According to a recent survey of 2-thousand adults, 76% say they take their health seriously, but the majority don’t know these stats about themselves.
- Only 35% knew their “normal” blood pressure range, while only 7% knew their heart health score and 12% knew their typical maximum heart rate.
- Nearly a third (29%) couldn’t even say how much they weighed.
- Less than three in 10 (29%) had ever had a cholesterol check and half had never had a proactive blood pressure assessment.
- Half (51%) couldn’t even recall which prescription medications they currently take and 59% didn’t know their blood type.
- And get this - 23% had no idea how tall they are.
Why it’s important to know these five key things about our health:
- Blood pressure - High blood pressure (hypertension) is known as a “silent killer” because it often has no obvious warning signs, but can lead to life-threatening conditions like a heart attack or stroke. Checking it is easy and a reading around 120 over 80 is seen as healthy.
- Weight - Being overweight or obese raises the risk of health issues like certain types of cancer and diabetes, plus it can strain your joints and cause mobility issues.
- Heart health - Poor heart health can cause heart failure and heart attacks and a screening can detect irregular heartbeats, like atrial fibrillation, which raises the risk of a stroke.
- Cholesterol level - High cholesterol can lead to serious cardiovascular issues, including heart attack and stroke.
- Diabetes risk - Someone could have Type 2 diabetes and not know it, since they may not have specific symptoms in the early stages. But this type of diabetes can increase the risk of conditions like heart attack and stroke, and a simple blood test can screen for it.
Source: Metro
Photo: Me 3645 Studio / Moment / Getty Images