The Health Numbers You Can't Feel (But Should Know)
A couple of weeks ago, I paid for a comprehensive blood test.
It wasn't because I felt unwell.
Apart from feeling a little more tired than usual, I felt pretty healthy.
The main reason I wanted the test was to answer a simple question:
Are the things I'm doing every day from a nutrition and lifestyle perspective actually working?
We spend a lot of time focusing on how we feel. Energy levels, body weight, fitness and mood all matter.
But some of the most important indicators of health are completely invisible.
Recently someone asked me what their dad, who is turning 75, could do to improve his long-term health.
It's a great question.
But the reality is that most of the habits that support healthy ageing are things we should be doing throughout life, not just when we reach retirement age.
Things like:
Not smoking
Staying physically active
Maintaining a healthy body weight
Eating plenty of fibre, fruit and vegetables
Getting enough protein and essential nutrients
Sleeping well
Managing stress
Keeping blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar under control
The challenge is that many people don't know what these numbers should actually be.
1. Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is one of the strongest predictors of cardiovascular disease.
Ideally, blood pressure should be around 120/80 mmHg.
High blood pressure is generally defined as 140/90 mmHg or above.
However, cardiovascular risk doesn't suddenly appear at 140/90. Research shows that risk increases progressively above 115/75, meaning even a blood pressure of 135/85 carries a greater risk than 120/80.
Because high blood pressure often causes no symptoms, many people don't realise they have it until complications occur.
This is why regular monitoring is so important.
2. Cholesterol
When most people think about cholesterol, they think about total cholesterol.
But LDL cholesterol is particularly important.
LDL cholesterol transports cholesterol around the bloodstream and can contribute to plaque formation within arteries over time.
As a general guide:
LDL below 3 mmol/L is reasonable for many healthy adults
Lower targets may be recommended for those at higher cardiovascular risk
One of the most important findings from cholesterol research is that every 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol is associated with approximately a 20-25% reduction in major cardiovascular events.
Triglycerides are also worth paying attention to.
Ideally, these should be below 1.7 mmol/L.
Higher triglyceride levels are often associated with poorer metabolic health, insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular risk.
HDL cholesterol, often referred to as "good cholesterol", helps remove cholesterol from the bloodstream and transport it back to the liver.
Generally speaking, higher HDL levels are associated with better cardiovascular health.
3. Blood Sugar (HbA1c)
The best long-term measure of blood sugar control is HbA1c.
Unlike a single glucose reading, HbA1c reflects average blood sugar levels over approximately the previous three months.
Current UK ranges are:
Below 42 mmol/mol: Normal
42-47 mmol/mol: Prediabetes
48 mmol/mol or above: Diabetes
Higher HbA1c levels increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and other complications.
The encouraging thing is that lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity, improving diet quality, losing excess weight and sleeping better can have a significant impact on HbA1c.
What My Results Taught Me
The interesting thing about my own blood test was that everything came back normal.
On one hand, that was reassuring.
On the other hand, it meant I couldn't blame my tiredness on an underlying deficiency or health condition.
Instead, it forced me to look at my lifestyle.
Was I sleeping enough?
Was I working too many hours?
Was I allowing enough recovery time?
Sometimes blood tests reveal a problem.
Sometimes they reveal that the problem isn't where you thought it was.
And that reassurance can be just as valuable.
Why This Matters Earlier Than You Think
Many people assume that heart disease and poor health develop later in life.
In reality, the process often begins decades earlier.
Studies examining young soldiers who died in war have shown signs of atherosclerosis (the build-up of plaque within arteries) in people in their 20s.
In other words, cardiovascular disease doesn't start when symptoms appear.
It develops slowly over many years.
That's why understanding these health markers early matters.
Final Thoughts
If you don't know your blood pressure, cholesterol or HbA1c, it's worth finding out.
You may already be able to access previous results through the NHS App.
And if it's been years since you've had them checked, it may be worth speaking to your GP or healthcare professional.
The health numbers you can't feel are often the ones that have the biggest impact on your future health.
For me, monitoring these markers will be something I do every year.
Not because I'm expecting problems.
But because I'd rather know where I stand than guess.
