Knowing Your Medical Numbers

The world is filled with digits. Phone numbers, passwords: all are important.But physicians say knowing your medical numbers is essential for living a healthier life.So which numbers should you know?Let's start with blood pressure."Blood pressure is important because it's a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease and those are some of the leading causes of death in the U.S.," said Dr. John Dooley, with Foxhall Internists.Then there's your cholesterol.Know the difference between HDL and LDL."Higher levels of LDL, or the bad cholesterol, are associated with an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis disease, meaning heart attacks and strokes. Whereas higher numbers of HDL or good cholesterol are associated with a lower risk," said Dr. Dooley.Your weight and waist size are important for knowing your body mass index."Patients who are overweight, are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, arthritis, acid reflux, sleep apnea, and even cancer. Some estimate that between 15 percent to 20 percent of cancer deaths in the U.S. are attributable to weight," said Dr. Dooley.Blood sugar numbers can tell you whether you may be pre-diabetic."Diabetes is a major risk factor also for the development of heart disease, other vascular diseases and kidney disease," said Dr. Dooley.Knowing these numbers can help you work towards a healthier lifestyle.