Five Important Numbers Than Can Keep You Healthy

Five Health Stats

There are five important health stats that can keep you healthy, according to medical experts: blood pressure, cholesterol, C-reactive protein, HbA1C and waist circumference. Let us know more about these stats.

Blood pressure

The latest guidelines published by the  Journal of the American Medical Association  says that the ideal blood pressure is 115/75 mm Hg. 120 refers to the systolic blood pressure while 80 refers to the diastolic blood pressure. Any blood pressure above these numbers warrants treatment. According to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) panel, only a few people with hypertension needs treatment than previously thought. For people aged 60 and above with blood pressures which are greater than 150/90 mm Hg, medication should be given. For those under 60 years old, the panel explained that there are not enough evidence to recommend treatment levels and medications, though some experts still give treatment to a person less than 60 years old with a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or greater. It's safe to say that doctors should treat hypertensive patients who are less than 60 years old on a case-to-case basis. Lifestyle changes should be recommended first before medications, as long as the patient does not have active signs and symptoms such as chest pain, nape pain, headache and nausea. The risk for hypertension should first be reduced by a combination of diet, exercise and weight loss regimens for not more than three months.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol should be maintained within normal levels as soon as possible because of the dangers that may possibly ensue. The LDL or bad cholesterol should be maintained under 100 while the HDL or good cholesterol should be maintained above 50. Cholesterol is a waxy fatty substance that is produced by the body due to a diet rich in animal-derived foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products. Increased cholesterol levels can predispose one to have heart disease, arthritis, blindness, stroke and other problems. If you have risk factors such as an age older than 45 for males or an age older than 55 for females, diabetes, premature menopause (earlier menopause), having a family history of cardiovascular disease, smoking, and high blood pressure, you better check your blood cholesterol levels. While abnormally high levels of cholesterol are usually treated by medications, lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment, such as the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, nuts, olive oil and other healthy fats, cheese yogurt, and fish. Processed foods should be avoided.

C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein is a marker for inflammation. Inflammation should be avoided in the body as it means that if you have high CRP levels, you are at high risk for heart disease, stroke and arthritis. The ideal level of CRP is less than 1.

CRP is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation or injury. It is a marker for heart disease risk. Its levels may rise in medical conditions such as cancers, infections, connective tissue diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and arthritis.

HBAlC

HBAlC stands for haemoglobin A1C. This is a test that tells how saturated your haemoglobin (the red pigment in the blood which carries oxygen) is with blood glucose. Ideally, the level of HbA1C should be kept at or below 5.6. This test is essentially important for diabetics to know whether their diabetes is well-controlled or not. However, this test may have false elevations such as anemia, intake of Vitamin C and E supplements, liver and kidney diseases and high blood cholesterol levels.

Waist Circumference

Waist circumference is especially important because it determines whether you have increased abdominal fat or not. Abdominal fat is a risk factor for many diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Ideally, your waistline should be equal to half to your height in inches.

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