11/Jul/2009
Know Your Healthy Heart Numbers and Risk Factors
By Baton Rouge Cardiology Center
It is very easy to tell someone your cell phone number, social security number and date of birth. But cardiologists want you to be just as familiar with a different set of very important numbers: your numbers and risks for heart disease.
For instance, what is your LDL (bad cholesterol)? Is it up or down from a year ago? How about your blood pressure? What is your blood sugar (glucose) level? Is your BMI (body mass index) less than 25?
“If you are like most people, you think ‘heart disease’ is a problem for others, not you. However, before you make that assumption, it’s important you know your risks,” said Dr. Yunus Moosa, interventional cardiologist at Baton Rouge Cardiology Center in Zachary.
According to the American Heart Association, if you have a family member with heart disease at an early age (mother or sister before age 65, or father or brother before age 55), you should know your risk factors for developing heart disease before age 20.
Number One Killer
Heart disease is the number one killer in America. Many of these deaths could be prevented with simple knowledge of general risk factors – such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol – and your own personal risk for heart disease, such as a strong family history of heart disease.
According to Dr. Moosa, more risk factors mean a greater chance for heart disease, heart attack or stroke as you age.
“Prevention is the best tool in fighting heart disease,” Dr. Moosa said. “To protect your heart, it is important to know your numbers and it is vital to make changes that address each risk factor you have.”
Know Your Numbers and Risks:
Blood Pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. The first number is your systolic pressure, the measure when the heart beats and the pressure is greatest. Diastolic pressure is taken between heart beats, when blood pressure is at its lowest.
Target Number: 120/80
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in the bloodstream and in all cells. It's normal to have cholesterol. But too much cholesterol in the blood is a major risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke A fasting blood test will show four numbers that make up a lipid profile – total cholesterol, HDL (“good” cholesterol), LDL (“bad” cholesterol), and triglycerides.
Target Number: Total cholesterol should be less than 200. LDL cholesterol should be less than 100 and HDL should be greater than 40 for men and over 50 for women. Triglycerides should be less than 150.
Blood Glucose measures the amount of sugar in the blood. This number can determine if someone has prediabetes or diabetes, which increases the risk for heart disease and stroke.
Target Number: Less than 100.
Body Mass Index (BMI) assesses your body weight in relation to your height. This formula gives a measure of your body composition and is often an effective predictor of body fat.
Target Number: Between 18.5 and 24.9.
Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) evaluates your risk for peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.), which affects the arteries outside your heart and brain. ABI is found by a painless test that compares the blood pressure in your feet to the blood pressure in your arms. This determines how well your blood is flowing.
Target Number: Ankle pressure should be at least 90 percent of the arm pressure.
Age often determines your risk of heart disease. These risks rise significantly for both men and women around middle age.
Target Number: For men, it’s when they reach their mid-40s. For women, it’s when they reach the age of menopause.
Other risk factors include:
Sex and race - African Americans have more severe high blood pressure than Caucasians and a higher risk of heart disease. Due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes, heart disease is higher among Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some Asian Americans.
Physical inactivity is associated with the development of heart disease and can impact other risk factors.
Smoking increases the risk of heart disease and heart attack. Cigarette smoking promotes atherosclerosis (plaque) and increases the levels of blood clotting factors.
Although you can control many of these factors, some risks like age, sex, race and family history, cannot be helped. Therefore, it's even more important to take control of your health by consulting your primary care physician or cardiologist to evaluate your risks and work together to develop a treatment plan specifically for you.
For more information, call Baton Rouge Cardiology Center at (225) 658-2680.
By Baton Rouge Cardiology Center
It is very easy to tell someone your cell phone number, social security number and date of birth. But cardiologists want you to be just as familiar with a different set of very important numbers: your numbers and risks for heart disease.
For instance, what is your LDL (bad cholesterol)? Is it up or down from a year ago? How about your blood pressure? What is your blood sugar (glucose) level? Is your BMI (body mass index) less than 25?
“If you are like most people, you think ‘heart disease’ is a problem for others, not you. However, before you make that assumption, it’s important you know your risks,” said Dr. Yunus Moosa, interventional cardiologist at Baton Rouge Cardiology Center in Zachary.
According to the American Heart Association, if you have a family member with heart disease at an early age (mother or sister before age 65, or father or brother before age 55), you should know your risk factors for developing heart disease before age 20.
Number One Killer
Heart disease is the number one killer in America. Many of these deaths could be prevented with simple knowledge of general risk factors – such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol – and your own personal risk for heart disease, such as a strong family history of heart disease.
According to Dr. Moosa, more risk factors mean a greater chance for heart disease, heart attack or stroke as you age.
“Prevention is the best tool in fighting heart disease,” Dr. Moosa said. “To protect your heart, it is important to know your numbers and it is vital to make changes that address each risk factor you have.”
Know Your Numbers and Risks:
Blood Pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. The first number is your systolic pressure, the measure when the heart beats and the pressure is greatest. Diastolic pressure is taken between heart beats, when blood pressure is at its lowest.
Target Number: 120/80
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in the bloodstream and in all cells. It's normal to have cholesterol. But too much cholesterol in the blood is a major risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke A fasting blood test will show four numbers that make up a lipid profile – total cholesterol, HDL (“good” cholesterol), LDL (“bad” cholesterol), and triglycerides.
Target Number: Total cholesterol should be less than 200. LDL cholesterol should be less than 100 and HDL should be greater than 40 for men and over 50 for women. Triglycerides should be less than 150.
Blood Glucose measures the amount of sugar in the blood. This number can determine if someone has prediabetes or diabetes, which increases the risk for heart disease and stroke.
Target Number: Less than 100.
Body Mass Index (BMI) assesses your body weight in relation to your height. This formula gives a measure of your body composition and is often an effective predictor of body fat.
Target Number: Between 18.5 and 24.9.
Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) evaluates your risk for peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.), which affects the arteries outside your heart and brain. ABI is found by a painless test that compares the blood pressure in your feet to the blood pressure in your arms. This determines how well your blood is flowing.
Target Number: Ankle pressure should be at least 90 percent of the arm pressure.
Age often determines your risk of heart disease. These risks rise significantly for both men and women around middle age.
Target Number: For men, it’s when they reach their mid-40s. For women, it’s when they reach the age of menopause.
Other risk factors include:
Sex and race - African Americans have more severe high blood pressure than Caucasians and a higher risk of heart disease. Due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes, heart disease is higher among Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some Asian Americans.
Physical inactivity is associated with the development of heart disease and can impact other risk factors.
Smoking increases the risk of heart disease and heart attack. Cigarette smoking promotes atherosclerosis (plaque) and increases the levels of blood clotting factors.
Although you can control many of these factors, some risks like age, sex, race and family history, cannot be helped. Therefore, it's even more important to take control of your health by consulting your primary care physician or cardiologist to evaluate your risks and work together to develop a treatment plan specifically for you.
For more information, call Baton Rouge Cardiology Center at (225) 658-2680.
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