Heart Health By the Numbers
Coronary artery disease (CAD), occurs when the arteries that supply blood to your heart become narrower and less flexible due to atherosclerosis (plaque buildup on the inner walls of your arteries). The most common way your doctor determines whether your CAD risk is high, low, or somewhere in between is by checking several numbers that reflect the health of your heart. These numbers include cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, and body mass index.
Knowing what the optimal numbers are as well as what your numbers are can help you understand your level of CAD risk. If your risk is high, you can see what numbers you need to work on to reduce your risk. It helps to have a clearly defined goal, and numbers give you a target to work toward.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is relatively easy to track because you can monitor it at home. If your blood pressure is well controlled, either with or without medication, checking it once a week is probably sufficient. If you’re starting a new medication to control your blood pressure or adjusting your medication, a daily check may be appropriate.
A healthy blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg or below. (A blood pressure reading of 90/60mmHg or below may be dangerous if it is chronic or it occurs suddenly; low blood pressure can cause dizzines nd fainting.) A systolic (top number) blood pressure of 120-129 and a diastolic blood pressure of less than 80 is referred to as elevated blood pressure (previously called prehypertension). Stage 1 hypertension (high blood pressure) is defined as 130-139/80-89 mmHg, and stage 2 is 140/90 mmHgor higher. However, your age and conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease can affect your blood pressure goal, so it’s important to talk with your doctor and know what target you are aiming for.
Cholesterol
Keeping track of your cholesterol requires a blood test that is often included in an annual exam. If you have CAD or risk factors for CAD, such as hypertension, obesity, or 
diabetes, your doctor may recommend having your cholesterol levels checked more frequently.
Your cholesterol numbers, which are also called lipid levels, include your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and HDL (“good”) cholesterol, as well as your triglycerides, which are a type of fat in your bloodstream. Generally, you want an LDL below 100, an HDL higher than 50, and triglycerides below 150, but again, it’s important to discuss your targets with your doctor.
Blood Glucose
Measuring your blood glucose via a blood test reveals how much glucose, or sugar, is in your bloodstream. Elevated levels of blood glucose can raise your risk of heart disease or make existing heart disease more serious.
Blood glucose targets are very specific. A fasting blood glucose (FBG) level of 70 to 99 mg/dL is considered normal, an FBG between 100 and 125 is a sign of prediabetes, and a level of 126 or higher indicates diabetes. Another test your doctor may order is the HbA1c test, which shows your average blood glucose levels for the preceding three months. A normal HbA1c level is less than 5.7 percent, while 5.7 to 6.4 percent indicates prediabetes, and 6.5 percent or higher means you probably have diabetes.
Weight
Being overweight or obese raises your risk of developing heart disease. Determining your ideal weight isn’t an exact science, however. Body mass index, or BMI, is the most common tool used to determine if a person is below, at, or above normal weight.
A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal, while a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 and above is obese. For example, a woman who is 5’5” and weighs 140 pounds has a BMI of 23.3, which is in the normal range, but if that woman gained 40 pounds, she would have a BMI of 30, signifying obesity.
Women who keep track of their numbers often take a more active role in managing their health, and when their numbers improve, it reinforces their commitment to a healthy lifestyle, even if it is hard work at times.
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