These numbers help paint a picture of what’s going on inside your body and can alert your care team to issues before they become bigger problems. Think of them as your body’s dashboard: If something’s off, it’s a signal to take a deeper look.
Remember, while these numbers are important guidelines, your primary care clinician will help you interpret them based on your personal health history, risk factors and goals.
- Blood pressure
- Goal: Less than 120/80 mmHg
- High blood pressure often has no symptoms but can quietly increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney problems. The good news? It’s easy to check and manage—especially if we catch it early.
- Cholesterol
- Goal: LDL (“bad” cholesterol) under 100 mg/dL, HDL (“good” cholesterol) over 40 mg/dL (men) or 50 mg/dL (women), and total cholesterol under 200 mg/dL
- Cholesterol levels can tell us a lot about your risk for heart disease. A simple blood test gives us the full picture so we can make smart choices together about diet, exercise or medications if you need them.
- A1C
- Goal: 5.6% or below if you don’t have diabetes
- Your A1C shows your average blood sugar level over the past few months. It’s a great way to catch prediabetes early and prevent more serious issues down the road.
Routine Cancer Screenings
No, they aren’t numbers, but we can’t help including these critical cancer screenings. Depending on your age, sex and family history, it’s important to be up-to-date on:
- Mammograms for breast cancer
- Colonoscopies for colon cancer
- Pap smears/HPV tests for cervical cancer
- Lung cancer screening for some long-time smokers
So, what now?
If you don’t know your numbers, don’t stress—that’s what we’re here for. At your next primary care visit, ask about checking these key indicators. With just a few tests and measurements, we can get a better sense of your overall health and talk about small steps to keep you on track.
Remember: You don’t need to be perfect. Just informed. Knowing your numbers means you’re taking control of your health—and that’s something worth celebrating.
Did you know that Tufts Medicine patients can use myTuftsMed to chat with a clinician, use our online symptom checker, book appointments, request and refill prescriptions, view and share medical records and much more.
