HEALTH NUMBERS YOU MUST BE AWARE OF!

You can recite with ease your phone number, bank account number and pin without a second thought but are unmindful of the numbers that provide important clues to your health. What are these health numbers you need to know?

BMI
Body mass index is calculated by (body weight in kg)/ (height in m)2 or (Weight in pounds/height in inches2) x 703. An increased BMI has been associated with at least 20 health conditions including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders and several cancers.

BMI values however vary and may not apply to certain individuals such as children, pregnant women, elderly and highly muscular individuals. People of Asian origin have also been observed to develop health risks within a lower BMI range.

Waist Size
The measurement of your waist circumference is an alternate option for determining if you are overweight or obese. The derived value is dependent of the amount of intra-abdominal fat deposited around your waist. This is seen mostly in those with ‘apple-shaped’ body outlines compared with those with ‘pear-shaped’ body outlines. There is a higher risk of chronic disease relative to a raised weight and waist circumference. The waist circumference is considered increased if the waist is ≥ 35 inches for women and ≥ 40 inches for men.

Blood Pressure
Normally, you want your upper, or “systolic,” number to be below 120, and your lower “diastolic” number to be below 80. Higher readings put you at risk for complications arising from high blood pressure including stroke, kidney diseases and even blindness.

Many people with increased BMI, waist size and blood pressure can lower and keep their numbers in a healthy range by making lifestyle changes:

  • Getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week (about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week)
  • Not smoking
  • Eating a healthy diet, including limiting sodium (salt) and alcohol
  • Keeping a healthy weight
  • Managing stress
  • Talk with your health care team