Know your heart-health numbers
Tests of your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and weight can tell you a lot about your heart health. They can help you understand whether you’re at risk for a heart or vascular condition and whether certain changes, such as eating healthier or getting more exercise, can protect your heart in the long term.
Important heart health numbers you should know
Keeping your numbers within healthy ranges
Your primary care provider performs many of these tests during your annual physical. If any of the numbers seem high, your provider can offer recommendations for how to get them within healthy ranges.
Your provider may be more proactive with treatments if your numbers suggest you may have metabolic syndrome, a collection of factors that put you at higher risk for heart disease.
Metabolic syndrome occurs when you have at least three of the following:
- A waist circumference larger than what’s considered healthy for you
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- High triglycerides
- Low HDL cholesterol
Take the next step to improve your heart health
Once you know your numbers, you can make a heart health improvement plan with your healthcare provider.
In most cases, you can improve blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI by changing your lifestyle. You can:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet.
- Exercise at a moderate intensity (walking, for example) for at least 150 minutes a week.
- Limit your alcohol intake to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
- Quit smoking if you smoke.
From starting your risk assessment to reaching your health goals, Baylor Scott & White heart health experts are here for you.
Ready to improve your heart health? Call 214.820.0192 to request a heart risk assessment or take the heart risk quiz.