Knowing your health numbers is a good first step to improving your health. From your ideal body mass index to your resting blood pressure and cholesterol levels, these measures can help you monitor your risk factors and help you take early preventive actions that could save your life.
Blood pressure: A normal (healthy) blood pressure is 120/80. If your blood pressure is higher than this, download our Ask Your Doctor packet to discuss adding MegaNatural®-BP to your daily regimen.
Blood Glucose: High glucose levels put you at risk for diabetes. Ideally, your blood sugar level after fasting for eight to 10 hours, should be less than 100 mg/dl. Numbers falling below 50 mg/dl in men or 40 mg/dl in women may indicate hypoglycemia.
Body Mass Index (BMI): Your BMI measures your fat based on your height and weight. Normal is 18.5 to 24.9. The National Institutes of Health has an easy online calculator that will give you the results in seconds.
Total Cholesterol: Your total cholesterol consists of your LDL (bad), HDL (good) and triglycerides. It should measure below 200 mg/dL.
LDL Cholesterol: Health professionals generally agree that the lower your LDL, the lower your heart disease risk. The ideal LDL level is 100-129 mg/dL, but if you are at risk for heart disease it should be below 100 mg/dL. Those at high risk for heart disease might want to aim even lower: below 70 mg/dL.
HDL Cholesterol: Your good cholesterol is thought to protect your heart, and should measure 60 mg/dL or higher.
Triglycerides: Triglycerides are another type of fat found in your blood that can lead to coronary artery disease, and may be a symptom of uncontrolled diabetes. Earlier this year, the American Heart Association lowered its recommended ideal triglyceride levels from 150 mg/dL to 100 mg/dL.
Always talk with your doctor about your test results and health measurements. He or she will probably want to re-run any tests when the results are out of the ‘normal’ range. Even if your measurements are within normal range, continue making healthy lifestyle choices to help ensure that you can remain healthy and active throughout your life.
