February marks American Heart Month, a great time to check in on your resolutions to eat right, exercise and take steps to maintain your health. When it comes to your heart, you can never be too careful. Did you know heart disease remains the 
leading cause of death for men and women? Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease. The good news, though, is that heart disease can often be prevented by making healthy eating choices, maintaining an active lifestyle, and knowing your numbers. Here are heart-healthy tips and the numbers you need to know:
Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease.
— A normal reading should be 120/80 or below.
— If readings reach 140/90 or higher, your risk for heart disease increases.
Cholesterol
Eating a well-balanced diet and getting enough exercise can help you reach healthy cholesterol levels. Low triglyceride levels are important, too, since triglycerides are a kind of fat your body stores in the blood.
— Your total level should be less than 200 mg/dL.
— Your HDL or “good” cholesterol should be higher than 40 mg/dL.
— Your LDL or “bad” cholesterol should be less than 100 mg/dL.
— Your triglyceride level should be less than 150 mg/dL.
Body Mass Index
Maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the most effective ways to stay healthy. Obesity can lead to a host of problems including high cholesterol, diabetes and stroke. A body mass index (BMI) is used to determine how much body fat you actually have.
— Ideally, your BMI should fall between 19 and 25.
— If your BMI is higher than 30, make a plan with your doctor to get down to a healthier weight.
Depending on your family history of heart disease, you may also need to know other levels such as your fasting glucose.
How Are Women Affected by Heart Disease?
In updating its heart disease prevention guidelines for women, the American Heart Association included a few small but important differences in how heart disease affects women.
Strokes More Deadly for Women
Heart attack and stroke are major health risks for both sexes. But the guidelines emphasize that 55,000 more women than men die of stroke each year. Knowing this can empower women to be more focused on stroke prevention. Learn the warning signs and seek emergency care if you suspect a problem.
In addition, women should understand their personal risk factors and discuss them with their doctors. Some lesser-known risk factors include:
Pregnancy Problems
The guidelines show that women who had certain complications during pregnancy have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease later in life. These complications include having gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine) and a premature or low-weight baby. For example, women with a history of pre-eclampsia have double the risk of coronary artery disease or stroke in the five to 15 years after pregnancy compared with women who did not develop preeclampsia when they were pregnant.
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an abnormal heart rhythm that commonly occurs in both men and women. But the guidelines point out that women who have AF are four to five times more likely to have a stroke than those who do not.
Conclusion
Heart disease is one of the top killers of American men and women, but we all have the power to prevent it. Learn heart disease prevention tips by visiting the American Heart Association patient portal at www.hearthub.org. If you are not sure if you need additional tests done, or do not know your other heart numbers, talk with your healthcare provider. Cardiologist William Harper, MD, of Baptist Heart is available by appointment at Baptist Memorial Hospital - Attala. For more information, call Baptist Heart at 601-968-6404.
Source: MBHS Healthsource, Heart.org, Healthfinder.gov
