High Ldl But Low Triglycerides

How To Prepare For The Test

You should not eat for 8 to 12 hours before the test.

Alcohol and some medicines can interfere with blood test results.

• Make sure your health care provider knows what medicines you take, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements.
• Your provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test.
• DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first.

What Is A Good Tg: Hdl Ratio

A lower TG/HDL is better. In the discussion of science, studies, and treatment, there has been a tendency to go with higher ratios to show the largest impact on CV disease risk and death.

Here are the typical cut points for risk :

• In US less than 2 is ideal above 4 is too high
• In Europe less than 0.87 is ideal above 1.74 is too high

Lipid Levels And Heart Health

Cholesterol and triglycerides are necessary for your body to function properly. However, if too many triglycerides or LDL particles are in the bloodstream, they can stick to the walls of arteries and clog them, causing a disease called atherosclerosis, a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. HDL cholesterol helps “escort” LDL particles out of the bloodstream, so an increased level of HDL lowers your risk of coronary diseases.

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What Is Total Cholesterol

Total cholesterol can be determined in two ways. It can either be directly measured in the blood, or more commonly, it can also be calculated. The calculation takes into account the two main forms of cholesterol HDL and LDL as well as a small fraction of triglycerides. Any one of these three components can skew total cholesterol values. Heres a brief definition of each:

HDL: High density lipoprotein is a protective form of cholesterol that helps to remove harmful particles from circulation before they can cause damage to blood vessels. This process earned it the nickname good cholesterol.

LDL: Low density lipoprotein is a potentially dangerous type of cholesterol that can become oxidized , which can lead to the hardening of arteries. If LDL builds up, it can lead to blockages which can cause serious cardiovascular incidents. LDL is therefore aptly referred to as the bad cholesterol.

Triglycerides: A form of stored fat that circulates in the bloodstream usually from excess weight, calories, alcohol, lack of exercise, liver damage, or genetics.

High Cholesterol High Hdl Low Triglycerides

Dr T

Question:Answer:

There are 2 kinds of LDL cholesterol, A and B, of which B is associated with heart disease.Most labs calculate LDL as follows:

LDL = Total Cholesterol HDL triglycerides/5.

This doesnt explain the difference between LDL A or B .

Studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between a low triglyceride/high HDL level and LDL pattern A .

On the other hand, a high triglyceride/low HDL level is strongly associated with LDL pattern B . Thus high triglycerides are an independent risk factor for heart disease.

From this you can calculate that in your situation a high LDL is mostly Type A , confirmed by a high HDL and low triglyrerides and that therefore there a very low risk of heart disease.

Having high cholesterol may still be healthy if good cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and other markers of cardiovascular health are good. You can calculate this here. People with high good cholesterol levels and low levels of triglycerides may actually be at a lower risk for heart disease than people with normal cholesterol levels who have lower levels of good cholesterol and higher levels of bad cholesterol.

Hope this helps,

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Finding Out Your Triglycerides Levels

Triglycerides are measured with a simple blood test. Triglyceride levels should be measured when you have a cholesterol test as they can also contribute to your risk of developing heart disease, and other disease of the heart and blood vessels. The triglyceride test measures the triglycerides carried in chylomicrons and VLDL cholesterol. National guidelines in the UK no longer recommend a fasting blood test .

What should your triglyceride levels be?

HEART UK experts state that we should aim for a non-fasting triglyceride level below 2.3mmol/L.

If your doctor has asked you to fast for a test then your triglyceride level should be below 1.7mmol/L. This âfasting testâ number is lower because only the triglycerides made by the liver and carried in the VLDL cholesterol will be measured not the triglycerides you get from food. As you have not eaten, there will be no chylomicrons present in your blood.

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High Total Cholesterol High Ldl Cholesterol Low Hdl Cholesterol And High Triglycerides

High alert! This is the most dangerous combination of lipid markers. Roughly 32% of Americans have elevated LDL cholesterol, according to the CDC.1 In this ratio, where high LDL is coupled with low HDL, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease is high. It is very important here to bring down LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol to help combat the bad LDL. The ratio of HDL to LDL is very important.

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Low Triglycerides But High Ldl

Triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins are both found in your bloodstream. Along with high-density lipoproteins, these particles make up your cholesterol profile. According to the American Heart Association, high levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of coronary diseases. Optimally, triglyceride levels should be below 150 mg/dl, and LDL should be below 100 mg/dl.

