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If you've been keeping an eye on your blood pressure and cholesterol readings, you might want to check your triglycerides as well.
A high triglyceride level in your blood can raise your risk of heart disease. However, the same lifestyle habits that promote overall health can also help lower triglycerides.
Triglycerides are a form of lipid (fat) found in the blood.
When you eat, your body converts any calories that you don't need straight away into triglycerides. Triglycerides are accumulated in the fat cells of your body. Triglycerides are then released by hormones to provide energy between meals.
If you eat more calories than you burn on a regular basis, especially from high-carbohydrate diets, you may have excessive triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia).
WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL?
A simple blood test will tell you if your triglycerides are within a healthy range:
- Normal: Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or less than 1.7 millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
- Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL (1.8 to 2.2 mmol/L)
- High: 200 to 499 mg/dL (2.3 to 5.6 mmol/L)
- Extremely high: 500 mg/dL or higher (5.7 mmol/L or more)
High triglycerides are frequently detected as part of a cholesterol test, which is also known as a lipid panel or lipid profile. Fasting is required before blood can be collected for an appropriate triglyceride measurement.
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN TRIGLYCERIDES AND CHOLESTEROL?
Triglycerides and cholesterol are two forms of lipids found in the blood. Triglycerides are fats that store unused calories and supply energy to your body, while cholesterol is required for the formation of cells and the production of some hormones.
WHY SHOULD HIGH TRIGLYCERIDES MATTER?
High triglycerides may contribute to artery hardening or thickening (arteriosclerosis), which increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart disease. Extremely high triglycerides can potentially cause acute pancreatic inflammation (pancreatitis).
High triglycerides are frequently a symptom of other disorders that raise the risk of heart disease and stroke, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome - a group of symptoms that includes excess fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol levels.
High triglycerides can also indicate:
- Diabetes type 2 or prediabetes
- Metabolic syndrome, which is a condition in which you have high blood pressure, obesity, and high blood sugar all at the same time, raising your risk of heart disease.
- Thyroid hormone deficiency (hypothyroidism)
- Certain rare genetic abnormalities that have an impact on how your body turns fat to energy.
High triglycerides can occur as a side effect of some drugs, such as:
- Diuretics
- Progestin and estrogen
- Retinoids
- Steroids
- Beta-blockers
- Some immunosuppressants
- Several HIV medications
WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR LOWERING TRIGLYCERIDES?
Healthy lifestyle choices are critical:
- Regular exercise: Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week, if not every day. Regular exercise can help decrease triglycerides while also increasing "good" cholesterol. Try to incorporate more physical activity into your everyday responsibilities, such as climbing the stairs at work or going for a stroll during your breaks.
- Sugar and processed carbs should be avoided: Simple carbohydrates, such as sugar and foods containing white flour or fructose, can raise triglyceride levels.
- Select healthier fats: Swap out saturated fat from meat for healthy fat from plants, such as olive and canola oils. Try seafood high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as mackerel or salmon, instead of red meat. Trans fats and meals containing hydrogenated oils or fats should be avoided.
- Limit your alcohol consumption: Alcohol is abundant in calories and sugar, and it has a strong influence on triglycerides. Avoid drinking alcohol if you have severe hypertriglyceridemia.
- Reduce your weight: Focus on calorie reduction if you have mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia. Extra calories are converted to triglycerides, which are then stored as fat. Triglycerides will be reduced if you cut back on your caloric intake.
MEDICATIONS
If healthy lifestyle modifications aren't enough to keep your triglycerides under control, your doctor may suggest:
- Statins: If you have high cholesterol, a history of clogged arteries, or diabetes, these cholesterol-lowering drugs may be advised. Statins such as atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin calcium are two examples (Crestor).
- Fibrates: Triglyceride levels can be reduced with fibrate drugs such as fenofibrate (TriCor, Fenoglide, and others) and gemfibrozil (Lopid). If you have severe kidney or liver disease, you should avoid using fibrates.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Fish oil, also known as omega-3 fatty acids, can help decrease your triglycerides. Prescription fish oil formulations, such as Lovaza, have more active fatty acids than many over-the-counter products. High doses of fish oil might interfere with blood coagulation, so consult your doctor before taking any supplements.
- Niacin: Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, can help lower triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or "bad" cholesterol. Before taking over-the-counter niacin, consult your doctor because it can interact with other drugs and produce serious adverse effects.
If your doctor provides medication to decrease your triglycerides, follow the instructions exactly. Also, keep in mind the relevance of the healthy lifestyle modifications you've implemented. Medications can help, but so does a healthy lifestyle.