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6 numbers women should know for heart health

Heart disease is a leading killer of women. Tracking these numbers could potentially save your life.

Updated on March 11, 2024

someone holding their hands to their chest while closing their eyes and taking a deep breath
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In years past, it was commonly assumed that heart disease affected men more than women. But that's not the case. In fact, heart disease is the leading killer of men and women in the United States, responsible for one in every five deaths.

The most common form is coronary artery disease (CAD). When you have CAD, the arteries that supply blood to your heart become hardenedShow More

doctor measuring blood pressure
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Blood pressure range

High blood pressure can increase your risk for stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, dementia (a brain condition that causes problems with memory, language, and thinking), vision loss, and sexual issues. A blood pressure reading at or above 130 mm Hg systolic (top number) or 80 mm HgShow More

total cholesterol blood test results
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Total blood cholesterol levels

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance produced and used by the body to build cells. Cholesterol itself isn't bad—but too much cholesterol can be. It can contribute to the narrowing of your arteries, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke over time.

The American Heart AssociationShow More

blood sample test tubes
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High-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels

Total cholesterol is just one way to measure cholesterol levels. Blood tests can also measure your levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, also known as “good” cholesterol) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad” cholesterol).

HDL cholesterol helps carry LDL cholesterol out of the arteries andShow More

a note on good and bad cholesterol
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Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels

LDL cholesterol is the primary source of buildup in your arteries. LDL readings help inform treatment, so knowing them is important. Optimal levels are below 100 mg/dL. Levels above 190 mg/dL are considered very high. According to 2018 guidelines, anyone with readings above this threshold willShow More

measuring blood glucose level
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Blood sugar levels

Diabetes and prediabetes are risk factors for heart disease. When you have diabetes, it affects the way your body uses glucose, or blood sugar. Beginning at age 45, you should have your blood sugar levels checked every three years. If you are overweight or have high blood pressure, your doctor mayShow More

young woman on a run
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Body mass index

Body mass index (BMI) is a rough indicator of the amount of fat on a person's body. It’s an imperfect measurement, since it doesn’t distinguish fat mass from muscle mass. BMI is calculated based on your height and weight, and can be accurately measured by your healthcare provider. 

A normal orShow More

someone making a heart with their hands with the ocean in the background
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Boost your heart health

You can’t change certain risk factors for heart problems, such as your age and family history. But you can adopt healthy lifestyle habits that improve your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and BMI. These include:

Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

American Heart Association Go Red for Women. Common Myths About Heart Disease. Accessed October 22, 2020. 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Disease: Women and Heart Disease. January 31, 2020. 
MedlinePlus. Coronary Artery Disease. Accessed November 3, 2020.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Disease: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Page last reviewed July 19, 2021.
American Heart Association. Understanding Blood Pressure Readings. Accessed November 3, 2020.
PK Whelton, RM Carey, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guideline. Hypertension. 2018;71:e13–e115.
Health.gov. Get Your Blood Pressure Checked. Content last updated July 15, 2022.
Mayo Clinic. Blood pressure test. May 27, 2022.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. High Blood Pressure: Causes and Risk Factors. Last updated on March 24, 2022.
Hamrahian SM, Falkner B. Hypertension in Chronic Kidney Disease. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;956:307-325.
M Shen, H Tan, et al. Trajectory of blood pressure change during pregnancy and the role of pre-gravid blood pressure: a functional data analysis approach. Scientific Reports. July 24, 2017. 7(1), 6227. 
American Heart Association. Health Threats From High Blood Pressure. October 31, 2016.
American Heart Association. What is Cholesterol?
American Heart Association. How To Get Your Cholesterol Tested. March 22, 2019.
Mayo Clinic. HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol. October 24, 2018.
American Heart Association. HDL (Good), LDL (Bad) Cholesterol and Triglycerides. April 30, 2017.
MedlinePlus. Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know. Last updated October 2, 2020.
MedlinePlus. LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol. Last updated October 2, 2020.
SM Grundy, NJ Stone, et al. AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. November 10, 2018. 139:e1082–e1143.
Harvard Health Publishing. Making sense of cholesterol tests. May 14, 2022.
National Lipid Association. 2018 Guideline on the Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol. 2018.
American Diabetes Association. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. Clin Diabetes 2020;38(1):10–38.
Cai X, Zhang Y, et al. Association between prediabetes and risk of all cause mortality and cardiovascular disease: updated meta-analysis. BMJ. 2020;370:m2297.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes Tests. May 15, 2019.
Mayo Clinic. Diabetes. October 25, 2022.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. 2019.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vital Signs: Medical Complications of Obesity. August 3, 2010.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity: About Adult BMI. September 17, 2020.
UCSF Health. Obesity Treatments. Accessed October 22, 2020.

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