Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries (blood vessels), which carry the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body and it contributes to hardening of the arteries and the development of heart failure. Low blood pressure can also cause health problems and happens when blood pressure drops suddenly, and the brain does not get enough blood, which can lead to dizziness.
A blood pressure reading has two numbers. The first and higher of the two is a measure of the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and fills them with blood – this is called systolic pressure. The second number measures pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats – this called diastolic pressure.
A normal blood pressure reading is Less than 120/80; if your reading is higher you may be at risk of high blood pressure
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is one way to find out whether or not you are overweight. BMI uses your height and weight but does not include muscle mass. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in meters, squared). So for example if your weight is 50kg and your height is 1.56m then you will calculate:
50 ÷ (1.56 × 1.56) = 20.5
The CD4 count measures the number of CD4 cells in a sample of your blood drawn by a needle from a vein in your arm. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that fights infection. Another name for them is T-helper cells. CD4 cells are made in the lymph or infection-fighting system. CD4 cells move throughout your body, helping to identify and destroy germs such as bacteria and viruses. Along with other tests, the CD4 count helps tell how strong your immune system is, indicates the stage of your HIV disease, guides treatment, and predicts how your disease may progress. Keeping your CD4 count high can reduce complications of HIV disease and help you live longer. HIV can destroy entire "families" of CD4 cells. Then the diseases these "families" were designed to fight can easily take over. That is when opportunistic infections are likely to develop.
Your doctor will recommend a CD4 count test:
CD4 counts are reported as the number of cells in a cubic millimeter of blood. A normal CD4 count is from 500 to 1,500 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. It is more important to pay attention to the pattern of results than to any one test result. In general, HIV disease is progressing if your CD4 count is going down. This means your immune system is getting weaker and you are more likely to get sick. In some people, CD4 counts can drop dramatically, even going down to zero.
The test does not always show how well you are feeling. For example, some people can have high CD4 counts and still be sick. Others can have low CD4 counts and feel well.
Public health guidelines recommend starting on preventive antiretroviral therapy if CD4 counts are under 200, whether or not you have symptoms. This is a later stage of HIV infection called Aids (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Some doctors start therapy earlier, when the CD4 count reaches 350. If therapy is effective, your CD4 count should go up or become stable.
A normal CD4 count is 500 – 1500 cells per mm3 of blood
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver and found in certain foods, such as food from animals, like dairy products (whole milk), eggs and meat. The body needs some cholesterol in order to function properly. Its cell walls, or membranes, need cholesterol in order to produce hormones, vitamin D and the bile acids that help to digest fat. But, the body needs only a small amount of cholesterol to meet its needs. If you have too much cholesterol, you can start to develop health problems such as heart disease.
There are four main types of cholesterol:
Everyone over the age of 20 should get their cholesterol levels measured at least once every 5 years. When being tested, your doctor may recommend a fasting cholesterol test (you are not allowed to eat for several hours before the test) or a non-fasting cholesterol test (where you can eat before the test). A non-fasting cholesterol test will show your total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. A fasting cholesterol test, called a lipid profile or a lipoprotein analysis, will measure your LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol. It will also measure triglycerides. Your doctor may start with a non-fasting cholesterol test and then recommend a lipid profile, based on your results.
A good total cholesterol reading is less than 200 mg/dL. Here is the breakdown:
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