February is American Heart Month, dedicated to that powerful organ inside your chest. Your heart is responsible for pumping blood and delivering essential oxygen and nutrients from your brain to your toes.
Scheduled checkups by your healthcare provider and accompanying lab tests will yield important clues to your heart health. There are also some things you can monitor on your own, in addition to exercising and making smart food choices.
Let’s take a look at a few cardiac health indicators.
February is American Heart Month. There are ways you can monitor your cardiovascular health in between scheduled checkups with your doctor.
Body mass index (BMI)
Healthy body weight is critically important for heart health. Excess body weight can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Body mass index (BMI) calculates body fat and is used as a screening tool for healthy adult weight. A person of normal weight will have a BMI of 18.5 through 24.9. Overweight is indicated by 25–29.9. A BMI of 30 or greater is indicative of obesity.
You can calculate your BMI with this formula: multiply your weight in pounds by 703, divide by your height in inches, then divide again by your height in inches.
Blood pressure
How’s your blood pressure? Arteries harden with age, making it more difficult for the heart to pump blood. This puts seniors at greater risk for high blood pressure (hypertension), which can lead to heart disease, heart attack or stroke.
Blood pressure numbers indicate the pressure measured when your heart beats (systolic), and in between the beats (diastolic). Less than 120/80 (one hundred twenty over eighty) is considered normal. A blood pressure of 130/80 is now classified as hypertension stage 1.
Cholesterol
Now for cholesterol. Elevated levels of LDL cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein, contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries, restricting blood flow and increasing the risk of heart disease.
HDL cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein, helps remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. When tested, LDL levels should be below 100. HDL should be high, ideally above 60. Total cholesterol should be below 200.
Blood oxygen levels
Pulse oximeters are small electronic devices that clip on to your fingertip to measure your pulse and blood oxygen level. A normal reading ranges from 95% to 100%, meaning your heart is distributing enough oxygen throughout your body to keep you healthy. Levels below 92% are considered low and could indicate a more serious issue.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one killer of Americans. Do your valentine a favor and join me February 14 in Viera for Senior Health Friday, when we’ll talk about a heart-healthy life.
RSVP at oneseniorplace.com or by calling 321-751-6771.
Lisa Conway is a registered nurse, certified dementia practitioner and a certified care manager for Senior Partner Care Services, Viera.
Lisa Conway, RN, is a Certified Care Manager for One Senior Place in Viera.
Ms. Conway hosts a monthly seminar, ‘Senior Health Friday with Nurse Lisa.’ One Senior Place is a marketplace for resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their families. Submit your questions to AskOSP@OneSeniorPlace.com. For immediate help, call 321-751-6771 or visit One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: One Senior Place: What numbers should I look at to evaluate my heart health?
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