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What Does Triglyceride Levels Mean

What Is A High Triglyceride Level

Triglycerides – What are Triglycerides – Triglyceride Levels – High Triglycerides

High triglycerides can be dangerous to your health. Unfortunately, high triglycerides, like high cholesterol, rarely causes symptoms. Its vital to get routine lipid blood tests to check cholesterol numbers.

Your healthcare provider determines total cholesterol by looking at a combination of triglycerides, HDL and LDL numbers. If your triglycerides and LDL cholesterol are high, but your HDL is low, you have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

For the most accurate reading, you should fast 8 to 12 hours before a lipid blood test. A healthy number for triglycerides is below 150 milligrams per deciliter .

Your healthcare provider classifies high triglyceride levels as:

  • Mild: 150-199 mg/dL.
  • Severe: Greater than 500 mg/dL.

When To Get Tested

Screening: as part of a lipid profile during a regular medical exam at least once every four to six years for adults for children, at least once between the ages of 9 and 11 and again between the ages of 17 and 21

Monitoring: may be done more frequently if you have risk factors for heart disease and/or if you are being treated for unhealthy lipid levels

What Is The Difference Between Triglycerides And Cholesterol

Triglycerides and cholesterol are both fats that circulate in your blood. They both have essential roles in your body:

  • Triglycerides store unused calories and provide your body with energy.
  • Cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones.

Too much of either can increase your risk of heart disease. A blood test measures your triglycerides along with your cholesterol. Read more about cholesterol.

Also Check: Does Stress Affect Your Cholesterol Levels

What Causes High Triglycerides

Eating more calories than you burn consistently can raise your triglyceride levels above normal levels.

Foods particularly rich in saturated fat or highly processed carbohydrates can contribute to abnormal triglyceride levels. Consuming these calorie-rich, easy-to-break-down foods results in more easily released energy, which is then converted to triglycerides and stored in fat cells.

High triglycerides are also a symptom of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

How Do Triglyceride Levels Compare With Cholesterol Levels

Updates on HDL and Triglycerides

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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Which Medicines Can Lower Triglycerides

For some people, good habits may not be enough. Medication might be needed. The decision for you and your doctor can be complicated because other health conditions are usually involved. Several types of medicine can improve levels. They include:

  • High doses of omega-3s are needed to lower triglycerides and should be taken only under a doctor’s care. Epanova, Lovaza, and Vascepa are prescription forms of omega-3s.

Your doctor may also prescribe a class of drugs called âstatinsâ that lower cholesterol. Examples include: atorvastatin , rosuvastatin , and simvastatin .

You may feel side effects from these drugs. Be sure to talk it over with your doctor or pharmacist.

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High Triglycerides: Getting Help

When it comes to cholesterol and triglycerides, perhaps the most important thing is to get regular screenings.

See your doctor and get checked out. If your triglycerides are high, you and your doctor can decide on a treatment plan — and you can make a few simple but effective changes to your lifestyle.

Also Check: Can You Test Your Cholesterol At Home

Low Levels May Be Associated With Worse Outcomes In Some Conditions

In one study, people with heart failure and lower levels were more likely to die from heart complications. The levels associated with risk were around 120 mg/dL on average, while levels of 130-149 mg/dL were considered protective .

Upon further analysis, the researchers concluded that only women with heart failure and low triglycerides may be at an increased risk of dying. According to them, low triglyceride levels may point to more advanced stages of heart failure .

In another study, people with lung scarring had triglycerides under 57 mg/dL, which was about 60% lower than the values of healthy controls .

Similarly, people with autoimmune disease had 50-70% reduced triglyceride levels compared to healthy people in a different study. Researchers suggested that low triglyceride levels might actually be a marker of autoimmunity and an overactive immune response .

Its important to note here that low triglycerides in all of these cases are not causing any of these conditions. They are the effect of these conditions. For example, in heart failure, low triglycerides may be due to liver damage due to diminished oxygen supply or increased levels of inflammation.

There is no proof that low triglyceride levels are harmful in and of themselves.

How Can I Lower My Triglyceride Level

My Triglycerides are high what does that mean?

You may be able to lower your triglycerides with a combination of losing weight, diet and exercise.

  • Avoid simple carbohydrates, such as foods containing sugar or made with white flour. Eat more whole-grains, such as oats, brown rice and multi-grain bread.
  • Reduce alcohol intake drink less than the recommended amount of alcohol per week. These guidelines are usually too high for people with high triglycerides. If you have triglyceride levels over 5mmol/L you should avoid alcohol completely.
  • Eat less fat and choose healthy fats
  • cut back on saturated fat and trans fats
  • eat more fish omega-3 fats in salmon, tuna, sardines, and other fatty fish can lower triglycerides. Having fish twice a week is fine.
  • If you are overweight, losing weight, even just 5% to 10%, will help lower your triglyceride level.
  • Stop smoking. It isnt good for triglyceride levels or for anything else.
  • Ideally, you should exercise for at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most or all days of the week. Exercise lowers triglycerides and boosts heart-healthy HDL cholesterol.
  • See our Healthy Living section for more ideas to help you get started.

