You can avoid sweets and still have high blood sugar… say no to gooey foods and have high cholesterol… or be caffeine-free with high blood pressure.

So don’t guess your numbers. Know them.

Just a few numbers can tell you a lot.
The point of Know your Numbers is this: You can’t manage
what you don’t measure.

This is especially true when it comes to your health, because
how you look and feel really aren’t reliable indicators of what’s
happening inside your body.

The good news is that keeping track of a few numbers goes a
long way in understanding how healthy you are:

• Blood pressure

• Blood sugar

• Cholesterol

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

 
Take this KYN card to your doctor, get screened and write the numbers down.

Once you understand their significance, you can take action to make you even better.

» Download the card

 
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And there’s more good news...
These numbers are easy to measure.

    
     
   
The four mega-indicators below are precious telltales of future health:    
1. Controlled Blood Pressure High blood pressure can indicate risk for heart or kidney failure, aneurysms, or hardening of the arteries—even if you have no symptoms. Yours should be no higher than 120/80.   3. Total Cholesterol High cholesterol means a high risk for heart disease. Ideal total cholesterol level is less than 200, with HDL (good) cholesterol greater than 60 and LDL (bad) less than 100.
2. Fasting Blood-Sugar Keeping blood sugar levels normal (less than 100) is an effective way to prevent diabetes or reduce its complications.   4. Body Mass Index BMI is a measure of body fat based on your height in relation to weight. Unless you have a significant percentage of muscle weight, your BMI should fall between 18.5 and 25.

These aren't the only indicators of health. However, the path to better health starts with awareness of these indicators — and recognizing that they are broad predictors of health now, and in the future.

Based on research reported by the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, the Partnership for Healthy Weight Management, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Ideal values are based on averages recommended for healthy adults. Check with your doctor to determine ranges that are best suited for you.

Copyright © 2008 Premera Blue Cross. Premera Blue Cross is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association serving businesses and residents of Alaska and Washington state, excluding Clark County.