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Know Your Numbers and How to Use Them

It's important to know your health numbers not only to prevent future illness but to actively treat existing conditions before they get serious. The most common health numbers include: height, weight, waist circumference, cholesterol levels (HDL,LDL,Triglycerides), blood pressure and blood glucose level.

  • Why Does it Matter? Ignorance is not bliss. If your blood pressure or cholesterol are high, you may not have symptoms that show it until it's too late. Knowing your numbers gives you invaluable insight on what's happening with your health that you can't see by simply stepping on the scale or the retracting tape measure. The smallest changes can have significant benefits to these numbers. Swapping out potato chips for whole grains or adding more movement to your day can put you back in charge of your life.
  • What Do the Numbers Mean? Here is a brief rundown:
    • A cholesterol blood test measures both LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol) and triglycerides to determine if a person is at risk for developing a cardiovascular condition. A total cholesterol reading of less than 200 represents lower risk. A reading above 240 is considered high risk and should be addressed with your doctor.
    • Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers – the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes). A blood pressure reading lower than 120/80 represents lower risk for developing heart disease or stroke.
    • Blood glucose is also known as blood sugar, an energy source for your cells that travels through the bloodstream. If blood glucose levels are irregular, conditions such as hyperglycemia (high glucose) or hypoglycemia (low glucose) can result. Hyperglycemia can lead to diabetes if it is not addressed. A fasting glucose level between 70 – 99 is considered normal.
  • What Now? Knowing your numbers is the first step on your journey to better health. Once you find out where you stand, take the results to your doctor to learn what steps you can take based on your risk factors. Your doctor will be able to track your progress as you make lifestyle changes to improve your health and well-being. You can also talk with a Health Coach who can help you determine ways to balance new lifestyle changes into your everyday life. Check out these simple lifestyle changes to help boost your mood and energy!
Tracking Your Progress

Awareness is a good first step toward making healthy changes. One way to increase your awareness of diet and exercise habits is to write down what you're currently doing and track your progress on your journey to a healthier lifestyle. Here's a few easy ways to keep track:

  • Carry a small notebook or journal with you for easy access. Or designate a few pages in your planner to jot down your daily food intake.
  • Set a target number of days that you will exercise each week. This will help you track your expectation with what you accomplish.
  • Pay attention to how you're feeling and write this down, too! This way, if you aren't losing weight right away – you'll still recognize the rewards of healthy living by energy increases and mood improvements.

What works for you? How do you stay motivated when you face challenging obstacles? Share your tips and success stories with your co-workers so we can all keep adding healthy choices to our busy lives.

Abbott has programs to help you make healthy lifestyle changes, and the support to make them stick.