Five Numbers Every Woman should Remember

Blood Pressure

The top number (systolic pressure) is the pressure that's put on the artery walls when the heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic pressure) represents the pressure on the arteries between heartbeats. High blood pressure can cause nicks in your arteries, leading to inflammation and dangerous blood clots that cause heart attacks and strokes.

What's normal:

• 115/75 mm Hg is ideal
  
• 120/80 mm Hg is normal
  
• 140/90 mm Hg or above is high
  

When to get screened: At least once a year.

Cholesterol

Besides your total number, the three numbers you need to focus on the most are HDL (the "good cholesterol," responsible for eliminating cholesterol from the body), LDL (the "bad cholesterol," which leads to cholesterol buildup in the arteries), and your triglycerides (fats in the bloodstream). The higher your HDL, the lower your chance of heart disease, while the more LDL and triglycerides you have, the greater your chance of heart disease.

What's normal: Total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL.

• HDL levels at 60 mg/dL or above are ideal and can even reduce heart-disease risk; levels below 40 mg/dL can increase risk.
  
• LDL levels should be below 160 mg/dL if you have none or one of the following heart-disease risk factors: obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, low HDL, a family history of heart disease, or are a woman over 55; below 130 mg/dL if you have two or more of the above heart-disease risk factors; and below 100 mg/dL if you have heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, or diabetes.
  
• Triglycerides should be below 150.
  

When to be screened: Every five years if level is normal

Blood Sugar

This is a measure of how much sugar (glucose) is in your blood. High blood sugar can signal diabetes.

What's normal: Levels below 100 mg/dL are healthy; levels between 100 mg/dL and 126 mg/dL are considered pre-diabetes and need to be lowered; and levels of 126 mg/dL or higher typically results in a diabetes diagnosis.

When to be screened: Starting at age 45, get tested every three years if levels are normal. However, if you're at risk for diabetes (you're overweight, have high blood pressure, or have a family history of the condition), ask your doctor if you should get a blood-sugar test now.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

This figure, based on a calculation of height and weight, determines whether or not a person is overweight or obese.

What's normal: A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 indicates a healthy weight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or higher is considered obese.

When to be screened: Now! Calculate yours with our BMI calculator.

Waist Circumference

It's the number of inches around your unclothed abdomen, just above your hip bone. Larger waistlines have been linked to higher risk of diseases because of the fat's proximity to your organs.

What's normal: You want a measurement of 35 inches or below; any higher puts you at greater risk for myriad diseases, including heart disease.

When to be screened: Now! All you need is a tape measure.

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