people.

Waist circumference

The waist circumference is a simple measurement around a person’s natural waist (just above the navel).  A high-risk waistline is defined as more than 35 inches (88 cm) for women, and more than 40 inches (102 cm) for men.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in all parts of your body.  It is coated with a layer of protein to make a “lipoprotein” that can travel through the blood.  There are two types of cholesterol:

LDL (low density lipoprotein) carries most of the cholesterol in the blood.  When there is too much in the blood, it can lead to a cholesterol buildup in the arteries.  This is why LDL cholesterol is called the “bad” cholesterol.

HDL (high density lipoprotein) helps remove cholesterol from the blood and helps prevent the fatty buildup.  HDL cholesterol is called the “good” cholesterol.

Total cholesterol

Less than 200 mg/dL Desirable
200 - 239 mg/dL Borderline high
240 mg/dL or greater High

LDL cholesterol

Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal
100 - 129 mg/dL Near/above optimal
130 - 159 mg/dL Borderline high
160 - 189 mg/dL High
190 mg/dL and above Very high

HDL cholesterol

<40 Low
>60 High

NOTE: These categories apply to adults age 20 and above.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body.  They’re also present in blood plasma and, in association with cholesterol, form the plasma lipids.

Triglycerides in plasma are derived from fats eaten in foods or made in the body from other energy sources such as carbohydrates.  Calories ingested in a meal and not used immediately by tissues are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored.

Excess triglycerides in plasma are called hypertriglyceridemia.  It’s linked to the occurrence of coronary artery disease in some people.  Elevated triglycerides may be a consequence of other diseases, such as untreated diabetes mellitus.  As with cholesterol, increases in triglyceride levels can be detected by plasma measurements.  These measurements should be made after an overnight food and alcohol fast. 

Normal Less than 150 mg/dL
Borderline high 150 - 199 mg/dL
High 200 - 499 mg/dL
Very high 500mg/dL and above

Blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force of blood as it moves through the blood vessels.  If blood cannot flow easily through the vessels, the force increases.  If the force is too great, you have high blood pressure. 

The higher (systolic) number represents the pressure while the heart is beating.  The lower (diastolic) number represents the pressure when the heart is resting between beats.  The systolic pressure is always stated first and the diastolic pressure second.
 

(Ages 18 Years and Older)
  Blood Pressure Level (mm Hg)
Category Systolic Diastolic
Normal <120 and <80
Prehypertension 120-139  80-89
Stage 1 Hypertension 140-159  90-99
Stage 2 Hypertension >160 or >100
From the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7).  

Blood sugar

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the level of glucose in the blood -- called blood sugar -- is too high.  Normally, the body gets its energy from blood sugar, which comes from food.

According to the American Diabetes Association, a fasting blood sugar level in people who do not have diabetes should be between 60 - 99 mg/dL.  If you have diabetes, your goal for blood sugar levels using a blood glucose meter should be-

  Old Monitor
(It does not check plasma glucose levels.)		 New Monitor
(It checks plasma glucose levels.)
Before meals 80 – 120 mg/dL 90 – 130 mg/dL
At bedtime 100 – 140 mg/dL 110 – 150 mg/dL

Your blood sugar goals may be different from these ideal goals. Ask your health care provider what goals are best for you.

For a healthy heart, try to live by these numbers:

Blood pressure Less than 120/80
BMI Less than 25
Total cholesterol Less than 200 mg/dL
  LDL Less than 130 mg/dL
  HDL Above 40 mg/dL
Triglycerides Less than 150 mg/dL
Normal blood sugar 60 - 99 mg/dL
Waist circumference  
  Men Less than 40 inches
  Women Less than 35 inches

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