Tests: Knowing and Understanding Your Numbers 10/2009

1. Tests: Knowing andTests: Knowing and
Understanding YourUnderstanding Your
NumbersNumbers
Provided Courtesy of RD411.com
Where health care professionals go
for information
Review Date 10/09 G-1122Contributed by Shawna Gornick-Ilagan, MS, RD, CWPC

2. Disclaimer
• This presentation should not substitute or
replace any medical advice provided by your
doctor
• This presentation is meant to provide you with
general health information to empower you to
take charge of your health

3. Objectives
• Why get started?
• What are biometric screen tests
• What do the numbers mean?
• What can you do about your
numbers?

4. Leading Causes of
Deaths
• 1st place
• 2nd place
• 3rd place
• 4th place
• 5th place

5. Causes of Death
• Heart disease: 652,091
• Cancer: 559,312
• Stroke: 143,579
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 130,933
• Accidents: 117,809
• Diabetes: 75,119
• Alzheimer’s disease: 71,599
• Influenza/pneumonia: 63,001
• Kidney disease: 43,901
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at:
www.cdc.gov.

6. What Causes Heart
Disease/Stroke?
• Arteries—blood vessels that carry blood
away from the heart to the rest of the
body
Normal Artery

7. Plaque Starts to
Build Up
Tear in Artery
Wall
Tear in
Artery Wall

8. Plaque Can Grow
and Harden and
Obstruct the Artery
Tear in Artery
Wall
Tear in
Artery Wall
Atherosclerosis

9. Ischemic Stroke

10. Heart Attack

11. What Increases Risk?
You Can Not Help
• Age
– Men: >45 years
– Women: >55 years
• Sex
• Race
• Family history
You Can Help
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Poor diet
• Overweight/obesity
• Diabetes
• Physical inactivity
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure

13. Randy Pausch
“We can't change
the cards we’re
dealt, just how we
play the hand.”

14. How Can You Play the
Cards?

15. Biometric Screening
Tests
• BMI
• Blood pressure
• Lipid Panel
– Total cholesterol
– High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
– Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
– Triglycerides
• Blood glucose
• A1c

16. Body Mass Index (BMI)
• BMI is a number calculated from a
person’s weight and height
• Higher BMI values are associated with
risks for health problems
• Visit
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing
BMI Goal=Less Than 25

17. BMI
(kg/m2
)
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 35 40
Height Normal Weight Increased Risk High Risk
58 91 96 100 105 110 115 119 124 129 134 138 143 167 191
59 94 99 104 109 114 119 124 128 133 138 143 148 173 198
60 97 102 107 112 118 123 128 133 138 143 148 153 179 204
61 100 106 111 116 122 127 132 137 143 148 153 158 185 211
62 104 109 115 120 126 131 136 142 147 153 158 164 191 218
63 107 113 118 124 130 135 141 146 152 158 163 169 197 225
64 110 116 122 128 134 140 145 151 157 163 169 174 204 232
65 114 120 126 132 138 144 150 156 162 168 174 180 210 240
66 118 124 130 136 142 148 155 161 167 173 179 186 216 247
67 121 127 134 140 146 153 159 166 172 178 185 191 223 255
68 125 131 138 144 151 158 164 171 177 184 190 197 230 262
69 128 135 142 149 155 162 169 176 182 189 196 203 236 270
70 132 139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 207 243 278
71 136 143 150 157 165 172 179 186 193 200 208 215 250 286
72 140 147 154 162 169 177 184 191 199 206 213 221 258 294
73 144 151 159 166 174 182 189 197 204 212 219 227 265 302
74 148 155 163 171 179 186 194 202 210 218 225 233 272 311
75 152 160 168 176 184 192 200 208 216 224 232 240 279 319
76 156 164 172 180 189 197 205 213 221 230 238 246 287 328

18. Maintain a Healthy
Weight
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Underweight <18.5
Normal Weight 18.5-24.9
Overweight 25-29.9
Obesity 30+

19. Benefits of Weight
Loss (cont’d)
• Weight loss:
– Reduces risk for cardiovascular disease
– Lowers blood pressure
– Lowers blood sugar
– Improved lipid levels
Source: Office of Surgeon General. Available at:
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/1_6.htm.

20. Blood Pressure
• What is blood pressure?
– Pressure created by the heart as it pumps blood
through the arteries and the circulatory system
• What do blood pressure numbers mean?
– Top number (systolic)=pressure while heart is
beating
– Bottom number (diastolic)=pressure while heart is
resting, between beats

21. Blood Pressure (cont’d)
• How can I tell if I have high blood
pressure”
• Typically no symptoms—”silent killer,”
but could experience
– Headache
– Blurred vision
– Dizziness
– Nausea

22. Blood Pressure (cont’d)
• Over time, high blood pressure can
damage:
– Blood vessels
– Vision
– Heart and other organs
– And increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, and
kidney failure
• A reduction of as small as 2 mm Hg in the
average American’s systolic blood
pressure could save more than 70,000
lives per yearmmHg=millimeters of mercury
Source: www.nih.gov

23. Blood Pressure (cont’d)
Blood Pressure
Systolic/Diastolic
Classification
<120/<80 Normal
120-139/80-90 Prehypertension
140-159/90-99 Stage 1 hypertension
>160/>100 Stage 2 hypertension
>180>110 Severe hypertension

24. Lipid Panel: Why Get
Tested?
• To determine risk of coronary heart
disease, heart attack, and stroke
• One in seven adults are high risk
• Worldwide=4.4 million deaths

