Today I received an update from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Healthbeat newsletter about a heart disease related stats.
According to the Agency for Heathcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reviewed the latest available numbers of sufferers:
"One in every 4 adults, representing some 55 million Americans, was treated for high blood pressure in 2008"
What is staggering about this is this only represents the people who know they have high blood pressure.
"Because high blood pressure has no symptoms, the real total would have to include people who have high blood pressure and don’t know it."
The first heart health tip would be to KNOW YOUR NUMBERS!
Like I said in the introductory post when I described myself, my personal numbers weren't as AMAZING as I had hoped. Because you feel fine, doesn't mean you are fine...
You should know the following stats about your health and monitor them regularly:
- average/ normal blood pressure reading: this ideally would be taken first thing upon waking before eating or even moving
This chart reflects blood pressure categories defined by the American Heart Association.
| Blood Pressure Category | Systolic mm Hg (upper #) | Diastolic mm Hg (lower #) | |
| Normal | less than 120 | and | less than 80 |
| Prehypertension | 120 – 139 | or | 80 – 89 |
| High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 1 | 140 – 159 | or | 90 – 99 |
| High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 2 | 160 or higher | or | 100 or higher |
| Hypertensive Crisis (Emergency care needed) | Higher than 180 | or | Higher than 110 |
* Your doctor should evaluate unusually low blood pressure readings.
- choesterol: you may recieve the total or the LDL and HDL numbers separately
Total cholesterol
> 200: desirable (however studies show more heart attacks happen between 150-200
200-239 mg/dL: borderline high risk
240 and over: high risk
HDL (good)
> 60mg/dL: some protection against heart disease
< 40 mg/dL (men) & < 50 mg/dL (women): increased risk of heart disease
LDL (bad)
< 100 mg/dL: desirable
> 160 mg/dL: high- very high
- blood sugar: this is more related to diabetes but both chronic conditions overlap complications
| Fasting blood glucose: | 70-99 milligrams per deciliter (3.9-5.5 mmol/L) |
|---|---|
| 2 hours after eating (postprandial): | 70-145 mg/dL (3.9-8.1 mmol/L) |
| Random (casual): | 70-125 mg/dL (3.9-6.9 mmol/L) |
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