We all know about our age, height, and weight. But do you know your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar? Those maybe invisible to your eyes, but they are your health indicators.
High blood pressure can increase your risk of a stroke, and high cholesterol can make you prone to heart disease. But don't worry - with just a few simple tests that we are going to show you, you can discover what your numbers are, and if you need to make any lifestyle changes.
Under Pressure
High blood pressure has been nicknamed the "silent killer." Many people don't even know they have it.
It is measured in two parts, 1) as blood is pushed around your heart (systolic blood pressure), and 2) when your heart relaxes (diastolic blood pressure).
A healthy blood pressure is 120/80 (systolic/diastolic) or less; the lower both numbers are the better.1 If your blood pressure is as high as 140/90 and untreated, then you will risk having a stroke or heart attack. You could also develop kidney disease, dementia, and eye problems.1
Once you know you have high blood pressure, your doctor can let you know if you need any medication. You can also help yourself by eating less salt, and adding more fruit and vegetables to your diet.
Get Your Cholesterol Checked
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. There are two types, the good: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and the bad: low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Too much LDL can increase your chance of having heart disease, especially if your HDL level is also low.
Your total cholesterol should be below 200 mg/dL, HDL should be 60mg/dL, and LDL should be below 7mg/dL or below 1.8mmol/L.4
It's especially important to get your cholesterol tested if you have a history of high cholesterol or heart disease in your family, or if you have diabetes.3
BMI
Your weight doesn’t factor in your height and that’s where BMI comes in.
A BMI of 18.5-25 is ideal. Any less than 18.5 and you may need to put on weight. If your BMI is between 25 and 30, it's a good idea to lose some weight. Obese people have a BMI between 30 and 40 and should lose some weight. Otherwise, they could risk serious health problems, such as:5
- Heart disease
- Some cancers, e.g. bowel, kidney, uterine, and breast
- Type 2 diabetes
- Poor fertility
Sometimes, BMI might not exactly mean how it appears. If you have an athletic build, your BMI could read high even when you have a healthy amount of body fat. As you get older, your BMI may read low when more of your body weight will be fat, not muscle.
Get your BMI checked with your doctor and they should be able to tell you more.
Blood Sugar
Blood sugar indicates the concentration of glucose in your blood.
A healthy blood glucose level sits between 70-100 mg/dL (3.9-5.6 mmol/L). After eating, this should be 80 mg/dL (10 mmol/L).6 A high blood sugar can damage your blood vessels. If it isn't kept under control, you may develop type 2 diabetes and other complications.6
It’s not easy to tell whether you have high blood sugar though as it’s often confused with symptoms of other health conditions. Nevertheless, to be safe, it is always better to do a blood test.
Stay on Top
Staying on top of your body's numbers could help you to prevent many health problems in the future.
Sources
- What is blood pressure and why is it important? Blood pressure association. Visited August 21 2008.
- Cholesterol. British Heart Foundation. Visited August 21 2008.
- Health information. Heart UK. Visited August 21 2008.
- Cholesterol Test: Results Mayo Clinic. Visited 15 Aug 2013.
- Diabetes and blood glucose. Diabetes UK. Visited August 22 2008.
- Living with Diabetes. Mayo Clinic. Visited 16 Aug 2013.