'Self-management' of your blood pressure

Blood pressure and cholesterol are the most accurate sign of the risk of heart disease. If your blood pressure is near danger, you need measures to protect your heart and health.

(Photo: TTO)

What are those numbers? The American Heart Institute offers a number of numbers so you can " manage " your blood pressure and cholesterol.

- Normal pressure : it's blood pressure level of 120/80 mm Hg or lower when your body is at rest. High blood pressure is a blood pressure level of about 140/90 mm Hg or higher. And pre-hypertension is when the blood pressure index fluctuates in normal and high levels.

People with hypertension who have a systolic blood pressure of 120 to 139 and diastolic blood pressure from 80 to 90 need lifestyle changes to protect themselves from heart disease.

- The amount of cholesterol in the blood is usually lower than 200 mg / dL, if the cholesterol level is close to or higher than 240 mg / dL, high cholesterol is present.

- LDL is " bad " cholesterol. This index must be less than 100 mg / dL, if higher than 160 mg / dL the risk of heart disease is very high.

- HDL is good cholesterol . For men, this index should be between 40-50 mg / dL and 50-60 mg / dL for women. If less than 40 mg / dL, the risk of heart disease is also very high.

With these indicators, you can monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol in order to adjust your lifestyle, protect yourself from the risk of heart attack.

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