During a heart check up, your doctor takes a careful look at your "numbers," including your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, your blood pressure and more. Knowing your numbers is an important part of keeping your heart-healthy. It can help you and your doctor know your risks and mark the progress you're making toward a healthier you.

To get a quick overview of numbers you need to know and the goals you need to reach, start by printing the following chart. If you choose, you can even post it on your refrigerator as a reminder to love your heart.

Then read on to learn the steps you can take to reduce your risk for heart disease. Once you know a few key facts about your numbers, you'll be on your way to mapping out a heart-healthy lifestyle for you and your loved ones.

Factor	Goal
Total Cholesterol	Less than 200 mg/dL
LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol	LDL cholesterol goals vary.
	Less than 100 mg/dL 100 to 129 mg/dL 130 to 159 mg/dL 160 to 189 mg/dL 190 mg/dL and above	Optimal Near Optimal/Above Optimal Borderline High High Very High
HDL ("Good") Cholesterol Triglycerides	50 mg/dL or higher <150 mg/dL
Blood Pressure	<120/80 mmHg
Fasting Glucose Body Mass Index (BMI) Waist Circumference Exercise	<100 mg/dL <25 Kg/m² <35 inches Minimum of 30 minutes most days, if not all days of the week

* "<" means "less than"