Lots of numbers may signal luck to you — your birthday, the number of kids you have, the address of your first house. But do you know the key numbers that can bring your heart luck?
Research shows that hitting the right targets for cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and weight can reduce your risk for heart disease. Read on for the goals and how to reach them.
Cholesterol Counts
The higher your LDL, or "bad," cholesterol, the greater your risk for heart disease. "LDL can build up on the inner walls of arteries, narrowing and clogging the blood vessels," says Joseph Clemente, M.D., the medical director of the catheterization lab at Riverview Medical Center.
"Eventually, a blockage may occur. If an artery in or near the heart is blocked, the result is a heart attack. If an artery supplying blood to the brain gets blocked, the result is a stroke."
HDL, or "good," cholesterol has the opposite effect. HDL helps prevent cholesterol buildup in arteries by carrying bad cholesterol to the liver for removal.
Have your cholesterol checked at least every five years starting at age 20. The ideal ranges are:
"Lifestyle changes, such as exercising, limiting saturated and trans fats, and losing weight if you're overweight, can help you improve your numbers," says Dr. Clemente. "Your doctor might also recommend medications, such as statins."
Tally Up Triglycerides
A cholesterol screening test gives you another important number: your triglyceride count. "Triglycerides are another blood fat that can boost your risk for heart disease," says Vincent Vivona, D.O., of Ocean Medical Center. "Your body produces some of it, and you get some from the foods you eat. If you eat more calories than you burn, your body turns the extra fuel into triglycerides."
According to the National Cholesterol Education Program, triglyceride levels are:
If you're in the borderline or high group, your doctor may talk with you about making the same lifestyle changes you would make if you had high cholesterol. If these changes don't bring your levels in check, your doctor may prescribe medications. "Statins can also work for triglycerides," says Dr. Vivona.
Bring Down Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, also boosts your risk for heart disease and stroke. With high blood pressure, the heart has to pump harder to circulate the blood. "Usually, high blood pressure has no signs or symptoms," says George Younan, M.D., a board certified cardiologist affiliated with Meridian CardioVascular Network. "The best way to learn if your blood pressure is high is by having it checked at your doctor's office or by checking at home on a regular basis."
Your blood pressure is considered normal when it's lower than 120/80. If either number starts to creep up, you have prehypertension — a warning that it's time to take action to lower your blood pressure. Once the top number hits 140 or the bottom number reaches 90, you have stage 1 hypertension.
"High blood pressure can be managed by choosing foods that are high in fiber and low in sodium, calories, and fat; maintaining a healthy weight; and increasing physical activity," says Dr. Younan.
If those changes don't work, you may need to take daily medication to control your blood pressure.
Calculate Your Weight
A whopping 67 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese. Do you fall into one of these categories? "Body mass index, or BMI, is one calculation doctors use to determine if you're at a healthy weight," says Mahesh Tekriwal, M.D., of Southern Ocean Medical Center. "It takes your height into consideration."
There are many online calculators that can help you compute your BMI. (Check out ours by visiting WellnessCenter.MeridianHealth.com and searching "BMI Calculator.") Then check these ranges:
"Get your BMI in the healthy range with realistic goals for shedding pounds," says Dr. Tekriwal. "Research suggests that losing just 5 percent to 10 percent of your body weight — and keeping it off — lowers your risk for health problems."
About the Doctors
Research shows that hitting the right targets for cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and weight can reduce your risk for heart disease. Read on for the goals and how to reach them.
Cholesterol Counts
The higher your LDL, or "bad," cholesterol, the greater your risk for heart disease. "LDL can build up on the inner walls of arteries, narrowing and clogging the blood vessels," says Joseph Clemente, M.D., the medical director of the catheterization lab at Riverview Medical Center.
"Eventually, a blockage may occur. If an artery in or near the heart is blocked, the result is a heart attack. If an artery supplying blood to the brain gets blocked, the result is a stroke."
HDL, or "good," cholesterol has the opposite effect. HDL helps prevent cholesterol buildup in arteries by carrying bad cholesterol to the liver for removal.
Have your cholesterol checked at least every five years starting at age 20. The ideal ranges are:
- Total cholesterol: lower than 200 mg/dl
- LDL: lower than 100 mg/dl
- HDL: at least 60 mg/dl
"Lifestyle changes, such as exercising, limiting saturated and trans fats, and losing weight if you're overweight, can help you improve your numbers," says Dr. Clemente. "Your doctor might also recommend medications, such as statins."
Tally Up Triglycerides
A cholesterol screening test gives you another important number: your triglyceride count. "Triglycerides are another blood fat that can boost your risk for heart disease," says Vincent Vivona, D.O., of Ocean Medical Center. "Your body produces some of it, and you get some from the foods you eat. If you eat more calories than you burn, your body turns the extra fuel into triglycerides."
According to the National Cholesterol Education Program, triglyceride levels are:
- Normal if they're lower than 150 mg/dl
- Borderline high if they're between 150 and 199 mg/dl
- High if they're 200 mg/dl or higher
If you're in the borderline or high group, your doctor may talk with you about making the same lifestyle changes you would make if you had high cholesterol. If these changes don't bring your levels in check, your doctor may prescribe medications. "Statins can also work for triglycerides," says Dr. Vivona.
Bring Down Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, also boosts your risk for heart disease and stroke. With high blood pressure, the heart has to pump harder to circulate the blood. "Usually, high blood pressure has no signs or symptoms," says George Younan, M.D., a board certified cardiologist affiliated with Meridian CardioVascular Network. "The best way to learn if your blood pressure is high is by having it checked at your doctor's office or by checking at home on a regular basis."
Your blood pressure is considered normal when it's lower than 120/80. If either number starts to creep up, you have prehypertension — a warning that it's time to take action to lower your blood pressure. Once the top number hits 140 or the bottom number reaches 90, you have stage 1 hypertension.
"High blood pressure can be managed by choosing foods that are high in fiber and low in sodium, calories, and fat; maintaining a healthy weight; and increasing physical activity," says Dr. Younan.
If those changes don't work, you may need to take daily medication to control your blood pressure.
Calculate Your Weight
A whopping 67 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese. Do you fall into one of these categories? "Body mass index, or BMI, is one calculation doctors use to determine if you're at a healthy weight," says Mahesh Tekriwal, M.D., of Southern Ocean Medical Center. "It takes your height into consideration."
There are many online calculators that can help you compute your BMI. (Check out ours by visiting WellnessCenter.MeridianHealth.com and searching "BMI Calculator.") Then check these ranges:
- If your BMI is less than 18.5, you are underweight.
- If your BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, your weight is healthy.
- If your BMI is 25 to 29.9, you are overweight.
- If your BMI is 30 or more, you are obese.
"Get your BMI in the healthy range with realistic goals for shedding pounds," says Dr. Tekriwal. "Research suggests that losing just 5 percent to 10 percent of your body weight — and keeping it off — lowers your risk for health problems."
About the Doctors
- Joseph Clemente, M.D.
Board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, and Cardiovascular Diseases
Middletown, NJ | 732-615-3900
- Mahesh K. Tekriwal, M.D.
Board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases
Manahawkin, NJ | 609-597-3416
- Vincent Vivona, D.O.
Board certified in Internal Medicine
Toms River, NJ | 732-240-3700
- K. George Younan, M.D.
Board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases
Parlin, NJ | 732-727-0400
