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Know Your Numbers

Understanding Heart Health Before Problems Start

Alice Benjamin,

AARP California

Published February 19, 2026

Smiling female doctor examining senior patient in hospital

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Know Your Numbers: Understanding Heart Health Before Problems Start

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, a distinction it has held for more than a century. According to the American Heart Association’s 2025 Statistical Update and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease is responsible for approximately one in every five deaths nationwide, accounting for nearly 700,000 deaths each year. In practical terms, someone in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease roughly every 33 to 34 seconds.

What makes these numbers especially important is that most cardiovascular disease develops long before a medical emergency occurs. Despite improvements in treatment, the same underlying drivers, particularly high blood pressure, obesity, and metabolic disease, continue to fuel risk across the population. As a family nurse practitioner, I have learned that the most impactful conversations about heart health are not the ones that happen after a diagnosis, but the ones that happen years earlier. Prevention matters because it allows us to recognize risk while people still feel well. Understanding your health numbers creates an opportunity to intervene early, make informed choices, and reduce the likelihood of serious illness before symptoms ever begin.

What It Means to Know Your Numbers

When we talk about heart health, we are not talking about one single test or measurement. We are looking at a group of numbers that together tell the story of cardiovascular risk. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight, and markers of inflammation all provide pieces of information that help guide prevention.

Many people feel well even when these numbers are elevated. High blood pressure, for example, often has no symptoms but gradually damages blood vessels over time. By the time a heart attack or stroke occurs, the disease process has often been developing for decades. This is why routine screening and understanding your results matter.

Understanding Your Cholesterol Panel

A standard lipid panel measures total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. LDL cholesterol is commonly referred to as “bad” cholesterol because elevated levels contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries. HDL cholesterol helps carry excess cholesterol away from the bloodstream, while triglycerides are closely linked to metabolic health and lifestyle factors such as diet and weight.

Current prevention guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association emphasize that treatment decisions should be based on overall cardiovascular risk rather than a single number alone. This means age, blood pressure, diabetes risk, smoking history, and family history all influence how cholesterol results are interpreted.

In recent years, additional tests have helped refine risk assessment for some patients. Lipoprotein(a), often called Lp(a), is largely genetic and can increase cardiovascular risk even when traditional cholesterol levels appear normal. Guidelines recognize elevated Lp(a) as a risk-enhancing factor, and many experts now recommend measuring it at least once in adulthood.

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Apolipoprotein B, or ApoB, measures the number of cholesterol-containing particles that can enter artery walls and may help clarify risk in certain individuals. Another test, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), reflects inflammation in the body, which is increasingly recognized as part of the cardiovascular disease process. These tests are not necessary for everyone, but they can help personalize prevention strategies when risk is unclear.

Why Blood Pressure Still Matters

Among all the numbers we track, blood pressure remains one of the most important. Elevated blood pressure places continuous strain on blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and heart failure. Because it often causes no symptoms, many people are unaware their blood pressure is high until complications occur.

The encouraging reality is that blood pressure is also one of the most modifiable risk factors. Lifestyle changes, medications when appropriate, and regular monitoring can significantly reduce risk over time.

American Heart Association

Small Choices That Create Big Health Benefits

One of the most common misconceptions about heart health is that prevention requires extreme changes. However, research consistently shows that small, consistent habits make the biggest difference. Regular physical activity, improving diet quality, reducing sodium intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and prioritizing sleep all contribute to better cardiovascular outcomes.

The goal is not perfection. It is consistency. Even modest improvements in activity levels or nutrition can improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and metabolic health.

Monitoring Your Health with Confidence

Monitoring your health should not create anxiety. Instead, it should create awareness and confidence. Checking blood pressure at home, repeating labs at recommended intervals, and tracking trends over time allow patients and clinicians to make informed decisions together. A single number rarely tells the whole story. Patterns matter more than isolated results.

Talking With Your Healthcare Provider About Prevention

One of the most empowering steps patients can take is simply asking questions. Understanding what your numbers mean for you personally, what goals you should aim for, and whether lifestyle changes or medications are appropriate allows prevention to become a shared decision rather than a one-sided recommendation.

Heart disease remains common, but it is also highly preventable. Knowing your numbers is not about fear. It is about taking control of your health early, making informed choices, and creating long-term benefits that support an active and healthy life.

***The information shared in this article is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911. Always consult your healthcare provider for any medical concerns, and do not delay seeking professional advice based on the content found on this website. AARP is not responsible for the consequences of any decisions or actions taken in reliance upon or as a result of the information provided.***

Courtesy of Alice Benjamin

ABOUT NURSE ALICE BENJAMIN

With over 25 years of healthcare experience, “Nurse Alice” Benjamin, MSN, ACNS-BC, FNP-C is a nationally board-certified family nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist. Her expertise spans from critical care and emergency medicine to cardiology and community health.

In addition to her clinical work, Nurse Alice is a respected educator, media health contributor, and public speaker who has collaborated with organizations such as the American Heart Association, AARP, and NBC News. She’s the host of the “Ask Nurse Alice” podcast, an AARP ambassador, and a passionate advocate for making healthcare clear, compassionate, and empowering for everyone.