    You also may need to take medication to lower your triglycerides. Your doctor may start you on a statin, or a fibrate . Your doctor will let you know if you need to take medication.

    Recommended Reading: Do Eggs Have Bad Cholesterol

    What Do The Results Mean

    Triglycerides are usually measured in milligrams of triglycerides per deciliter of blood. Guidelines for normal and higher levels of triglycerides are used to help decide when treatment is needed. The commonly used guidelines for adults are:

    Category

    In certain cases, you may also need medicine to help lower your triglyceride levels. Before making any major changes to your diet or exercise routine, talk with your provider about what treatment is best for you.

    Triglyceride levels that are too low are very uncommon.

    Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.

    Test For Elevated Triglycerides

    Doctors check triglyceride levels with a lipid profile, which they may refer to as a cholesterol test. In addition to measuring triglycerides, the test measures levels of HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol.

    The state that a person having the test may need to refrain from drinking and eating for 812 hours beforehand. They also recommend the following:

    • Healthy adults should have this test every 46 years.
    • People with diabetes, heart disease, or a family history of high cholesterol should get the test more often.
    • Children should have the test at least once between the ages of 9 and 11 years.
    • Young people should have another test between the ages of 17 and 21 years.

    Recommended Reading: Is Salmon Good For Your Cholesterol

    Is Any Test Preparation Needed To Ensure The Quality Of The Sample

    Current standards recommend that testing be done when you are fasting. For 9 to 12 hours before the test, only water is permitted. Your health care practitioner may decide that you may be tested without fasting. Follow any instructions you are given and tell the person drawing your blood whether or not you have fasted. In addition, alcohol should not be consumed for 24 hours just before the test.

    Treatment Of High Triglycerides

    My LDL Cholesterol is High, But I

    In most cases, high triglycerides are managed by making lifestyle changes. You may be advised to:

    • Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.
    • Eat less, particularly high fat foods.
    • Increase the amount of fibre in your diet.
    • Avoid high sugar foods such as lollies. Choose foods with a low glycaemic index such as legumes and wholegrain products.
    • Eat more fish. Choose fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, mackerel, tuna and trout. Omega-3 in high doses can reduce triglyceride levels.
    • Cut back on alcohol. The kilojoules and sugar in alcoholic drinks can raise triglyceride levels.
    • Lose excess body fat using a combination of healthy eating and regular exercise.
    • Manage coexisting health conditions such as diabetes or hypertension effectively.

    Also Check: Can Eggs Cause High Cholesterol

    Why Do I Need A Lipid Panel Blood Test

    There are several reasons why you may need a lipid panel blood test. Healthcare providers use lipid panels often for screen and monitoring purposes.

    If you have one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease, your provider may suggest frequent screening through the use of a lipid panel to try to catch elevated cholesterol levels before you have symptoms. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:

    • Being over age 45 if youre a man or you were assigned male at birth and over 50 if youre a women or you were assigned female at birth.
    • Having a high cholesterol result on a previous test.
    • Having diabetes or prediabetes.
    • Having a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, who developed heart disease at an early age .

    Children can also have high cholesterol, so your child may need a lipid panel blood test. Cholesterol levels in children are linked to three factors: heredity, diet and obesity. In most cases, kids with high cholesterol have a parent who also has elevated cholesterol.

    While providers mostly use lipid panels for screening or monitoring cholesterol levels, providers sometimes use them as part of the diagnostic process for certain health conditions that can affect your lipid levels, including:

    If youre experiencing symptoms of any of these conditions, your provider may have you undergo a lipid panel blood test.

    What Are Normal And High Triglyceride Levels

    The National Cholesterol Education Program sets guidelines for triglyceride levels:

    • Normal levels: Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter
    • Borderline high:150 to 199
    • High: 200 to 499
    • Very high: 500 or more

    Elevated levels may lead to heart disease, especially in people with low levels of “good” cholesterol and high levels of “bad” cholesterol. The same is true if you have type 2 diabetes.

    Experts once debated how important triglycerides are, but it now seems clear that higher levels are linked to problems such as heart disease.

    One thing is clear, though: A good diet and exercise plan can lower triglyceride levels, improve cholesterol, and decrease the chance of heart disease.

    Recommended Reading: Is High Cholesterol Considered Coronary Artery Disease

    Should You Worry About High Triglycerides

    These blood fats can be one of the signs of metabolic syndrome, which increases the risk for having a heart attack or stroke.

    Until recently, triglycerides tended to get less attention when looking at cardiovascular risk compared to LDL and HDL cholesterol levels. There’s no question that extremely high levels spell trouble and can lead to acute pancreatitis. But what about treating lower levels of triglycerides? Recent evidence suggests you should work to reduce triglyceride levels of they are higher than normal, especially if you have heart disease or have other risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure or smoking.

