Keeping Your Heart Healthy

December 31, 2019
Two eggs in a frying pan

Do you know your numbers?

Are you at risk?

According to the American Heart Association® (AHA), heart disease continues to be the number-one killer in the U.S.

The Heart Hospital of Northwest Texas is dedicated to helping you reduce your risks for heart disease, so we encourage you to help monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and body mass index (BMI). Keeping these numbers in check can lower your chances of developing heart disease.

For more information on these critical numbers, visit the AHA at heart.org.

Learn more about heart care at Northwest →

Risk factors for heart disease

You can control many of the risk factors for heart disease.

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes (high blood glucose)
  • Smoking
  • Being overweight or obese (high BMI)
  • Physical inactivity

If you have questions about your specific risk factors, talk with your doctor.

Blood pressure

Normal: Less than 120/80
Elevated: 120-129/less than 80
Hypertension: 130/80 or higher

Blood glucose (fasting)

Normal: Lower than 100 mg/dL
Prediabetes: 100-125 mg/dL
Diabetes: 126 mg/dL and above

Cholesterol

While an updated 2018 cholesterol guideline takes a more personalized approach to determining ideal target levels, studies suggest that an optimal total cholesterol level is about 150 mg/dL, with LDL-C (the "bad" cholesterol) at or below 100 mg/dl, according to the AHA.

Body mass index (BMI)

Normal weight: BMI 18.5 to 24.9
Overweight: BMI 25 to less than 30
Obese: BMI 30 or greater

Talk with your doctor about your numbers and how to best protect your heart health. Need help finding a doctor? View our online physician directory →