3 Heart Health Numbers You Should Know

When it comes to your heart health, you likely know how lifestyle factors like exercise and nutrition can impact your risk of disease. But how can you tell if you’re tracking in the right direction?

While a number of risk factors like personal and family health history can’t be measured, there are a few metrics that can provide a good picture of your heart health and fitness. Familiarizing yourself with these numbers can help you better understand your disease risk and manage your overall health. By tracking and monitoring these numbers, you can work with your primary care provider to set goals, make lifestyle changes, and reduce your risk of disease over time. Here are 3 heart health metrics you should get to know:

1. Blood pressure

Blood pressure refers to the force of your blood against the walls of your blood vessels. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood through the arteries to the rest of your body. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart contracts, and lowest when it’s at rest. As a result, your blood pressure fluctuates slightly throughout the day as you exercise, eat, sleep, drink, and experience varying levels of stress. It can also change with age, medications, temperature, and a number of other factors.

2. Blood glucose

Blood glucose refers to the amount of glucose (a type of sugar) that is found in your blood. Your body creates blood sugar by digesting the food you eat into glucose – which is then transported through the bloodstream to be used for energy and stored in your cells for later use. Your pancreas produces an important hormone called insulin that helps your cells absorb and store glucose.

3. Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a type of fat that plays an important role in many bodily functions. It helps your body build cells, create vitamins, and produce hormones, as well as digest food. While cholesterol is necessary for a number of reasons, too much can raise your risk of heart disease and stroke.

What else you should know

Paying close attention to your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can help you better understand your risk of heart disease and take control of your cardiac health. If your numbers are higher than they should be, your primary care provider can partner with you to create a personal care plan to help you lower your numbers and get back on track.

To read the full blog post on One Medical, visit https://www. onemedical.com/blog/healthy-living/3-heart-health-numbersyou-should-know/.

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