Heart Health Numbers For Those At Risk Of Heart Attack
Though there are certainly concerns as individuals get older, heart health is important at any age. Statistics compiled by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal high rates of coronary illness and related conditions, pointing out that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women across the US. One person dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular ailments, while 1 in 5 deaths are linked to heart disease. Approximately 7 percent of adults aged 20 and older have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, while 20 percent of deaths from CAD are individuals under age 65.
These figures are disturbing, but CDC makes another point on the topic of heart disease. It is possible to reduce the risk by choosing healthy habits and gaining control over medical conditions. This approach requires you to know crucial data about your heart, and your physician will guide you in evaluating the important factors. However, you should consult with a Miami heart attack malpractice lawyer if your doctor failed to address:
Notable Heart Health Numbers
Through consultation with your health care providers, it may be wise to monitor certain factors that provide insight on your heart’s well-being.
- Resting Heart Rate: You can take your pulse at your wrist or carotid artery at the neck, and many fitness trackers offer this feature. Ideally, look for 50-70 beats per minute, though up to 100 bpm may not be concerning.
- LDL “Bad” Cholesterol: Heart disease is closely related to cholesterol, and any reading above 130 is an issue to address. Less than 100 is optimal, but ideal LDL levels are 70 or under.
- Body Mass Index (BMI): This factor is a measurement of weight and height, since obesity is an indicator of heart problems. A normal range is 25 to 30 BMI.
- Systolic Blood Pressure: The upper number in a blood pressure reading is the systolic factor, and it should be around 120 for normal.
- Hemoglobin/A1C: Another consideration with heart health is how much sugar is in the blood, because higher levels may indicate diabetes.
- Waist Measurements: Women should be less than 35 inches around, while normal waist circumference for a male adult is 40 inches.
Heart Health Numbers and a Physician’s Duty of Care
Health care providers, especially those that focus on cardiology, know the diagnostic tools for assessing heart health. You likely do not, so you must rely on your physician to know what to track, how to adjust your lifestyle, and what factors you cannot change. The failure to monitor heart health numbers could be a situation of medical malpractice when your doctor deviates from the standard of care.
Contact Our Florida Heart Attack Malpractice Attorneys to Discuss Options
Knowing your heart health numbers is important for prevention, so the failure to review this important data could be grounds for a medical malpractice claim. For more information, please contact Freidin Brown, P.A. at our offices in Miami or Fort Myers, FL. We can schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about your situation.
Source:
cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
