Heart Health: Seven Numbers You Need to Know

You have heard the saying, "home is where the heart is." Your actual heart's home is inside your body, and it is key to everything about your health. Take positive action for heart health as you prepare for the changes aging has on your family and finances.

Recommend This Page
Heart Health: Seven Numbers You Need to Know
4 Min Read February 3rd, 2017 Updated:February 28th, 2022

You have heard the saying, "home is where the heart is." Your actual heart's home is inside your body, and it is key to everything about your health. When it comes to your health, there are some numbers you should know by heart. 

The Cleveland Clinic, known worldwide as leaders in heart health, lists seven numbers you should be aware of when thinking about heart health.

  1. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol - The LDL number may indicate coronary heart disease. Find out if your LDL cholesterol level is where it should be.
  2. BMI - We all know that too much weight is not good for your blood pressure or heart. The body mass index calculates your body fat based on your height and weight. When your BMI is high, you are at a higher risk for heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes. Discover whether your score is in the healthy range.
  3. Waist circumference - According to the National Institutes of Health, if more fat is located around your waist (apple shape) rather than around your hips, you are at higher risk for conditions including heart disease and diabetes. Find out if your waist circumference puts you at risk for heart disease and other problems.
  4. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) - Your WHR measures the amount of fat you hold in your waist, hips, and buttocks. A healthy WHR for women is .80 or less and is .90 or less for men.
  5. Triglycerides - High blood fat levels are linked to coronary heart disease, especially in women. Find out if your levels put you at risk and learn how to lower them.
  6. High Blood Pressure - You should know what your blood pressure is and be sure to keep your blood pressure under good control. High Blood pressure is known as the silent killer and leads to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Find out what your numbers say about your heart disease risk and how to lower them.
  7. Fasting glucose - Your fasting blood glucose (FBG) indicates the amount of sugar in your blood after not eating or drinking fluids other than water for at least 8 hours. Elevated FBG indicates either prediabetes or diabetes, placing people at a higher risk of heart issues. Find out what your fasting glucose level says about your risk for heart disease and stroke.

The Heart also Means Love

The heart also refers to 'love.' Love is all about family. Your future good health, or lack of it, will impact your loved ones. Once you reach age 40, you should be planning for declining health in the future and other aging problems. 

A decline in your health, body, and mind place you at higher risk for needing help with daily living activities and supervision due to dementia. Long-term health care costs are rising rapidly, adversely impacting income, assets, lifestyle, and legacy. 

Are you prepared for longevity and the problems associated with aging and declining health? How would you pay for long-term health care? Where would the money come from to pay for quality care? Would you have to depend on your adult children to become your caregivers?

LTC Insurance Offers Quality Care and Asset Protection

Affordable Long-Term Care Insurance will safeguard your future retirement income and assets from the high costs of extended care. Your 401(k), IRA, and other savings need to be protected. 

People need long-term health care due to illness, accidents, or just the impact of aging. Even if you are heart-healthy, you still have a high risk of needing long-term health care after age 65. The longer we live leads to many aging issues, including memory loss. 

Quality long-term health care is expensive but varies depending on where you live - Cost of Care Calculator - Choose Your State | LTC News. Don't place the responsibility of caregiving on untrained and unprepared loved ones. Don't risk your hard-earned assets to pay for care. 

Long-Term Care Insurance will give you guaranteed tax-free benefits to pay for your choice of quality care options, including in-home care. Your loved ones will have the time to be family instead of caregivers. 

LTC Insurance is Dependable 

The economy changes, often without notice. Inflation, international events, domestic politics all adversely impact your savings when you least expect it. 

Depend on the guaranteed tax-free resources of Long-Term Care Insurance. You can control only a few things in life, but you can depend on an LTC policy to deliver you access to your choice of quality care and peace of mind to your family. 

Most people obtain coverage in their 50s. Find an experienced Long-Term Care Insurance specialist to help you navigate the many options.

Recommend This Page

About the Author

An LTC News author focusing on long-term care and aging.

LTC News Contributor James Kelly

James Kelly

Contributor since August 21st, 2017

Editor's Note

Thinking about long-term health care should happen before you get older and before a loved one requires help with daily living activities. A family conversation about older family members' future need for long-term care will make it easier for everyone. Plus, it allows for their input - assuming they have not already purchased a Long-Term Care Insurance policy. Even if they own a policy, understanding their preferences for care is essential.

The ideal time to plan for your future declining health and aging is when you are younger and healthier. Most people obtain Long-Term Care Insurance in their 50s.

