In recent years, fewer Americanwomen have died from heart disease.Still, it remains women’s number onekiller. You can help keep your ownheart health in check by knowingthese numbers:
Blood pressure. Your bloodpressure should stay below 120/80.A systolic—or top number—from120 to 139, or a diastolic—or bottomnumber—from 80 to 89, signalsborderline high blood pressure, orprehypertension. You have hypertensionif your top number reaches 140or your bottom number equals 90.
BMI. Your BMI, or body massindex, compares your weight to yourheight. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9means your weight is normal. You’reoverweight if your BMI is between 25and 29.9, and obese if it tops 30. Beingoverweight or obese increases yourrisk for heart disease.
Waist size. In addition to weight,the amount of fat you carry aroundyour belly also can endanger yourheart. So, keep your waist size below35 inches.
Cholesterol. Your LDL, or badcholesterol, count should be less than100 milligrams (mg) per deciliter(dL), while your HDL, or goodcholesterol, should exceed 50 mg/dL.
Glucose. High blood sugar levelssuggest diabetes, another heart risk.Diabetes testing is recommended forall women at age 45, especially if theyare overweight. Other risk factors,such as a family history of diabetes,may prompt earlier testing.
On a random blood test, glucoselevels should be less than 200 mg/dL.If you fast for eight hours before a test,they should be less than 99.