Published: July 25, 2025
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Understanding your heart health doesn’t have to be complicated. Following four key numbers can help you stay on track with your cardiovascular wellness and potentially save your life, according to Li Zhou, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiologist with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute and Medical Director of Norton Women’s Heart Program.
“Your heart works 24/7 to keep you going, so it’s worth taking some time to know some basics about your heart,” Dr. Zhou said. In a recent “Medical Minute” video, she explained that when it comes to heart health, some simple measurements provide crucial insights into cardiovascular function and heart disease risk that everyone can monitor.
Blood pressure is fundamental to understanding cardiovascular health. “Blood pressure tells us how well your blood is moving from your heart to your arteries,” she notes. The ideal target number to aim for is less than 120 over 80.
The importance of monitoring this metric cannot be overstated, as “high blood pressure can quietly damage your heart and arteries” without obvious symptoms. Blood pressure is different from your heart rate, which measures how often your heart beats. Blood pressure measures how much force your blood pushes against blood vessels.
When discussing cholesterol, Dr. Zhou emphasized its connection to arterial wellness. “Cholesterol levels tell us about the health of your arteries,” she said. The recommended targets are clear: “Keep total cholesterol under 200 milligrams per deciliter. And LDL, the bad cholesterol, under 160 milligrams per deciliter.”
Your blood glucose level provides another critical piece of the heart health puzzle. “Your blood sugar levels help us understand how much glucose is present in your blood,” Dr. Zhou said. She recommends that “fasting blood glucose should be under 126 milligram per deciliter,” warning that levels above this threshold could indicate increased risk for diabetes and heart disease.
The final metric Dr. Zhou discusses is body mass index (BMI). “Your body mass index matters and tells us if your weight is healthy for your age and the body,” she explained. The healthy range she recommends is 18.5 to 24.9.
BMI considers your weight relative to your height. The basic formula is your body weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a simple online BMI calculator you can use.
Dr. Zhou emphasized that these measurements work together to provide a comprehensive view of cardiovascular health. “These numbers tell a story and help us understand your heart health,” she said.
Her advice for maintaining heart health is straightforward: “Check them, track them, talk to your doctor, and your heart will thank you.”
People with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes are more likely to have high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association, which encourages people to “Know Your Numbers” when it comes to heart health.
Understanding these four key numbers — blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar and BMI — represents a simple yet powerful way to monitor heart health and potentially prevent serious cardiovascular complications.
Staying up to date with these heart numbers is as easy as getting your annual checkup, which is covered by health insurance. Blood pressure is measured by gently squeezing and then releasing blood vessels in your arm. A blood pressure cuff wraps around your arm can easily capture this key number. Cholesterol and glucose are measured as part of a blood test and you can calculate your BMI yourself.