You can probably tell me your significant other’s phone number, your home address, your shoe size… But what about your blood sugar? Or your BMI? Maintaining a healthy heart demands that you keep track of a few things. Since heart disease is the number one killer of men and women, it is very important to take charge of your health. Fret not, we’re here to help
Blood Sugar
Your blood sugar is simply how much sugar (or glucose) is in your bloodstream. When you eat, your body absorbs the nutrients and sugars within the food, and your blood sugar goes up. Your pancreas then steps in with insulin, which lowers your blood sugar back down to normal. Your blood sugar will increase and decrease throughout the day – if all is well. Too much glucose in the blood causes diabetes, which contributes to heart disease. If you find yourself urinating often, being thirsty all the time, in a constant state of hunger, or sudden odd weight loss or gain, talk to your doctor.
BMI
Your BMI is relatively easy to calculate online via any number of free BMI calculators. You simply need your height and weight! What you will end up with is a two digit number that is a rough indicator of how much fat is in your body. A BMI of 18 or under is considered underweight. Between 18 and 25 is normal. 25 to 30 is overweight, and beyond 30 is obese. In the interest of having a healthy heart, you want your BMI to be between 18 and 25. If you have a hard time losing weight on your own, let your doctor know. They can help – either by counseling you themselves, or sending you to a dietician.
Cholesterol
Ah cholesterol! The evil little monsters that won’t let you have real butter! Cholesterol has two numbers – the LDL (the bad kind) and the HDL (the good kind). Cholesterol is found in food, and produced by your body. Depending on your diet, you can easily outdistance the good cholesterol with the bad. Having high cholesterol can cause plaque to build up in your arteries, causing arteriosclerosis, or other heart disease. Cholesterol can be controlled by diet, or medication. Talk to your doctor if you aren’t sure where your cholesterol levels are. A simple blood test will give you a baseline to work from.
Blood Pressure
Think of your blood vessels like a garden hose. When you depress the trigger on the nozzle, the hose relaxes slightly as water flows through it. When you release the trigger, the hose becomes taut as pressure builds up. This is sort of how blood pressure works. When your heart pumps, blood swells through your vessels, which gives us systolic pressure (the top number). When your heart relaxes, so do your blood vessels, giving us diastolic pressure (the bottom number). You want your blood pressure to be under 120/80. Luckily, if it is higher, simple lifestyle changes can help bring it down – without resorting to medication.
Waist Circumference
Possibly the easiest to determine entry is your waist circumference! Take a measuring tape, and wrap it around your waist at the belly button. Men should have a waist below 40 inches, and women’s waists should be below 35 inches. Having excess fat in the abdomen will increase your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Again, if you are having a hard time losing weight, talk to your doctor. There are things they can do to help you that you probably never even thought of!
Keeping track of these five things, and working to bring them within normal limits will minimize your risk for heart disease. So don’t wait! A simple office visit could change your life.
