Know Your Numbers to Stay Healthy

If you’re a sports fan, you know how important numbers can be. Statistics like batting average and free throw percentage contribute to the most important number of all: the final score.

Numbers are important to your health, too. Numbers like body mass index and blood pressure show how likely you are to enjoy a long, healthy life.

Like sports statistics, health numbers can be a little hard to understand. So here’s a rundown of 5 important health numbers and what they mean to you.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

What it is: A simple measurement of body fat based on your height and weight.

Why it matters: Being overweight or obese raises your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.

How it’s measured: A health professional calculates it based on your height and weight; you can also use an online calculator. Here’s what the results mean:

BMI Category BMI Range

Underweight Below 18.5

Healthy 18.5 – 24.9

Overweight 25.0 – 29.9

Obesity 30.0 or above

Note: There are other ways to measure body fat, but BMI is the quickest and easiest.

Blood Pressure

What it is: A measurement of how much force it takes to move your blood through your arteries. The first/top number (systolic) shows the pressure when your heart beats; the second/bottom number (diastolic) shows the pressure in between beats.

Why it matters: High blood pressure (hypertension) raises your risk for heart attack and stroke.

How it’s measured: A health professional puts a cuff around your upper arm and inflates it to control blood flow. Then, they listen with a stethoscope or read a digital display. Here’s what the results mean:

Category Systolic And/Or Diastolic

Normal Less than 120 AND Less than 80

Elevated 120 – 129 AND Less than 80

Hypertension 130 or higher OR 80 or higher

Note: You can’t feel high blood pressure; you have to get it checked.

Resting Heart Rate (Pulse)

What it is: A measure of how fast your heart beats each minute it’s at rest.

Why it matters: A high heart rate can increase your risk for heart failure and stroke.

How it’s measured: You or a health professional takes your pulse on the inside of your wrist closest to your thumb, counts the number of beats in 30 seconds, and doubles that number. The normal range is 60 to 100 beats per minute (BPM).

Note: Many smartwatches and other wearables show your resting heart rate, as well as your heart rate while you’re exercising.

Blood Glucose (A1C or HbA1C)

What it is: A measure of blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in your body.

Why it matters: It can show whether you have diabetes, which contributes to heart disease, kidney disease, and many other health problems. It can also show whether you’re at risk for developing diabetes.

How it’s measured: A health professional draws some blood and sends it to a lab for analysis; continuous glucose monitors are also available for people with diabetes. Here’s what the results mean:

Normal: A1C below 5.7%

Prediabetes: A1C between 5.7% and 6.4%

Diabetes: A1C of 6.5% or higher

Note: If you get your prediabetes under control, you can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes by 71%.

Cholesterol

What it is: A measure of cholesterol, a type of fat (lipid) in your blood.

Why it matters: High cholesterol contributes to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis), which raises your risk for coronary artery disease and other serious conditions.

How it’s measured: A health professional draws some blood and sends it to a lab for analysis (sometimes called a lipid panel or lipid profile). Here are the ideal results:

Total cholesterol: About 150 mg/dL

LDL (“bad”) cholesterol: About 100 mg/dL

HDL (“good”) cholesterol: At least 40 mg/dL in men and about 50 mg/dL in women

Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL

Note: You can raise your “good” cholesterol level by eating right, staying at a healthy weight, exercising most days, avoiding cigarettes, and limiting alcohol.

Rinse and Repeat

It’s important to know your numbers. It’s also important to track how they change over time. That’s where your ArchWell Health provider can help.