7 factors of heart health, how do you measure up?

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  • tyresank
    tyresank Posts: 174 Member
    I have been on a health journey for 20 mths, hit my goal weight about 8 wks ago and I am in maintenance now. I meet all 7 of them YEA ! My body fat is 22%.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    Not sure if this is the best forum for this...

    So I was watching part 1 of the HBO series, The Weight if the Nation (really good so far) and was shocked by this:

    There are 7 factors to Cardiovascular Health
    1. Non Smoker
    2. Maintaining a lean body mass
    3. Regular physical activity (150 min/week moderate or 75 min/week intense)
    4. Healthy diet
    5. Low blood pressure (less than 120/80)
    6. Total cholesterol less than 200
    7. No diabetes (Fasting glucose <100)

    Only 1% of the population fits all 7 criteria!!!!

    How do you fare?

    I don't know what my body mass is, but my BMI is 25.3 and i've never had my cholesterol checked but I imagine it's fine. My blood pressure was 100/60 all through my pregnancies even. I don't smoke. I exercise loads. I'm not diabetic. I eat healthily. So, I reckon I have all 7, unless my body mass is not lean enough!
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    3/7

    -no clue if I'm maintaining lean body mass
    - no idea if my food consumption is considered "healthy"
    - I have HBP
    - no idea what my cholesterol numbers are other than "normal for me"

    I don't smoke anymore. I get regular activity, though it can be debated as to whether it's moderate or intense. I don't have diabetes afaik. I love it when doctors never share specifics and get all pissy when you ask.
  • SmartAlec03211988
    SmartAlec03211988 Posts: 1,896 Member
    1. CHECK
    2. Defined as? I'm a little under 20% body fat.
    3. 270 hours per week of moderate activity. CHECK.
    4. CHECK.
    5. CHECK.
    6. Don't know my cholesterol.
    7. CHECK.

    So 5.5/7 until I get my cholesterol checked and a more concrete definition of what "lean" means, 'cause I consider myself "lean" - I am aiming for lower, but I am not fat.
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,473 Member
    What does "maintaining a lean body mass" mean? Does that mean not losing lean body mass? I've been checking my body fat% while I've been losing weight, and I don't seem to be losing LBM.

    Leaving aside that one, as I'm not sure what it means, I fare very well! I've always had low blood pressure, never had high cholesterol, don't smoke, active, etc. Unfortunately, I already have heart disease.
  • shannashannabobana
    shannashannabobana Posts: 625 Member
    "4. Healthy diet "

    This one is sort of vague.

    My total cholesterol was a little higher than 200 last year, but my HDL was very high as well which is protective.
  • msjames1999
    msjames1999 Posts: 528 Member
    5/7 but I am working toward 7/7.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,266 Member
    "4. Healthy diet "

    This one is sort of vague.

    My total cholesterol was a little higher than 200 last year, but my HDL was very high as well which is protective.
    Yes the cholesterol aspect of this list is founded in the theory that increased cholesterol causes heart disease, which as we/should know from more recent studies, that it doesn't. I'm under 200 barely, but my HDL is 105 and even if it was 250 I still wouldn't have any concern. Recent research has indicated that most heart attach victims have normal to low cholesterol.
  • Brizoeller
    Brizoeller Posts: 182 Member
    7 out of 7.....This just made me happy :)
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