Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
While doctors are the experts on health, it's also important for patients to take an active role in managing their health. This week on Healthwatch, we'll talk about some ways you can work with your doctor to manage your health.
One thing you can do is keep track of vital numbers like your blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index and cholesterol levels.
Dr. Shawna Nesbit, a hypertension specialist at
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says knowing this basic health information can help guide your health decisions and help you take control of your lifestyle.
Before you can work with your doctor to develop a plan for improving your health, you need to know your starting points in these key measurements. Then you'll know where you stand and where you need to improve.
Next: the numbers you should know.
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November 2005
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