Do you know your numbers? Here’s why you should
Published:Wednesday | August 17, 2022 | 12:11 AM
EACH OF us ought to have a general idea about our bodies. You may even already know that you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or that your blood sugar is elevated. But do you know exactly when those levels are high and what it means for your health?
Today, we begin a two-part series on the importance of knowing your numbers and how to understand what they are telling us.
Director of the Non-Communicable Disease and Injury Prevention Unit in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Nicola Skyers, said with the concern about the high rate of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Jamaica, there is need raise public awareness around ‘knowing our numbers’. The campaign encourages people to know their numbers related to cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and body mass index (BMI).
“It’s important for people to know their numbers since they comprise a key snapshot of personal health. It is our hope that given the wealth of information we are offering, Jamaicans will pre-emptively do health checks to know their numbers and seek medical advice when their numbers are off. In fact, one of the country’s best resources for information and tools to help ‘know your numbers’ is our website- ncdip.moh.gov.jm,” Skyers said.
But what are we measuring and what exactly do these numbers tell us? According to Skyers,” These health metrics are important because they help identify your personal risk factors for potentially serious and chronic health conditions.”
“By understanding these numbers and comparing them with normal ranges, one has the power to understand their health status, begin making healthy lifestyle choices, such as exercising and eating a healthy diet,” Skyers said.
To get a better understanding of what we are talking about, here is a breakdown.
When you have your blood pressure measured, you will be given two numbers: a top number and a bottom number. The systolic blood pressure is the first, or top, number. The top number measures the force that the heart exerts on the walls of the arteries each time it beats. Diastolic blood pressure, the bottom number, measures the force that the heart exerts on the walls of the arteries in-between beats.
Your cholesterol numbers are important, because they help you know your risk for heart disease. Cholesterol numbers show how much cholesterol is circulating in your blood. Your HDL (“good” cholesterol) is the one number you want to be high. Your LDL (“bad” cholesterol) should be below 100. Your total should be below 200.
Source: ncdip.moh.gov.jm
HEALTH METRIC IDEAL RANGE
Blood Pressure (Systolic, top number)
Blood Pressure (Diastolic, bottom number)
Total Cholesterol
HDL Cholesterol Women: >50 mg/dL Men: > 40 mg/dL
LDL Cholesterol
Triglycerides
If you are concerned about any of the numbers above, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider or visit your nearest clinic.
Next week, we look at knowing the numbers around BMI and blood sugar (diabetes testing).
Source: ncdip.moh.gov.jm