Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women.
Here you’ll find six numbers that provide a general summary of your cardiovascular health.
1. Blood pressure: The force that blood must exert to pass through an artery
Upper number (systolic): This is the pressure the heart exerts on the arteries as it pumps blood to the rest of the body.
Low number (diastolic): pressure when the heart relaxes
2. LBD (“bad” cholesterol): Low-density lipoproteins transport cholesterol through the blood.
3. LAD (“good” cholesterol): High-density lipoproteins transport cholesterol to the liver for removal from the body.
4. Triglycerides: A type of fat in the blood, often associated with excessive consumption of sugar, saturated fat, refined carbohydrates, and insulin resistance.
5. Total cholesterol: Levels of all types of lipids (fats) in the blood, including LBD, LAD, triglycerides, etc.
6. Lp(a): Lipoprotein(a), pronounced “L, P, a,” is a genetic risk factor for heart disease.
Lp(a) is not a routine test, but every adult should have their levels checked at least once.
strength in numbers
Ask your health care provider what your goals are for this number. Levels outside the ideal range, whether very high or very low, can increase your risk of serious illnesses, including:
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heart attack
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heart failure
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cardiovascular accident
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atherosclerosis
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coronary artery disease
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peripheral artery disease
If you know you are at risk, you can take precautions.
Although you cannot change risk factors such as age or genes, you can take important steps to reduce your cardiovascular risk.
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Stay physically active
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Adopt a Healthy Diet
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Maintain a Healthy Weight
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Stop smoking and using tobacco
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Limit your alcohol intake
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Get enough sleep
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Take medications as prescribed to reduce your risk factors.
Request a complete evaluation of your lipid profile
Ask your health care provider to perform any tests that evaluate your lipid profile to better understand your cardiovascular health.
This material was prepared with support from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
