What do the numbers mean?

The Staff Sargent's wife asked what the number mean from my checkup. Here are some links to answer your question.

140/90 My Blood pressure. What it means.

My A1c 6% - A measurement of how much sugar is coating my red blood cells. Normal is 5%, People with Diabetes the "normal" number is 6% to 7%. Imagine your blood cell are shaped like jelly donuts. The A1c (or HbA1c) measures the amount of sugar glaze on the donut. Too much glaze like a Krispy Kreme Donut and blood cells stick together. This makes your blood thick and just imgine your heart pumping molasses. Your heart fails, blood vessels rupture, Blindness, nevre loss.... not a pretty sight. You can read more here.

Heart rate BPM (Beats per Minute) It should be around 70-60. For people in great shape, like Lance Armstrong, have a resting heartbeat around 45 BPM! Think of your heart as an engine in idle. The slower and stronger it is the more capacity it has for working hard. Lots of good exercise can help this, raising your heart rate and forcing your heart muscle to grow new blood vessel to feed the heart. This in turn help lower your resting heart rate. Most people think of this as building endurance.


HDL and LDL. These are measure of cholesterol. Your body makes this stuff from meat and diary products. It is used to make cells and cell membranes. Any excess float through your bloodstream and slowly builds up clogging your veins like soap scum in your drian pipes. Not Good. HDL is the good stuff, LDL is the bad stuff in a nut shell. Once again diet and exercise can help with raising the HDl and Lowering the LDL. You can learn more here.