We know that maintaining good health is essential, so we should always keep an eye on our well-being and take necessary precautions to stay healthy. Various parameters can indicate a state of good health. Your doctor will likely measure these health parameters from time to time to ensure you are doing well. Doing these check-ins keeps you well-informed about your health status and can warn you about possible health issues. Here are a few parameters of good health.
Body Weight
Your body weight is an indicator of your health. Maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) is necessary to maintain good health. An ideal BMI is between 18.5 to 24.5. You can measure your weight and height and can easily calculate your BMI with online calculators. Having a higher or lower than normal BMI can indicate being unhealthy, especially if there is a recent change in your BMI. A sudden weight change is a sign of various health conditions. Having a low BMI can make you feel fatigued and tired all the time, while a high BMI predisposes you to serious health conditions, such as heart diseases, diabetes, hypertension, etc.
Blood Hemoglobin Level
Your blood hemoglobin level is also related to your health. The normal hemoglobin range is 13.5 to 18 g/dL for males and 12 to 15 g/dL for females. Anything above or below this range signifies a disorder in your body. Having a low hemoglobin level is more common, and it is called anemia. Nutritional deficiencies are the biggest cause of anemia. However, that does not mean that anemia cannot be a symptom of a severe health condition. Anemia can also be due to a condition as serious as cancer.
Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
Both these parameters are closely associated with heart conditions. A blood pressure of up to 120/80 mmHg and heart rate of 60-100 beats per minute are considered normal. High blood pressure and an abnormal heart rate can be associated with various cardiac conditions. Moreover, many other nconditions, like thyroid gland dysfunction, can also affect your blood pressure or heart rate. Your doctor likely takes both of these measurements during regular appointments.
Blood Glucose Level
Diabetes is a widespread health condition that can affect you at any age. Considering the high prevalence of this disease, you should be monitoring your blood glucose levels regularly if you are at risk for developing diabetes. The disease is also referred to as a "silent killer," so you might not know about your diabetes until it is quite advanced. Normal blood glucose should be below 100mg/dL while fasting and below 140mg/dL two hours after a meal.
Cholesterol Level
Cholesterol level is a significant indicator of good health as high cholesterol is precedent to various conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, etc. Your total cholesterol should be below 200mg/dL.
It would be best if you got your blood cholesterol checked once in a while. Moreover, if you are overweight or have a family history of high blood cholesterol level, the check-ups should be more frequent.
Annual Health Check-Up
Along with all these parameters, an annual health check-up is vital to stay heal and hearty. You should see your general practitioner once every year for a complete physical check-up and any lab tests needed. Always check in with your doctor with any concerns.
