"For Your Health:"
By Leila McCann, R.N., Community Health Education Coordinator, Atlantic General Hospital

The American Heart Association has published new guidelines for health screenings.

Facing our foremost health challenges are cardiac disease and diabetes (obesity).

GLUCOSE
Diabetes mellitus is defined as a fasting blood sugar of 126) or more.
People with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and have one of these conditions:
• impaired fasting blood sugar (110 to 125)
• impaired glucose tolerance (fasting glucose less than 126 and a glucose level between 140 and 199, two hours after taking an oral glucose tolerance test)

Blood Pressures
*Blood pressure for people with diabetes should be lower than 130/80 mm Hg.
"Pre-hypertension" describes people with blood pressures between 120-139 (mm Hg) systolic (the top number in a blood pressure reading) or 80-89 mm Hg diastolic (bottom number). High blood pressure (hypertension) is defined in an adult as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 diastolic pressure. The American Heart Association recommended blood pressure levels:
Normal: Systolic less than 12, Diastolic less than 80.
Pre-hypertension: 120-139/ less than 80. High Stage One: 140-159/80-89

High Stage Two: 160/100 or Higher.
Your blood pressure can change from minute to minute, but it should normally be less than 120/80 mm Hg for an adult. High blood pressure puts undue stress on your heart, arteries and other organs and increases your risk for heart disease and stroke. Please see your provider for hypertension management. A yearly physical examination can prevent many complications.

Cholesterol & Lipid Screenings
Recommended new parameters:
Cholesterol Levels have been identified as an indicator of risks for cardiac disease.
Total Cholesterol desirable levels are below 190mg/dL.
Borderline/ High 190-210 mg/dL
High Above 210 mg/dL
Desirable HDL Cholesterol (Good Cholesterol) 45 mb/dL or above
Abnormally Low 40 mg/dL or below
Desirable LDL Cholesterol Less than 130 mg/dL
Borderline/ High Risk 120-140 mg/dL
High Risk Above 140 mg/dL
Desirable TRIGLYCERIDE Below 200 mg/dL
Abnormally High Above 200 mg/dL

*Lipid tests should be reviewed by a physician.
Assessing the risk of heart attack should be done with a doctor's guidance.
Working together, a personal plan of action can be developed.
Changes that can help reduce the risk of heart disease:
+ Stop smoking. Smoking lowers HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. Smoking in itself is a major risk factor for heart disease.
+ Change eating habits. Low-fat, low-cholesterol eating lowers all your lipid levels.
+ Lose weight. A healthy, low fat diet reduces weight and helps lipids, too.
+ Start exercising. An active lifestyle helps to lower total lipid count. Staying trim and fit gives you energy, too!
+ Monitor cholesterol levels. Using a lipid profile, doctors can carefully observe serum lipid levels.
For more information please call Leila McCann RN,Community Education Coordinator, ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL at 410-641-9268 or visit their website at
www.atlanticgeneral.org.

ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL is proud to provide the community with many qualified physicians/provide within the ATLANTIC GENER AL HEALTH SYSTEM. If you are seeking a healthcare provider, please contact ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL'S PHYSICIAN REFERRAL LINE at 410-629-1500.