(NAPSA)—We need to remember plenty of numbers—phone, debit card PIN, ZIP code, Social Security and many others. But do you know your most important health numbers? Knowing these— and doing something about them—can improve your health and reduce your medical costs. Some essential numbers to know and keep an eye on are blood SRT YGIDy6, “9 ads: 7 oD ye Awl Biafy Sat We 430.0i “fly, lg & pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and blood glucose. ‘Taking a health assessment can help you learn how to use these numbers to positively impact your overall health. Most health insurers,like Health Alliance Plan (HAP), offer this resource to help you examineyouroverall health, identify high-risk areas andreceive recommendations to support healthyhabits. Here are some key numbers to monitor and tips from HAPto stay in the right range. Better physical andfiscal health starts with a health assessment. pressure. ‘Ihe top number (systolic) measures how hard the heart is pump- tain cancers. BMI values vary by sex, 1. Less than 120/80 mmHg—blood ing; the lower number (diastolic) measures its pressure at rest. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood against the walls of yourarteries and veins is elevated. High blood pressure cannot be cured, butit can becontrolled. Bloodpressure indicatorsare: less than 120/80, normal; 120—139/80-89, prehypertension; 140-159/90-99, stage 1 high blood pressure; and 160 and above/100 and above,stage 2 high bloodpressure. Tips: Eat right, exercise to maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking and lower salt intake. Cook meals with fresh ingredients, and cut back on processed foods and fast food. 2. Less than 200 mg/dL—cholester- ol. High cholesterolis one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease. Too much cholesterol can collect and harden on the walls of your arteries, blocking blood flow. Goodlevels are less than 200 mg/dLfor total cholesterol, less than 100 mg/dL for LDL (“bad”cholesterol) and >50 mg/dL for HDL (“good” cholesterol). It’s ideal to have a low LDLlevel and high HDLlevel. Tips: Eat foods lowin fat (especially saturated fat) and low in cholesterol to lower LDL (bad)levels. Exercising regularly and quitting smoking increase HDL(good)levels. 3. 18.5-24.9 kg/m?—bodymassin- dex (BMI). BMIis based on weight and height and is an estimate of bodyfat. It can indicate yourrisk for heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems and cer- race and age. A healthcare provider can perform further assessments. BMIlevels are categorized as: below 18.5, underweight; 18.5-24.9, normal; 25-29.9, overweight; and 30 and above, obese. Go to cde.gov for a BMIcalculator. Tips: Make healthy food choices and be moreactive. Join a supervised weightloss program,andparticipate in nutrition- al counseling with a registered dietitian. 4. Less than or equal to 100 mg/ dL—blood glucose. This is how much sugar(glucose) is in your blood. A glu- cose test can checkfor diabetes, see how diabetes treatmentis working and check for blood sugarlevels. Normal values for adults without prediabetes or diabetes: fasting test, less than or equal to 100; 2 hoursafter eat- ing (postprandial), less than 140 if age 50 or younger, less than 150 if age 50 to 60, andless than 160 if age 60 andolder; and random (casual) testing, generally 80 to 120 before meals or when waking up and 100 to 140 at bedtime. Tips: Avoid foods with sugaror carbohydrates. Drink water or calorie-free liquids. Avoid coffee, alcohol, soda pop and anything with a lot of sugarinit. A health assessmentis a key part of a healthier you. Knowing your numbers and using them to initiate positive changes can make a real difference in your health—andyourlife. Visit hap.org/health health and wellnesstips. for other
