Your cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index numbers are key indicators of your risk for major illness.

If you know these numbers, you can take action to reduce your chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, and other major chronic illnesses.

A sudden heart attack may not be "sudden" at all, but be caused by years of living with high cholesterol and extra fats stored by the body. The normal range for total cholesterol is 200 or less.

You also need to know your "healthy" HDL cholesterol and "lousy" LDL cholesterol numbers. High total cholesterol, high LDL, or low HDL means you need to take immediate action to prevent a possible heart attack or stroke.

There are no definite symptoms of high cholesterol. That's why it's important to see your doctor and know your cholesterol numbers.

Blood pressure measures the amount of force it takes your heart to pump blood through your body. High blood pressure (or "hypertension") increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. High blood pressure damages your brain, eyes and arteries, too. Your blood pressure should be less than 120 over 80.

You may have no symptoms of high blood pressure. About 60% of all Americans more than 60 years old have high blood pressure, and it occurs more often among African-Americans. In Mississippi nearly a million people have high blood pressure, and 300,000 of them don't know it.

Anyone can have high blood pressure. Check with your doctor to know your blood pressure numbers.

Glucose is sugar stored in the blood as your body's main source of energy. If your glucose is too high or too low, you may have diabetes. The average blood sugar range is between 80 and 120.

One out of three people with diabetes in Mississippi either don't know they have it, or aren't getting treatment. Diabetes can strike anyone of any age, but it is more common in non-white populations. Symptoms involve frequent urination, extreme hunger, thirst, unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, or blurry vision.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you need to have your A1C number checked. You A1C number tells you how well you're controlling your blood sugar over time. Your A1C should be less than 7.

Left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, blindess, amputation of arms or legs, and kidney disease. To take steps against diabetes early, see your doctor and know your numbers.

Body mass index (BMI) measures your weight in relation to your height. It indicates how heavy or slender you are, and should be 25 or less. A BMI over 25 means you are overweight; over 30 indicates obesity. Extra weight can lead to high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

Check with your doctor to determine your BMI, then take action to control your weight.

Calculate your BMI