Why These 4 Numbers are Important For Us
Usually we don’t go to the doctor when feeling good and we wait until something goes wrong with us . Then we rush to a doctor . That shouldn't be our approach . If you want to avoid frequent visits to a doctor at a later stage , please do keep an eye on these 4 numbers . Here they are -
Your Blood Pressure - Blood pressure is a measure of force that our Heart needs to pump and circulate blood throughout our body so that our different organs can perform efficiently . This has to be within a certain range .High blood pressure can cause malfunctioning of various vital organs like the brain , kidney etc . High B.P. is a major cause of stroke . On the other hand if B.P. is too low our vital organs don’t get adequate oxygen and nutrients . Too low B.P. can cause shocks - this may be sweaty skin , a blue skin , rapid breathing , a weak and rapid pulse .
1. Blood Pressure ( B.P. ) is measured in two numbers -
Systolic number - This is the no. when our blood pumps out . ( the upper no. )
Diastolic number - This is no. when our hearts rests in between beats .( the lower no. )
Healthy B.P. range is 120/ 80 mm Hg
2. Fasting Blood Sugar -
This number gives us a measure of glucose in our blood after fasting ( preferably at night ) for 8 - 12 hours . High blood sugar , also called Hyperglycemia ,can damage our blood vessels and nerves which in turn control our heart over time . It leads to type 2 diabetes . In such cases our body lacks Insulin . Hyperglycemia can cause excess hunger and thirst , vomiting , rapid heartbeat ,vision problems etc. If uncontrolled it leads to serious health issues. While a very low sugar ( less than 70 mg/ dL ) , called hypoglycemia , leads to type 1 diabetes. It causes shaking , rapid heartbeat , anxiety , dizziness etc.
Healthy fasting sugar no. is below 100 mg/ dL
Sometimes doctors want to measure Postprandial Glucose level ( PP ) . This is measured nearly two hours after the Fasting sugar test and taking normal breakfast . This number gives doctors more information on managing our blood sugar level . PP should be preferably below 140 - 150 mg/ dL
3 . Total Cholesterol - Cholesterol is a fat-like substance made in our lever and they are found in our foods . Cholesterol is present in our body but excess cholesterol can build up in our blood vessels . This results in narrowing or even blocking of arteries . THis can lead to serious heart issues leading to heart attack or stroke .
A healthy target of Cholesterol is less than 170 mg / dL
If at any time doctors notice abnormal Cholesterol level , he / she will order for Lipid Profile test which measures LDL ( known as bad cholesterol - should be less than 100 mg/dL ) , HDL ( called good cholesterol which should be more than 45 - 50 mg/ dL ) and Triglycerides ( below 150 mg/dL ) . These are very important for our heart health .
Last but not the least is the number 4 - Body Mass Index ( BMI ) number -
BMI is a measure of our weight divided by the square of our height . While this is not a perfect thing to measure fat , it certainly helps our care provider understand if we have a healthy weight i.e. neither underweight nor overweight . Higher BMI number means obesity and we might be at a greater risk of heart disease , high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes . This might also be an indication of certain types of cancers .
Healthy BMI no for adults is between 18. 5 - 25 ( Details on Importance of BMI might be available later on )
Finally DIY if one has higher numbers - While some risk factors are beyond our control like family history or genetic disorders ,age and sex - but yet there is much we can do ourselves to keep the above numbers in healthy range .
A healthy lifestyle which includes - regular exercise , keeping active , healthy eating habits , quitting ( minimizing smoking and drinking alcohol to a safe level ) , managing stress by meditation / yoga etc.
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