LTC Insurance gives you the tax-free benefits to pay for your choice of quality care, including in-home care. You can safeguard income and assets and reduce the stress and anxiety otherwise placed on loved ones.

There are a variety of insurance options to consider. 

LTC NEWS Offers Many Tools and Resources

You can find many tools and resources on LTC NEWS to assist you in your research for a planning solution or help your family find the appropriate care for a loved one at the time of crisis. 

To help you plan the costs and burdens of changing health and aging, LTC NEWS has put in place several resources, including:

Find all the resources on LTC NEWS - Resources for Long-Term Care Planning | LTC News.

Seek Professional Guidance

Insurance rates are regulated, so no insurance agent, agency, or financial advisor can give you special deals. However, insurance companies' premiums vary over 100% for the same coverage.

Experts suggest using a qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist to help you navigate the many options available to you and your family.

A specialist who works with the top companies can match your age, health, family history, and other factors and find you the best coverage at the best value. A specialist will save you money, and you will have peace of mind knowing they are making the appropriate recommendations - Work With a Specialist | LTC News.

Benefits of Reverse Mortgages 

Today's reverse mortgages for those aged 62 and older could be an ideal resource to fund a Long-Term Care Insurance policy OR even provide money to pay for care if you, or a loved one, already needs help and assistance.  

Some people have much of their savings invested in their homes. With today's reverse mortgages, you can find ways to fund care solutions, care itself, even help with cash flow during your retirement. 

Learn more by asking questions to an expert. LTC NEWS columnist and host of the TV Show "62 Who Knew" will answer your questions regarding caregiving, aging, health, retirement planning, long-term care, and reverse mortgages. 

- Just "Ask Mike." - Reverse Mortgages | LTC News.

Be A Guest Contributor for LTC NEWS and Share Your Knowledge

LTC NEWS is open to contributors to share their stories with the world. 

You can write a story or ongoing column for LTC NEWS. You can write about many topics, including aging, caregiving, health, lifestyle, retirement planning, and long-term care, to name a few.

Be sure to write for our core target audience of adults aged 40 and older. Our audience is worldwide; however, our primary target is the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other English-speaking nations. 

Improve your website or blog's SEO and gain exposure and traffic at the same time by being a contributor to LTC NEWS. 

You can even promote yourself, your business, and your website or blog. However, it must have editorial content exclusive to LTC NEWS and not just an advertisement. It can include links to other sites, and you can share the article link once published on your website or social media.

Email your story idea or article: newsroom@ltcnews.com - LTC News Contributors | LTC News

LTC NEWS - Your Marketing and Advertising Partner 

Use LTC NEWS to drive traffic to your website and help you attract people interested in your products and services. Plus, you can improve your website's SEO so more consumers can find you when they search for your products and services.

There are various marketing options available with LTC NEWS. Traditional advertising, sponsored content articles, strategic alliances, and more are available. 

Learn more about how LTC NEWS can help you market your business, drive traffic, and improve SEO - Advertise With Us | LTC News.

Shared Links

LTC NEWS offers a 'helpful links' page so readers looking for additional information can find them easily. You can get a dofollow link to your website on LTC NEWS in exchange for a dofollow link on your site.

Let's work together and help consumers who search for us on the web - Site Request | LTC News.

You can also affordably purchase a dofollow link to your website or blog on LTC NEWS. Just contact the advertising department.

Sharing News with LTC NEWS 

Include LTC NEWS in your press release distribution. If your group, organization, business, political committee, etc., have news to share, send it to LTC NEWS. Email - newsroom@ltcnews.com  

LTC News Trusted & Verified

Work With a Trusted Specialist

Get Accurate Long-Term Care Insurance Quotes

  • Has substantial experience in Long-Term Care Insurance
  • Strong understanding of underwriting, policy design, and claims experience
  • Represents all or most of all the leading insurance companies
man and woman sitting at desk
Latest
  • Latest

  • Oldest

Everything
  • Homecare

  • Health

  • Government

  • Care Facilities

  • Pets

  • People

  • Lifestyle

  • Insurance

No Results

Step 1 of 4

Find a Specialist

Get Started Today

Trusted & Verified Specialists

Work with a trusted Long-Term Care Insurance Specialist Today

  • Has substantial experience in Long-Term Care Insurance
  • A strong understanding of underwriting, policy design, and claims experience
  • Represents all or most of all the leading insurance companies

LTC News Trusted & Verified

Compare Insurers

+