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The Truth About Learning Your Numbers

There are a wide range of numbers and ways to measure our health that it can be confusing trying to keep up and know what constitutes a healthy range. Read on to decode the common numbers and learn how you can measure yours!

Blood Pressure (BP): Systolic blood pressure (the first number) indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls when the heart beats. Diastolic blood pressure (the second number) indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls while the heart is resting between beats. An ideal normal range is less than 120/80 mmHG.

Heart Rate (HR): Your heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times your heart beats per minute. A normal heart rate varies from person to person. Knowing yours can be an important heart health gauge. An ideal range is 60 to 100 beats per minute at rest.

Body Mass Index (BMI): BMI is calculated by determining one’s height to weight ratio. An ideal range is 18-25.

Body Composition: This measures the percentage of fat mass and fat free mass. An ideal range is under 31% for women and under 24% for men.

Waist to Hip Ratio: This measures the ratio of your waist circumference to your hip circumference. It determines risk based on where a person carries his or her weight. Carrying weight in the midsection (called android or apple-shaped bodies) can have adverse health consequences because it indicates a greater amount of visceral fat surrounding the vital organs. An ideal range is 0.90 or less for men or 0.85 or less for women.

To get any one of these numbers measured, visit your Onsite Health Coach at a Quarterly Maintenance Check, or make an appointment.

References:, American Heart Association