Know your numbers when it comes to health care

Tips to help you stay on top of your health

One of the first steps to improving your health is knowing your important health numbers. These numbers include knowing your body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose numbers. Check your numbers and compare using the guidelines below. 

Download the Know Your Numbers Health Tips Flier (pdf)

BMI

  • Healthy weight: 18.5 to 24.9
  • Overweight: 25 to 29.9
  • Obese: 30 or higher
  • Calculate your BMI

Blood pressure

  • Normal: Systolic less than 120 and diastolic less than 80
  • Elevated: Systolic between 120 and 129 and diastolic less than 80
  • Stage 1 Hypertension: Systolic between 130 and 139 or diastolic between 80 and 89
  • Stage 2 Hypertension: Systolic 140 or higher or diastolic 90 or higher
  • Hypertensive Crisis: Systolic higher than 180 and/or diastolic higher than 120

Cholesterol

  • Total Cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL
  • HDL Cholesterol for Men: Higher than 40 mg/dL
  • HDL Cholesterol for Women: Higher than 50 mg/dL
  • LDL Cholesterol: Less than 100mg/dL

Glucose

  • Optimal Fasting Level: less than 100mg/DL

Consider eating a heart-healthy diet

Eating heart-healthy means your diet should include plenty of these food choices:

  • Vegetables from all subgroups – dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), starches.

  • Fruits, especially whole fruits to get all the nutrients (such as fiber).

  • Grains, at least half of which are high fiber whole grains. Aim for 25-30 grams of fiber a day. Look for whole-grain cereal, breads, crackers, oatmeal, noodles and brown rice.

  • Fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, cheese, and/or fortified soy beverages.

  • A variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), nuts and seeds.

Practice habits that may help keep your heart healthier

  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat a heart-healthy diet
  • Maintain a healthier weight
  • Manage your blood pressure
  • Take charge of cholesterol
  • Keep blood sugar at healthy levels
  • Don’t smoke

Limit your intake of these foods

  • Saturated and trans fats as these may raise your cholesterol
  • Sodium which may increase blood pressure
  • Red meat (and compare food labels to select the leanest cuts available)
  • Sweets and sugar sweetened beverages

Consider 30 minutes of moderate physical activity

Finding time for 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week can provide many of the same benefits as strenuous exercise. Physical activity is anything that gets the body moving, including walking.

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