Because heart disease remains the top killer of women, more than all cancers combined, it's important to "know your numbers" and risk factors. To encourage women to learn theirs, the Torrance Memorial Medical Center Lundquist Cardiovascular Institute is sponsoring the "Love Your Heart" Free Health Screenings event.
The screenings include Body Mass Index (BMI) testing, blood pressure screening, and blood glucose checks. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with one of Torrance Memorial's female physicians to get any of their medical questions answered. Take time to relax by visiting one of our Therapeutic Bodywork therapists and learn more about how these wellness services can enhance the healing process and encourage a more healthy lifestyle. A dietician will also be on hand to answer questions about heart healthy eating and a Farmers' Market will be set up to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables. Recipe ideas will be demonstrated and light refreshments will be served.
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| Date |
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 |
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7-11:30 a.m. |
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| Location |
Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Health Conference Center |
Sponsored |
Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Lundquist Cardiovascular Institute |
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| Address |
3330 Lomita Boulevard
Torrance, CA 90505 |
Register |
Required: Sign Up |
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Know Your Numbers
It is important for overall health and prevention of heart disease that you "know your numbers." It's easy, it's quick and it can save your life.
What Do You Need to Know?
- Blood Pressure
- Cholesterol
- Body Composition (BMI)
Blood Pressure
Knowing your blood pressure and understanding its impact on your heart is critical. Life-threatening complications can develop over a course of years when hypertension exists.
Systolic and Diastolic Readings Are Important
- How is blood pressure measured? It reports two readings the Systolic and Diastolic. The higher (systolic) number represents the pressure while the heart is beating. The lower (diastolic) number represents the pressure when the heart is resting between beats. The systolic pressure is always stated first and the diastolic pressure second.
- Normal blood pressure is thus usually said to be 120/80 (systolic/diastolic) or less, measured in millimeters of mercury (abbreviated as mm Hg).
| Rating |
Systolic
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Diastolic
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Follow Up
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Normal
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Less than 120
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Less than 80
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Re-check in 1 year
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| Pre-Hypertension |
120-139
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80-89 |
Report to your MD within 2 months
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Stage I Hypertension
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140-159
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90-99 |
Report to your MD within 1 month
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Stage II Hypertension
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At or greater than 160
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At or greater than 100
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Report results to MD immediately
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Cholesterol
It is recommended to check your cholesterol levels at least once every five years by everyone over the age of 20. If you are a male 35 and older or a women age 45 and older, you should be routinely screened for lipid disorders. The screening test that is usually performed is a blood test called a lipoprotein profile. The lipoprotein profile includes:
- LDL (low density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called "bad" cholesterol)
- HDL (high density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called "good" cholesterol)
- Triglycerides (fats carried in the blood from the food we eat. Excess calories, alcohol, or sugar in the body are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells throughout the body.)
How to Interpret Your Cholesterol Numbers:
LDL Cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries and increase your chances of getting heart disease. That is why LDL cholesterol is referred to as "bad" cholesterol. The lower your LDL cholesterol number, the better it is for your health. The table below explains what the numbers mean:
LDL Cholesterol
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LDL-Cholesterol Category
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Less than 100
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Optimal
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100 - 129
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Near optimal/above optimal
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| 130 - 159 |
Borderline high
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160-189
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High |
190 and above
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Very high
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If you have heart disease or blood vessel disease, some experts recommend that you should try to get your LDL cholesterol below 70.
- For people with diabetes or other multiple risk factors for heart disease, the treatment goal is to reach an LDL of less than 100HDL Cholesterol.
- When it comes to HDL cholesterol - "good" cholesterol - the higher the number, the better it is for your health. This is because HDL cholesterol protects against heart disease by taking the "bad" cholesterol out of your blood and keeping it from building up in your arteries.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food and the body. A high triglyceride level has been linked to the occurrence of coronary artery disease in some people. Here's the breakdown:
| Triglycerides |
Triglyceride Category
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Less than 150
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Normal
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150 - 199
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Borderline High
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200 - 499
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High |
500 or higher
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Very high
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Total Cholesterol
Your total blood cholesterol is a measure of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and other lipid components. Doctors recommend total cholesterol levels below 200.
Total Cholesterol
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Category
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Less than 200
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Desirable |
200 - 239
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Borderline High
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240 and above
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High |
Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI is a fairly reliable indicator of body fatness for most people. BMI can be considered an alternative for direct measures of body fat. When the percentage of fat is too high, this can put a person at a higher risk for such health problems as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes.
Body Composition
Total Body Weight
% Body Fat
The percentage of total body weight that is fat. Fat functions as insulation, protection and energy reserve. When the percentage is too high, fat increases a person's risk of high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer.
| Gender |
Age |
- (Low)
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0 (Normal)
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+ (High)
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++ (Very High)
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Female
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20-39 |
<21.0 |
21.0-32.9 |
33.0-38.9 |
>39.0 |
| Female |
40-59 |
<23.0 |
23.0-33.9 |
34.0-39.9 |
>40.0 |
| Female |
60-79 |
<24.0 |
24.0-35.9 |
36.0-41.9 |
>42.0 |
| Male |
20-39 |
<8.0 |
8.0-19.9 |
20.0-24.9 |
>25.0 |
| Male |
40-59 |
<11.0 |
11.0-21.9 |
22.0-27.9 |
>28.0 |
| Male |
60-79 |
<13.0 |
13.0-24.9 |
25.0-29.9 |
>30.0 |
% Skeletal Muscle Mass
Muscles attached to bones, used to move the body. Why is this important to know? Increasing skeletal muscle mass through exercise and other activity helps maintain a higher resting metabolism and prevents weight gain.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
A measure of your weight relative to your height. It is only one piece of your health profile. It is important you talk with your doctor about other measures and risk factors.
- Underweight = <18.5
- Normal Weight = 18.5-24.9
- Overweight = 25-29.9
- Obesity = 30 or greater