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Know Your Numbers
While some people dislike dealing with numbers (say balancing their checkbook), I like them. Not from a bean-counter's perspective, but they provide important health measurements. Here are a few numbers you will find useful to know:- Total cholesterol and its components (such as HDL, LDL, and triglycerides)
- Blood pressure
- Blood glucose (a measurement that can indicate possible insulin resistance)
- Body mass index
Whether you are just out of college or near retirement, in good health or experience medical issues, the importance of knowing these numbers lies in the fact that you can only control what you can measure. Once you know your numbers, you can assess your health risks and take what, if any, action is necessary to reduce your risk. (September is National Cholesterol Education Month. Calculate your ten-year risk of cardiovascular disease here.) Another set of numbers is also useful:- Body fat percentage
- Resting heart rate (first thing in the morning)
- Ambient heart rate (while sitting around)
- Exercise heart rate
- Weekly exercise/activity calorie burn
These numbers are important for two reasons. One, they can help reduce any health risk exposed by the previous set of numbers. Ralph La Forge, M.S. (Duke University Medical Center) shows evidence that burning 1,000 calories per week in exercise/activity is associated with as much as a 30% reduction in all-cause mortality, including cardiovascular disease. Second, these numbers indicate if you are on track to achieving your fitness goals. Resting and ambient heart rates allow you to measure your starting fitness level and subsequent improvement. If your body is not making the changes that you expect, exercise heart rate and calories burned will show if you need to change your exercise duration and/or intensity. Body fat percentage will let you know if your body fat ratio is improving, even if the scale shows no weight loss. See? Numbers are pretty cool!
In Health,
Bonnie
Tip posted by Bonnie Murphy @ 10:47 AM on Monday, September 04, 2006
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