The 4 Numbers Every Woman Should Know - Uhc tv

Dr. Roshini Raj – Four Numbers Every Woman Should Know There are four numbers every woman needs to know in order to understand her risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses. Hi, I’m Dr. Roshini Raj and I’m teaming up with UnitedHealthcare to encourage every woman to know her cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose level and body mass index as they are key indicators of your risk for serious illnesses. I tell all my patients when you know your numbers you can make better, more informed decisions about your health. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that our bodies need to function. But too much cholesterol can hurt you. It can build up on the inside walls of your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. While the normal range for cholesterol is 200 or less, you also need to know your healthy HDL cholesterol and unhealthy LDL cholesterol numbers. The optimal range for HDL cholesterol is more than 60 and LDL cholesterol should be less than 100. High total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol or low HDL may increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. There are no obvious symptoms of high cholesterol so it’s important to see your doctor and have your cholesterol checked annually. Similarly, high blood pressure also known as hypertension increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. It can also damage your brain, eyes and arteries. Anyone can have high blood pressure. Even those who maintain a healthy lifestyle. And many people don’t have symptoms so it’s important to check with your doctor and know your numbers. I recommend all my patients maintain a blood pressure of 120 over 80 or lower. In addition to your cholesterol and blood pressure, all women should know their blood sugar or glucose levels. Glucose is sugar stored in your blood as your body’s main source of energy. The average blood sugar range is between 80 and 120. If your blood sugar is consistently too high or too low, you may have diabetes. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, kidney disease and other complications. Oftentimes, glucose levels can be stabilized by making simple dietary changes but it’s important to check with your doctor to determine the best solution for you. Lastly, I always encourage my patients to track their body mass index or BMI as it measures a person’s weight in relation to his or her height. It’s relatively easy to calculate your BMI and there are many online tools that can help like UnitedHealthcare’s online BMI calculator. A BMI over twenty five generally means that a person is overweight. A number over 30 indicates obesity and a BMI under 18.5 is considered underweight. Extra weight can lead to heart disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses. And when a person is underweight, he or she may be suffering from malnutrition, heart strain and other serious complications. Your doctor can assist you in reaching your ideal BMI and weight. So be sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor and encourage the other women in your life to do the same. Find out these four very important numbers that all women need to know. And don’t forget to visit the UnitedHealthcare and Woman’s Day web sites for health tips and other important health-related information.