Service Magazine Issue 2 February 2025

KNOWING YOUR NUMBERS FOR HEART HEALTH

All adults should get a lipid panel or lipid profile or cholesterol test at least every 5 years and more often if you have abnormal lipid results or you are taking cholesterol lowering medication If you are above age 40, your doctor should also do a risk assessment calculation (ASCVD Risk Score) using the results of your lipid panel and other variables to further assess your risk for

heart attack and stroke. http://eepurl.com/iMKmU6

GLUCOSE (BLOOD SUGAR)- KNOW YOUR HEMOGLOBIN A1C

The Hemoglobin A1C is how much sugar is riding around on your red blood cells as they travel through your blood vessels, giving oxygen to all of your organs. The Hemoglobin A1C provides information about what your glucose control has been over the last 3 months, in contrast to a blood glucose, which is only telling you about your blood sugar at that point in time that the blood sample is taken, in a fingerstick or blood draw from your vein. A normal Hemoglobin A1C is 5.6% or less. Pre-diabetes is happening in your body before the blood glucose becomes consistently abnormal and is defined by a Hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1C) between 5.7% and 6.4%. Type II Diabetes is currently defined as when the Hemoglobin A1C gets to 6.5% or above. http://eepurl.com/IGORDo

A normal Hemoglobi

n A1C is 5.6% or less.

BY DR. BONITA COE

SERVICE MAGAZINE

19

Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software