Know All Your Numbers
Don’t rely on your doctor to keep track of your numbers — they don’t do much good sitting in a medical file drawer. Every time you have your blood tested, write down your numbers; there’s nothing more motivating than results! Work with your doctor to set goals for each of the following tests:
blood pressure, LDL cholesterol,
HDL cholesterol, cholesterol ratio (total cholesterol divided by HDL cholesterol), and
triglycerides.