TRIGLYCERIDE

Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in your blood. They are stored in your fat cells that later on released by the hormone for energy between meals. This is different from cholesterol although both can’t dissolve in blood and they circulate throughout your body with the help of proteins that transport the lipids (lipoproteins).

If you regularly eat more calories than you burn, particularly “easy” calories like carbohydrates and fats, you may have high triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia).

Why do high triglycerides matter?

  • High triglycerides are often a sign of other conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke as well, including obesity and metabolic syndrome
  • It can also cause acute pancreatitis.
  • Sometimes high triglycerides are a sign of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, low levels of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism), liver or kidney disease, or rare genetic conditions that affect how your body converts fat to energy
  • High triglycerides could also be a side effect of taking medications such as beta blockers, birth control pills, diuretics or steroids.

DIAGNOSIS

Your doctor will usually check for high triglycerides as part of a cholesterol test (sometimes called a lipid panel or lipid profile). You’ll have to fast for nine to 12 hours before blood can be drawn for an accurate triglyceride measurement.

 

TREATMENT

If you have high triglycerides, you can do the following to lower it.

 

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

  • Lose weight
  • Cut back on calories
  • Avoid sugary and refined foods
  • Choose healthier fats. Trade saturated fat found in meats for healthier monounsaturated fat found in plants, such as olive, peanut and canola oils. Substitute fish high in omega-3 fatty acids — such as mackerel and salmon — for red meat.
  • Limit how much alcohol you drink. Alcohol is high in calories and sugar and has a particularly potent effect on triglycerides. Even small amounts of alcohol can raise triglyceride levels.
  • Exercise regularly

 

MEDICATIONS

If healthy lifestyle changes aren’t enough to control high triglycerides, your doctor might recommend some of the following:

  • Statins. Your doctor might prescribe these cholesterol-lowering drugs if you also have low high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol; high low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol; or if you have a history of blocked arteries or diabetes.
  • Fish oils. Also known as omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil supplements can help lower your triglycerides.
  • Fibrates. Fibrate medications, such as fenofibrate (TriCor, Fenoglide, others) and gemfibrozil (Lopid), also can lower your triglyceride levels.
  • Niacin. Niacin, sometimes called nicotinic acid, can lower your triglycerides and your “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol).

Take this medications as prescribed by your doctor.

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