Know Your Numbers – American Heart Month

With Valentine’s Day approaching and heart-shaped decorations all around, there are ample reminders to focus on heart health this season. The month of February is American Heart Month, and Cameron Cardiology encourages you to use this time to get familiar with your heart health numbers. Our hearts beat over 100,000 times a day and pump 1 ½ gallons of blood per minute, supplying our body with oxygen and nutrients to keep us functioning at our best. This organ is vital to our survival, yet heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States.

Some of the most common cardiovascular diseases are coronary artery disease, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), congenital defects (abnormalities you’re born with) and heart valve disease. Symptoms of chest pain, tightness, pressure, shortness of breath, neck/jaw pain or pain/weakness in your arms may communicate that your heart is not functioning like it should.

“We are excited to share heart health information this month of February,” said Cameron Cardiology’s Dr. John A. Varner, DO, FACC. “The level of cardiovascular care we offer is rarely found in rural areas, and we are proud to serve those in our community who are struggling with cardiovascular-related diseases. This month, we want to stress the importance of understanding your various heart numbers and come alongside you to support you through your heart health journey.”

To keep your heart at its healthiest, the Cameron Cardiology team suggests that everyone should know the following information about their cardiovascular health.

Know Your Numbers

Blood pressure, cholesterol and heart rate are the three numbers that everyone should know to keep their heart healthy.

• Blood pressure: Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. Elevated blood pressure is between 120/80 and 129/80. The top number is your systolic pressure, and the bottom number is diastolic pressure.
• Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is not inherently “bad.” Your body needs it to make cells, vitamins and other hormones. But too much cholesterol can pose a problem. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the “bad” cholesterol to limit, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is “good.” Understanding the difference can help you be aware of these numbers and manage them properly. For those 20 years and older, normal cholesterol numbers are:
  • Males: LDL less than 110 and HDL more than 40
  • Females: LDL less than 100 and HDL more than 50
• Heart rate: Your normal resting heart rate should be between 60 and

100 beats per minute. To check your heart rate, follow these instructions.

Cameron Cares About Your Heart

Cameron Cardiology’s goal is to prevent the onset of heart issues, manage current heart problems or discover heart issues early on. Knowing and understanding your family history, paired with a healthy diet and exercise routine, is crucial in accomplishing these goals. Controlling your intake of alcohol, tobacco and drugs is also important in maintaining good heart health.

Cameron’s on-site Cardiac Device Clinic has a dedicated team with years of device experience. We monitor all brands of cardiac devices remotely through a home monitoring system and in our clinic located in the Cameron Cardiology office. We provide general cardiology care and cardiac clearance for procedures or surgery, as well as community outreach through screenings and educational initiatives.

Are you interested in educating yourself more on heart health? Check out the American Heart Association website. Click here or call 260-667-5790 to schedule an appointment and visit Cameron’s cardiology services page to learn more about our trained professionals ready to care for your heart.