One Vital Recommendation for Maintaining a Healthy Heart as You Get older

According to a recent study over half of the cases of heart disease could be prevented. Even small lifestyle changes have a big effect on your overall heart health, however it all starts with knowing the results of four critical tests.

 Know Your Numbers Certain lab test results show the condition of your heart health and your risk of having a "heart-related event"-- not something you want to experience.

In particular you should know your numbers from these tests:

Cholesterol (HDL, LDL and Total). Triglycerides.

 Blood pressure. Body Mass Index (BMI). Once you have the baseline numbers, you and your doctor can create a plan to get the ones out of whack back in line.

Cholesterol.

Tip! When lifting weights over your head, with each rep you should flex your glutes. This move allows your body to adopt a more efficient and safe position while minimizing your chance of injury and maximizing your workout.

The body makes and needs cholesterol in order to survive, but when the good HDL gets too low or the bad LDL too high, it increases your risk for a heart attack. As far as the numbers, your LDL should be less than 130mg/dL, HDL less than 40mg/dL and your total less than 200mg/dL.

Staying at a healthy weight, not smoking, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet of lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grain, will help bring your numbers back in line. Your doctor may put you on a statin-based medication if it doesn't.

Triglycerides. This measurement shows the fats in your blood. A good number is around 150mg/dL. Just by lowering the amount of saturated fat you eat and losing weight, you can lower your number by 30% to 50%.

Blood Pressure. Blood pressure is the force exerted on the blood vessels by your heart pumping blood throughout your body. Blood pressure is expressed as a maximum pressure (systolic) over a minimum pressure (diastolic) and displayed in millimeters of mercury. Ideally, it should be 120/80mm Hg.

Tip! If you want to get fit and stay hip, do the dip. They focus exertion on the triceps, chest area, as well as the shoulders.

If your blood pressure is too high, try lowering it by losing weight if you are overweight, and by exercising and eating a healthy diet low in sodium. If it is still not within tolerance, your doctor may have to put you on a blood pressure medication to get it down. Body Mass Index (BMI).

Tip! Consider adding a few sit-ups to your crunch routines. Sit-ups have gotten a bad rap over the years.

You are overweight for your height and have an increased risk of getting heart disease or diabetes if your BMI is over 24.9. You can lower your number by eating a healthy diet, losing weight and exercising.

Did you notice that most of the measurements are affected by eating a healthy diet, exercising and losing weight? Doing those three things, along with stopping smoking and limiting your intake of alcohol to one drink a day, will go a long way to getting your numbers back in check without having to go on any type of medication.

Tip! It is important to make sure that you are not over-training. One way to check this is to read your pulse the morning after a workout.

This statistic displays the fats in your blood. A good number is around 150mg/dL. Just by lowering the amount of saturated fat you eat and losing weight, you can lower your number by 30% to 50%. Blood pressure is the force exerted on the blood vessels by your heart pumping blood all throughout your body. Blood pressure is expressed as a maximum pressure (systolic) over a minimum pressure (diastolic) and displayed in millimeters of mercury.