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How Can You Naturally Lower Tg And Increase Hdl Levels

The most effective ways to improve your TG/HDL are:

• Lose weight. Body fat used to be considered as an inert energy storage tissue. Now we know it is an endocrine tissue that releases chemicals that cause insulin resistance, prediabetes, and CV risk .
• Eat fewer carbs. Get into a lower carbohydrate diet .
• Exercise. Exercise increases HDL levels and lowers TG levels .
• Take niacin. It is one of the few supplements that lowers TG , increases HDL cholesterol levels , and lowers LDL cholesterol levels .
• Get dietary and supplemental omega-3s .

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Baseline Clinical Characteristics Of The Study Population

In the overall study population, the mean value of TG/HDL ratio was 2.78±2.37 and the median value was 2.095 . Demographic and clinical characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors and medication use are detailed in Table . In the whole population, mean age was 60±9 years and 59% of patients were men. Family history of CAD was present in 33% of patients and the majority of the population had atypical chest pain , hypercholesterolemia and hypertension . Diabetes was diagnosed in 112 and metabolic syndrome in 118 patients. In the different TG/HDL ratio quartiles, the frequency of male gender, diabetes, smoking habit and of the metabolic syndrome significantly increased from the I quartile to the IV quartile. Male patients and patients with diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome showed significantly higher TG/HDL ratio as compared with female patients or patients without diabetes, obesity and the metabolic syndrome, respectively . A significant increase across quartiles was found for BMI, the use of beta-blockers, diuretics and glucose-lowering agents.

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the study population and of groups defined by TG/HDL-C quartiles. .Figure 1

TG/HDL-C ratio and cardio-metabolic risk. Relationship between baseline TG/HDL-C ratio, specific cardiovascular risk factors , and relevant bio-humoral variables .

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How Do Triglyceride Levels Compare With Cholesterol Levels

If you have high triglycerides, you are more likely to also have high total cholesterol and high bad cholesterol levels. Many people with high triglycerides also have low good cholesterol levels.

Both triglycerides and cholesterol are measured in mg/dL. However, the guidelines differ for what normal levels are for each of them.

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Understanding Cholesterol: Hdl Ldl And Triglycerides

There are two types of grocery shoppersthose who race in with a list in hand and meticulously grab every item on the list before checking out and leaving, and those who meander up and down every aisle, not sure what they want until they see it on the shelf.

But within those two types, theres another shopper you may have seenthe label-reader. This person is health-conscious and examines the nutrition labels of food items before placing them in the cart.

One of the most important categories to check for on a food label is cholesterol.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your blood. Your body needs some cholesterol, but too much can build up on the walls of your arteries and can lead to heart disease and stroke. Checking your risk for heart disease and stroke is as simple as getting a lipidpanel, which tests your blood cholesterol.

There are four important things checked in a lipid panel:

• Total cholesterol
• Low-density lipoproteins

HDL is known as the good cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol by carrying it back to the liver where it can be eliminated from the body. Its good to have a high HDL number. LDL is known as the bad cholesterol because having too much LDL may cause a buildup of plaque in your blood vessels. Triglycerides are also a type of fat found in your blood. High triglycerides, low HDL, and/or high LDL numbers can increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.

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When To Seek Medical Advice

A high triglyceride level often does not produce any symptoms, so this condition is usually diagnosed during routine blood tests including a lipid panel.

If the patient does not have any medical conditions or bad lifestyle choices, then the doctor usually orders a lipid panel to be done every few years to assess the triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

If the triglyceride levels are detected above the normal range in the lipid panel, then the doctor will usually recommend lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet as the first line of treatment for hypertriglyceridemia. If diet and exercise are not effective in lowering the high triglycerides, then medications, such as fibrates or statins are prescribed.

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The American Heart Association Recommends

All adults age 20 or older should have their cholesterol checked every four to six years. If certain factors put you at high risk, or if you already have heart disease, your doctor may ask you to check it more often. Work with your doctor to determine your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke and create a plan to reduce your risk.

What About Ldl Particle Size

There is a lot of buzz in the health community about LDL particle size. If you recall, LDL is low density lipoprotein. Its low density is due to its high proportion of fat, which is not a very dense substance . HDL, on the other hand, has a lower fat-to-protein ratio than LDL, making it more dense.

LDL is particularly troublesome due to its capacity to oxidize, which makes it more likely to become implanted in blood vessels and harden. This can eventually cause blockages. This is where the particle size becomes important: smaller LDL particles can become lodged in the arteries more easily. The larger LDL particles appear to be less dangerous.

Unfortunately, LDL particle size is still new science. While it is promising, it should not yet be used to determine and manage someone’s risk of cardiovascular disease .4

Because of this need for further research, InsideTracker doesnt include LDL particle size in our lipid panels just yet. In the meantime, it appears that there is an association between small LDL particle size and high triglycerides coupled with low HDL.4

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Does Your Total Cholesterol Number Even Matter

As one of the most ordered lab tests, total cholesterol can provide a high level glance at how your body is handling lipids, or fats. According to the CDC, roughly nine percent of all doctors visits include a cholesterol test.1 So, how should you interpret your total cholesterol value? Is the whole greater than the sum of its parts?

