The Numbers Game—What the Numbers Mean

Blood Pressure
(The following information is from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, “Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure”)

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers—the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats). The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on top and the diastolic number on the bottom. For example, a blood pressure measurement of 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed verbally as "120 over 80." Normal blood pressure is less than 120 mmHg systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic.

When systolic and diastolic blood pressures fall into different categories, the higher category should be used to classify blood pressure level. For example, 160/80 mmHg would be stage 2 hypertension (high blood pressure).

Cholesterol and Triglycerides
(The following guidelines come from the National Cholesterol Education Program, NCEP, of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.)

Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood.

Total Cholesterol Level - a level of less than 200 mg/dL is desirable. But even levels of 200-239 mg/dL (borderline high) can increase your risk of heart disease.

Total Cholesterol Level	Category
Less than 200 mg/dL	Desirable
200 - 239 mg/dL	Borderline high
240 mg/dL and above	High

DL (bad) Cholesterol Level - a level of 160 mg/dL or above is high. Work with your health care provider to determine a goal LDL level that's best for you.

LDL Cholesterol Level	Category
Less than 100 mg/dL	Optimal
100-129 mg/dL	Near optimal/above optimal
130-159 mg/dL	Borderline high
160-189 mg/dL	High
190 mg/dL and above	Very high

HDL (good) Cholesterol - a level of 60 mg/dL or more is good and helps to lower your risk for heart disease. Remember that HDL (good) cholesterol protects against heart disease, so for HDL, higher numbers are better. A level less than 40 mg/dL is low and increases your risk for developing heart disease.

Triglyceride Levels - can also raise your risk for heart disease. Levels that are borderline high (150-199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more) may need treatment in some people.

Ideal Body Weight
According to the NHLBI guidelines an assessment of a patient being overweight involves three key measures:

• Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Waist Circumference, and
• Risk Factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity.

Body Mass Index (BMI)
The BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height and waist circumference that measures abdominal fat. Combining these factors with information about your additional risk factors yields your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases. BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits.
The limits are:

• It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
• It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.
  

The BMI score means the following:

Body Mass Index Table

Waist Circumference
Determine your waist circumference by placing a measuring tape snugly around your waist. It is a good indicator of your abdominal fat which is another predictor of your risk for developing risk factors for heart disease and other diseases. This risk increases with a waist measurement of over 40 inches in men and over 35 inches in women

The table, Risks of Obesity-Associated Diseases by BMI and Waist Circumference, provides you with an idea of whether your BMI combined with your waist circumference increases your risk for developing obesity associated diseases or conditions.

* Disease risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and CVD.
+ Increased waist circumference can also be a marker for increased risk even in persons of normal weight.

Height and Weight Chart

(Adapted from Obesity Education Initiative: Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Preprint June 1998).