on Yahoo!We've seen a lot of medical breakthroughs in the past century, but one of the most remarkable things we've witnessed is the change in our thinking. We've become more proactive about our health, and we're aiming to catch diseases early on -- if we can't prevent them altogether.
However, some health issues aren't easy to detect in their early stages, and we may not be aware of our risks. Here are some key tests and measures to keep up with:
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Experts constantly remind us that we should watch our weight, but the number on the scale is only part of the picture. The BMI gives you a better indication of how your weight will affect your health by factoring in your height as well.
Curious about your number? Try Health Canada's Body Mass Index (BMI) Nomogram. If your BMI is in the 18.5 - 24.9 range you're at the lowest risk for developing health problems. People with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 are considered overweight, while people with a BMI over 30 are classified as obese. Essentially, a number over 25 is a warning sign for health problems where weight is a contributing factor.
A word of caution: this scale is meant for people between the ages of 18 and 65 (with the exception of those who are very muscular, pregnant or breastfeeding). If you're over 65, the "normal" range is actually a little higher -- so don't panic if your BMI ventures above 25.
Waist circumference
The fat stored around the mid-section -- where the vital organs are -- puts people at risk for high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type-2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. The Heart and Stroke Foundation therefore advocates getting out that measuring tape and finding out your waist circumference in addition to knowing your weight and BMI.
What results should you worry about? The cut-off numbers depend on ethnicity and gender. Men who are of European/Caucasian, Sub-Saharan African, Eastern Mediterranean or Middle Eastern descent should have a waist circumference below 102 cm (40 inches). Men who are of Asian, Indian and Ethnic South and Central American descent should aim a little lower for 90 cm (35 inches). For women, the numbers are 88 cm (35 inches) and 80 cm (32 inches) respectively. (Again, these numbers apply to people between the ages of 18 - 65 and those who aren't pregnant or breastfeeding).
If your number is a little high, take heart: losing as little as five per cent of your weight can reduce your risk. (See the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Healthy Waists website for details).
Heart risk
Heart health has been making the news a lot lately due to recent celebrity deaths, but how many of us actually know our risks? According to Dr. Akbar Panju, Division Director of General Internal Medicine at McMaster University, 80 per cent of us have at least one risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Forty-one per cent have two risk factors -- and 10 per cent have three. (See Risky Business for details).
19 Comments
LEAVE YOUR COMMENT
You must sign in to leave a commentcharacter(s) remaining