Know your numbers
The ABCs of Life
Three numbers worth knowing for your heart — and the good news is they’re all things you can get ahead of. Learn what they mean, then track yours and bring them to your doctor.
The “ABCs of Life” came straight from the block — a Father’s Day conversation on the Your Opinion Doesn’t Matter podcast with two Brooklyn neighbors who work in health care: a physical therapist and a nurse practitioner. Their message was simple: know your numbers, and get ahead of them. This whole platform grew out of that talk.
A1C — your blood sugar
A single number that reflects your average blood sugar over about the last 3 months. One meal won't spike it — it's the long view.
- Normalunder 5.7%
- Prediabetes5.7% – 6.4%
- Diabetes range6.5% and up
High blood sugar over time quietly damages blood vessels, which is hard on your heart — so knowing this number early matters.
Blood pressure
The force of your blood pushing against your artery walls — written as two numbers, like 120/80 (the top when your heart beats, the bottom when it rests).
- Normalunder 120 / 80
- Elevated120–129 / under 80
- High (stage 1)130–139 / 80–89
- High (stage 2)140+ / 90+
It usually has no symptoms — which is exactly why it's worth measuring. The American Heart Association puts the target under 120/80.
Cholesterol
A few numbers, really: LDL (the “bad” kind that builds up), HDL (the “good” kind that clears it out), and your total.
- Total — desirableunder 200
- LDL (“bad”)lower is better
- HDL (“good”)higher is better
Fiber, better fats (like the omega-3s in salmon), and moving your body all help — see the Learn section for everyday food moves.
These ranges are general guideposts (the kind the American Heart Association uses), not a diagnosis. Your numbers belong in a conversation with your doctor, who sees your whole picture. In an emergency, call 911.