Prevent a Heart Attack: Cholesterol & Blood Pressure Guidelines

by Dr. Marc Gillinov

Dr. Marc Gillinov is the Surgical Director of the Center for Atrial Fibrillation at Cleveland Clinic. He is honored to work with the nation’s number one heart team to improve the heart health of people from around the country and around the world.

You know your social security number, your telephone number and a dozen or more computer passwords. But do you know two numbers that could save your life? Do you know your LDL cholesterol and your blood pressure?

Do they really determine your health? Yes, they do. Heart attacks and strokes are the leading causes of death and disability. No matter who you are, cardiovascular disease is your greatest health threat. But here’s the good news: you control your risk. Ninety percent of your heart attack risk is determined by choices that you make. Specifically, what you do and what you eat determine your numbers, and they, in turn, can decrease your heart attack and stroke risk. Even if heart disease runs in your family, you can beat the odds.

Think of the goals below as the path to a longer, healthier life:

LDL Cholesterol Goal: < 130 mg/dl

Blood Pressure Goal: <120/80 mm Hg

What it is: A blood test that includes your total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels

Who should have it: Every adult starting at age twenty

All adults should have their lipids checked. The LDL cholesterol is the single most important value. Get a lipid panel every five years beginning at age twenty. If any of the values are abnormal or if you have established cardiovascular disease, you’ll need the test annually. And if you are on a  statin medication to lower LDL cholesterol, you should have a lipid panel every six months.

What it is: Measure of the pressure of blood against the walls of your arteries

Who should have it: All adults: at least once per year and those with high blood pressure (hypertension) or cardiovascular disease: every few months

High blood pressure causes no symptoms until you have a devastating event like a stroke.The only way to know your blood pressure is to take a few minutes and get a reading. You should check your blood pressure at least once per year, and more often if it is elevated. It’s easy to measure your blood pressure. Most people have it checked at a clinic or doctor’s office.

If you have high blood pressure (hypertension), you should purchase an inexpensive automated blood pressure cuff that you can perform more frequent blood pressure checks in the comfort of your own home. The best way to do this is to relax and sit down in a quiet room and get two measurements over the course of a few minutes. Take the measurements in the evening, as blood pressure tends to be higher in the morning.  Keep a blood pressure log so that you can track your progress and share it with your doctor.