Health Awareness: Know Your Health Numbers
Understanding your health numbers is crucial for taking control of your health. Knowing these numbers can help you be aware of potential health risks and life-threatening diseases. Start your journey toward better health awareness today!
HEALTH SMARTWELLNESS AWARENESS
Let's define Personal health literacy.
Personal health literacy is the ability of individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.
Here are some facts you should know about maintaining overall health.
During the last decade, heart attacks among young adults in their late 20s and 30s have increased, mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress have spiked, and metabolic syndrome is affecting both young and older adults.
More than 7.7 million Americans do not have health insurance. Your health and wellness are in your hands.
Why is this important?
We live in an information highway society. With so much misleading information, we can get lost. You must educate yourself, advocate for yourself, and take charge. With hard work, research, and perseverance, you can take control of your personal health.
Where do we start? Knowing your health numbers is one place to start. I lost my health insurance when my husband was laid off, and with his new job, we can't afford to put me on his insurance.
I am personally responsible for taking control of my health. In doing so, I keep myself informed of my health by paying for my yearly blood work and seeing a primary doctor (who takes uninsured individuals).
Young or senior, know your Healthy Numbers because they can indicate whether an individual could develop certain life-threatening diseases or be predisposed to them.
Know Your Health Numbers
Blood Pressure
Normal blood pressure is below 120/80
Pre-hypertension is 120 to 139 (systolic) and 80 to 89 (diastolic)
Hypertension – also known as high blood pressure -- is 140 or higher (systolic) and 90 or higher (diastolic)
Cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol: "happy" cholesterol and "lethal" cholesterol.
A healthy cholesterol level is below 200 milligrams
HDL (happy) High-Density Lipoprotein 40-59mg/dl
LDL (lethal) Low-Density Lipoprotein 0-99mg/dl
Healthy Triglyceride level 0-149mg/dl
Glucose
There are two types of diabetes.
Type 1 is insulin-dependent (no insulin production)
Type 2 is non-insulin-dependent (lifestyle choice).
Healthy Glucose level 65-99mg/dl
I hope this basic information can get you started in the right direction. Knowing your health numbers is one place to start, and this information is valuable to your overall health.
Until I can afford insurance, I will continue to pay for my yearly blood work and see a primary doctor. I eat healthy, exercise daily, and try to get enough sleep nightly to reduce my stress levels.
Like I tell myself daily, what option do I have but to take control of my health?
Be SMART about your HEALTH.