NATIONAL--Tax season is here. But your finances aren't the only numbers you should be crunching.
There are 5 important numbers critical to heart health that everyone should track. Two numbers are related to cholesterol.
Cleveland Clinic physician Dr. David Frid says, "LDL cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol. That number is important to know with regards to how much should be treated and what your risk of developing heart disease is. The second one is also a cholesterol number, your HDL cholesterol , and that' s a number that's important in knowing how much protection you may have with regards to heart disease."
Your LDL cholesterol level should be less than 100 milligrams to be considered optimal. HDL cholesterol level above 60 miligrams is considterd to be protective against heart disease.
It's also important to know your blood-glucose number. It will determine whether you have diabetes or not. Another number everyone should know is their BMI or body mass index. Dr. Frid says, "Your body massindex is really a number that helps you understand your weight and whether your weight is appropriate for your risk of heart disease."
Knowing your blood pressure is important too, because high blood pressure leads to heart disease or even stroke.
Frid says diet and regular exercise will help you keep all those important numbers under control.