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Heart health numbers, explained

The American Heart Association tracks heart health with 8 measures, called Life’s Essential 8. Four are habits: diet, activity, nicotine and sleep. Four are numbers: weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. Healthy targets include blood pressure under 120/80 mmHg and LDL cholesterol under 100 mg/dL.

Medically reviewed by a licensed physician, November 2, 2026 · Updated November 2, 2026 · 2 min read · Written by the Checkup Score editorial team

Life’s Essential 8 gives each measure a score from 0 to 100, and the average is your heart health score. 1 Checkup Score is built on the same 8 measures, with cholesterol and blood pressure each scored on a graded curve.

The pages below explain the numbers that need a test or a cuff: what a healthy range is, what moves it and when to recheck. Start with the number you’re most curious about.

In this section

What’s a good LDL cholesterol level?For most adults, an LDL cholesterol under 100 mg/dL is considered optimal.What’s a normal blood pressure by age?For adults of any age, normal blood pressure is under 120/80 mmHg, and the target is the same for women and men.Is 130/80 blood pressure high?Yes.

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Common questions

What are the main risk factors for heart disease?

The main risk factors you can change are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, smoking or vaping, extra weight, low activity, poor sleep and a less healthy diet. These match the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8. Age and family history matter too, even though you can’t change them, because they affect how your numbers add up. 1

What is Life’s Essential 8?

Life’s Essential 8 is the American Heart Association’s way to measure heart health. It scores 8 measures from 0 to 100: diet, activity, nicotine, sleep, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. The average is your overall score. It replaced Life’s Simple 7 in 2022, adding sleep and updating how the other measures are scored. 1

Is there a test for heart disease risk?

There isn’t one single test. Your doctor estimates your risk from your age, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, smoking and other factors, often using a risk calculator. A basic lipid panel, an A1c and a few home blood pressure readings cover the measured numbers. Your doctor may suggest more tests if your risk is unclear. 2 3

Related

What’s a good LDL cholesterol level?For most adults, an LDL cholesterol under 100 mg/dL is considered optimal.What’s a normal blood pressure by age?For adults of any age, normal blood pressure is under 120/80 mmHg, and the target is the same for women and men.Is 130/80 blood pressure high?Yes.

Sources

  1. Life’s Essential 8: Updating and Enhancing the American Heart Association’s Construct of Cardiovascular Health. American Heart Association, 2022.
  2. 2018 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol. AHA/ACC, 2018.
  3. 2025 AHA/ACC Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (categories unchanged from 2017). AHA/ACC, 2025.

This is information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace your clinician. In an emergency, call 911.