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Know your numbers
Four measurements drive most of the decisions in adult primary care: blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and weight. Here is what the ranges mean, in plain language.
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is written as two numbers: the pressure when your heart beats (systolic, the top number) over the pressure when it rests between beats (diastolic, the bottom number). High blood pressure causes no symptoms for years, which is exactly why it gets checked at every visit.
Top number (systolic), in mm Hg. The bottom number matters too — see the full chart below.
| Category | Top number (systolic) | Bottom number (diastolic) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Less than 120 | and | Less than 80 |
| Elevated | 120 – 129 | and | Less than 80 |
| High blood pressure — Stage 1 | 130 – 139 | or | 80 – 89 |
| High blood pressure — Stage 2 | 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher |
| Hypertensive crisis Recheck in 5 minutes. If it stays this high, get medical care right away. | Higher than 180 | and / or | Higher than 120 |
Categories from the 2025 ACC/AHA high blood pressure guideline. For most adults the treatment goal is under 130/80.
Blood sugar and A1C
A1C is a blood test that reflects your average blood sugar over the past two to three months — one number that summarizes the whole season, not just the morning you had labs drawn. Prediabetes is common, quiet, and often reversible, which is why these ranges are worth knowing.
A1C test
Fasting blood sugar
Measured after at least 8 hours without eating.
Glucose tolerance test (2 hours)
Diagnostic ranges from the CDC. If you already have diabetes, your personal A1C goal is set with Dr. Narain — it is not the same for everyone.
Cholesterol
A lipid panel breaks cholesterol into parts. LDL is the one that builds up in artery walls; HDL helps carry it away; triglycerides are a separate fat that rises with sugar, alcohol, and excess calories. These are the optimal targets for a healthy adult.
Total cholesterol
The sum of everything in the panel.
LDL — “bad”
Lower is better. Your personal target drops if you have heart disease or diabetes.
HDL — “good”
50+ women
Higher is better. Exercise is the most reliable way to raise it.
Triglycerides
Responds quickly to cutting sugar, refined carbs, and alcohol.
Optimal levels per the CDC. Whether you need medication depends on your overall cardiovascular risk, not on any single number.
Body mass index
BMI compares your weight to your height. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis — it cannot tell muscle from fat, and it reads differently across body types. Dr. Narain uses it as one input among several, alongside waist measurement, labs, and how you actually feel.
Ranges per the CDC for adults 20 and older.
These are general reference ranges for adults, not medical advice. Your own targets depend on your age, your other conditions, your medications, and your history — and they are set with your physician, not from a chart. Bring your numbers to your next visit and go through them with Dr. Narain.
Sources: 2025 ACC/AHA high blood pressure guideline; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (diabetes testing, cholesterol, and BMI).
Not sure where your numbers stand?
A routine visit with basic lab work will give you all four. If it has been more than a year, it is worth the appointment.