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How Often Should I Get A Cholesterol Test

When and how often you should get a cholesterol test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. The general recommendations are:

For people who are age 19 or younger::

• The first test should be between ages 9 to 11
• Children should have the test again every 5 years
• Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke

For people who are age 20 or older::

• Younger adults should have the test every 5 years
• Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years

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Low Triglycerides And High Ldl

According to the American Heart Association, triglycerides are fats made in the body from other nutrients such as carbohydrates. If you eat calories that are not used immediately, they are converted into triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored.

Because LDL comes from two sources — the foods you eat and heredity — it is possible to have low triglycerides along with high LDL by eating a healthy diet while your body produces high levels of LDL. The American Heart Association says about 75 percent of your total cholesterol is manufactured in your liver and other cells.

Data Acquisition And Confidentiality

All collected data were anonymized, preventing reidentification. All procedures were conducted in accordance with the legal provisions of the protection of personal data in Spain and according the European Union Regulations 2016/6799 on the physical protection of the treatment of personal data. The study was compliant with the Declaration of Helsinki. It was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University Research Institute Pere Virgili , including the exemption of the requirement for informed consent.

There are two main ways to lower your cholesterol:

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

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What Can Affect My Ldl Level

Things that can affect your LDL level include:

• Diet. Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat make your blood cholesterol level rise
• Weight. Being overweight tends to raise your LDL level, lower your HDL level, and increase your total cholesterol level
• Physical Activity. A lack of physical activity can lead to weight gain, which can raise your LDL level
• Smoking.Cigarette smoking lowers your HDL cholesterol. Since HDL helps to remove LDL from your arteries, if you have less HDL, that can contribute to you having a higher LDL level.
• Age and Sex. As women and men get older, their cholesterol levels rise. Before the age of menopause, women have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After the age of menopause, womens LDL levels tend to rise.
• Genetics. Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High cholesterol can run in families. For example, familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited form of high blood cholesterol.

My Cholesterol Is Normal But My Triglycerides Are High: Why Is That

So both your HDL and LDL levels are where they should be, but your triglycerides are still high why is that?

Triglycerides become elevated due to excess calories that do not get burned off, and in turned get stored in fat cells. Statins are medications that primarily lower LDL cholesterol, but depending on the medication dose, can lower Triglycerides from 20 to 40 percent, Sai Hanumanthu MD, with the TriHealth Heart Institute explains.

There are steps you can take to lower your triglyceride levels while promoting good cardiovascular health, including:

• Losing 5 to 10 pounds if overweight
• Avoiding alcohol
• Avoiding foods high in saturated fats
• Limiting simple carbs that have high processed sugars .
• Participating in 30 minutes of exercise per day

All these suggestions and routine follow up with a medical professional will lower you triglyceride level, even despite a low total cholesterol, Dr. Hanumanthu says.

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Atherosclerosis And Cardiovascular Disease

Despite being called good cholesterol, research suggests that very high levels of HDL may increase your risk of mortality.

In a 2017 Danish study , researchers analyzed the rate of mortality in groups of 52,268 European men and 64,240 women over an average of 6.4 years.

The researchers found the lowest mortality rates at HDL levels of 73 mg/dL in men and 93 mg/dL in women. Mortality rates increased significantly with HDL levels above 97 mg/dL in men and 135 mg/dL in women.

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What Works Better To Lower Cholesterol Statins Or Dietary Supplements

A recent study from the US compared the effects of statins drugs used to lower cholesterol level in the blood and commonly used supplements such as fish oil, cinnamon, garlic and turmeric. It found that statins were 35 per cent more effective in lowering the low density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol whereas none of the supplements demonstrated a significant decline when compared to a placebo.

Diabetologist Dr V Mohan says that the findings arent surprising, considering statins can be more effective than exercise and lifestyle changes when it comes to lowering LDL levels.

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Why are statins the mainstay of treatments for cholesterol control?

When we talk about lipids, there are different categories like cholesterol and triglycerides. Within cholesterol, there are LDL or bad cholesterol and HDL or good cholesterol. Now, several studies, including our own, have shown that LDL is more important than triglycerides when it comes to managing heart diseases triglycerides are important for pancreatitis but that too when the levels are very high.

Having said that, there are some Scandinavian studies that show that even triglycerides are an important factor for heart health. Also, when the triglycerides go very high, the LDL nature changes it becomes small and dense that is more atherogenic . That is when the secondary role of triglycerides becomes important.

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