A cardiologist urging people to ‘know your numbers’ has outlined why it could be crucial to track your blood pressure, cholesterol and HbA1c. Dr Nabila Laskar, a consultant cardiologist, regularly posts informative videos on social media for her thousands of followers.
In a recent post, Dr Nabila shared a video that read: « Five heart tips I’m walking into 2026 with. » First on her list was the recommendation to ‘know your numbers’. Explaining her suggestion, Dr Nabila wrote: « Blood pressure, cholesterol, HbA1c. If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it. »
According to the NHS, lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol levels can reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease. HbA1c measures your average blood glucose. High blood sugar mainly affects people with type 2 diabetes.
The NHS says high blood sugar can cause serious problems if it stays high for a long time or gets to a very high level. For people who do not know their blood pressure, cholesterol, or HbA1c, GP surgeries and some pharmacies can usually help to arrange tests.
It’s really important for people with heart problems to monitor their blood pressure, HbA1c and cholesterol levels to prevent further cardiovascular damage. It helps to keep track of health and lower the chances of serious problems like heart attacks, strokes, or heart failure.
Even though these issues might not show any symptoms, they can point to serious problems, such as plaque in the arteries or extra strain on the heart. Knowing these numbers, people can make smart lifestyle changes or adjust their medications to stay healthy.
Dr Nabila also said she would prioritise daily movement, saying: « 10–20 minutes of intentional movement a day is more protective than most people realise. » The expert added that she would ‘protect’ sleep ‘like medicine’, and she recommended getting seven to nine hours.
As per Dr Nabila’s guidance, this step could be especially important for people with high blood pressure. The doctor explained: « Poor sleep drives high BP, weight gain, inflammation silently. »
Continuing her post, Dr Nabila said: « Stress is a cardiovascular risk factor. Treat it like one. Build micro-stress-relief into your day (breathing, boundaries, breaks). »
Lastly, the doctor discussed the importance of a balanced diet. She wrote: « Eat for Your Future Heart, Not Your Current Cravings. More plants, fibre, omega-3s. Less ultra-processed food. Your arteries will thank you. »
More information about healthy eating is available on the British Heart Foundation website. The advice states: « Healthy eating isn’t about cutting out or focusing on individual foods or nutrients. It’s thinking about your whole diet and eating a variety of foods in the right amounts to give your body what it needs.
« There are foods we need to eat more of, like fruit and vegetables, and others we need to eat less of, which are foods high in saturated fat, sugar and salt. It’s all about getting the right balance. Eating healthily can be tasty, simple and fun. It’s about making small, long-term changes and enjoying the food you eat. »
For people interested in learning more about how their habits affect their heart health, the NHS website has a heart age calculator. The tool also explains how to improve your heart age by making some healthy lifestyle changes.
More information is available on the NHS website and the British Heart Foundation website. Always speak to a GP about any health concerns.
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