25. Lipid Panel (cont’d)
Every 5 years starting at age 20:
• Total cholesterol, if elevated associated
with heart disease
• HDL (healthy cholesterol)
• LDL (lousy cholesterol)
• Triglycerides

26. Total Cholesterol
• Every 1% reduction in your cholesterol,
reduces your risk of heart disease by 2%-
3%
Total Cholesterol Category
Less than 200 mg/dL Desirable
200-239 mg/dL Borderline high
240 mg/dL and above High
dL=deciliter, mL=milliliter

27. LDL (Lousy)
Cholesterol
• LDL=low-density lipoprotein
dL=deciliter, mL=milliliter
LDL Value Category
Less than 100 mg/dL Desirable
100-129 mg/dL Elevated
130-159 mg/dL Borderline high
160-189 mg/dL High
190 mg/dL+ Very high

28. Decrease Saturated
and Trans Fats
Harmful
fat
Food source
Saturated
Fat
Animal products (meat, poultry, eggs, dairy
products, lard, and butter), and coconut,
palm, and other tropical oils
Trans Fat Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils,
commercial baked goods (cookies,
crackers, and cakes), fried foods
(doughnuts and French fries), shortening,
and margarine

29. Pay Attention To These
Limits
Calorie
Level
Total Fat
Grams
Saturated Fat
Grams
Trans Fat
Grams
1200 33-40 <9 <2
1400 39-37 <11 <2
1600 44-53 <12.5 <2
1800 50-60 <14 <2
2000 55-67 <15.5 <2
2200 61-73 <17 <2

30. Limit Trans Fat and
Saturated Fat
Choose Instead of
White-meat chicken or turkey
without skin
Red meats and organ meats
92% lean ground beef Regular ground beef
Egg whites or egg substitute Whole eggs with yolks
Fat-free or low-fat milk and
dairy products
Whole milk
Fresh fruit and vegetables with
low-fat dressing or hummus
Potato chips and dip

31. Opt for Healthy Fats
• Replace saturated fat with
monounsaturated fat to lower your LDL
and increase your HDL
• Monounsaturated fats include:
– Olive oil
– Canola oil
– Olives
– Avocados
– Peanut butter
– Many nuts and seeds

32. Opt for Healthy Fats
(cont’d)
• Sources of omega-3 fatty acids include:
– Flaxseed
– Walnuts
– Salmon
– Soybeans
– Halibut
– Shrimp
– Snapper
– Tofu
– Etc

33. Opt for Healthy Fats
(cont’d)
• American Heart Association recommends
eating fish at least twice a week
• One serving of fish is 5 ounces (oz) (3
oz is the size of a deck of cards)

34. HDL (Healthy)
Cholesterol Levels
• Every 1 mg/dL increase in your HDL
lowers your risk of heart disease 2%-5%
HDL “Healthy” Cholesterol Levels
Men <40 mg/dL
Women <50 mg/dL
Coronary artery
disease (CAD) risk
60 mg/dL or higher Protects you from CAD

35. Triglycerides
• Your body uses alcohol, extra calories,
and sugar to produce this type of fat in
the blood
Triglycerides
Less than 150 mg/dL Desirable
150-199 mg/dL Borderline high
200 mg/dL or higher High

36. Glucose: Why Get
Tested?
• Glucose test measures the sugar level in
your blood to screen for, diagnose, and
monitor:
– Hyperglycemia
– Hypoglycemia
– Diabetes
– Prediabetes

37. Glucose: Why Get
Tested? (cont’d)
• Blood glucose tests are performed:
– During a regular physical
– When symptoms suggest hyperglycemia or
hypoglycemia
– During pregnancy
– When you have diabetes
– Starting at age 45 and every 3 year if normal
results

38. Blood Glucose
• Fasting plasma glucose: Must fast
for 8 hours or longer
Plasma Glucose
Results (mg/dL)
Diagnosis
99 or below Normal
100-125 Prediabetes
126 or above Diabetes

39. Good News!
Preventable
85%-90% of Diabetes Is Preventable

40. Normal
Process
Insulin

41. Diabetes: Type 1

42. Diabetes: Type
2
Insulin= Fat

43. Hemoglobin A1c
Why get tested?
• To monitor a person’s
diabetes and to aid in
treatment decisions
When to get tested?
• When first diagnosed
with diabetes and then
two to four time per
year
A1c
Reading
Average
Blood Sugar
Level
6% 135 mg/dL
7% 170 mg/dL
8% 205 mg/dL
9% 240 mg/dL
10% 275 mg/dL
11% 310 mg/dL
12% 345 mg/dL

44. Tips to Maintain a
Healthy Weight
• Do not drink calories
• Eat slowly
• Stay hydrated
• Try the low-fat or nonfat version of foods
• Change habits
• Eat three meals each day
• Focus on fruits and vegetables
• Get enough fiber

45. Healthy Plate Format
• One fourth plate starch
• One fourth plate meat
• One half plate
nonstarchy vegetables
• 8 fluid ounces of
reduced-fat milk
• One serving of fruit

46. 7 Steps for Improving
Your Numbers
1. Weight management—losing 5%-10% of your
weight
2. Limit trans fat and saturated fat
3. Limit extra sugars
4. Opt for healthy fats
5. Eat enough fiber
6. Exercise regularly
7. Do not smoke and limit alcohol

47. Questions?