    Triglyceride levels

    *All values in milligrams per deciliter

    Low Levels Are Usually Protective

    Triglycerides and HDL

    It is well known that high triglycerides are dangerous, but little is known about the influence of low levels on health. Studies suggest that in healthy people, low triglyceride levels are beneficial. Low triglycerides are also good for people with diabetes and might also be protective against heart attacks .

    One study even suggests that the lower a persons triglycerides are, the less likely they will be to die from any cause. In this study, almost 14k people were followed for 24 years. The scientist found that levels below 89 mg/dL thats almost twice lower than the borderline-normal value of 150 mg/dL were associated with a 41% lower risk of dying than high levels

    So can your levels ever be too low to do any harm?

    We still dont have any definitive answers, but we can look for some clues.

    Read Also: Is Beer Bad For High Cholesterol

    What Are The Symptoms

    High blood triglycerides usually do not cause any symptoms. Untreated or uncontrolled high blood triglyceride levels may increase your risk of serious complications such as coronary heart disease and stroke.

    Very high blood triglycerides can raise the risk of acute pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas that causes severe pain in the abdomen.

    How Do Triglycerides Get Into The Blood

    When we eat foods containing triglycerides, such as meat, dairy products, cooking oils and fats, they are absorbed by our intestines and packaged into parcels of fats and protein called chylomicrons . These carry the triglycerides in the blood stream to our tissues to be used for energy straight away, or stored for later.

    The body also makes its own supply of triglycerides in the liver. This form is carried in a different type of lipoprotein known as VLDL cholesterol.

    Recommended Reading: Does Cholesterol Medicine Affect Liver

    Ask A Laboratory Scientist

    This form enables patients to ask specific questions about lab tests. Your questions will be answered by a laboratory scientist as part of a voluntary service provided by one of our partners, American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. Please allow 2-3 business days for an email response from one of the volunteers on the Consumer Information Response Team.

    What Causes Levels To Fluctuate

    Updates on HDL and Triglycerides

    Triglyceride levels fluctuate naturally in response to many factors, including calorie intake and time of day. Eating a meal can cause an increase in triglycerides, which the body may store to use later when it needs energy.

    These fluctuations are typically short-lived, but they are part of the reason why doctors may ask a person to fast before getting a lipid profile blood test.

    Some health conditions may increase the risk of higher triglyceride levels. According to the

    • hormone medications
    • immunosuppressant drugs

    Anyone who is uncertain about the side effects of their specific medication should speak with their doctor.

    A person can use a few treatments to help lower their triglyceride levels.

    Read Also: Is Greek Yogurt Bad For Cholesterol

    How Are Triglycerides Connected To Cholesterol

    Cholesterol is another type of fatty substance. It has many uses in your body, including producing hormones, building cells and helping you digest food.

    There are good and bad types of cholesterol. ‘Bad’ cholesterol is known as low-density lipoprotein or LDL. It can stick to the sides of your blood vessels and block them. ‘Good’ cholesterol is known as high-density lipoprotein or HDL. It transports the bad cholesterol away from your blood vessels to your liver, which gets rid of it.

    If you have a high level of triglycerides together with a high LDL level or a low HDL level, you have a higher risk of fat building up and blocking your blood vessels. This increases your risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.

    Is There Anything Else I Should Know

    If you are diabetic and your blood sugar is out of control, triglycerides may be very high.

    Triglycerides change dramatically in response to meals, increasing as much as 5 to 10 times higher than fasting levels just a few hours after eating. Even fasting levels vary considerably day to day. Therefore, modest changes in fasting triglycerides measured on different days are not considered to be abnormal.

    Certain drugs such as corticosteroids, protease inhibitors for HIV, beta blockers, and estrogens can increase blood triglyceride levels.

    There is increasing interest in measuring triglycerides in people who have not fasted. The reason is that a non-fasting sample may be more representative of the âusualâ circulating level of triglyceride since most of the day blood lipid levels reflect post-meal levels rather than fasting levels. However, it is not yet certain how to interpret non-fasting levels for evaluating risk so, at present, there is no change in the current recommendations for fasting prior to tests for lipid levels.

    Read Also: How To Raise Hdl And Lower Triglycerides

    What Are Very High Triglycerides

    Just as it sounds, having very high triglycerides means that you have too much of this type of fat in your blood. Your doctor may call this condition severe hypertriglyceridemia.

    It is detected through a simple blood test called a lipid panel or lipid profile. This test measures your:

    • Overall cholesterol
    • HDL cholesterol

    You will likely be asked to get your blood taken after fastingwhen you havent had any food or drink for eight, and sometimes up to 12 hours. This will show your triglyceride level when your body has cleared any cholesterol from meals youve eaten. A triglyceride level done without fasting can also be very revealing because it often shows that your body is not clearing the cholesterol from food.

    Your health care provider will likely use your fasting results to guide treatment, but cases can be very different

    Like other types of cholesterol, triglycerides are measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood. There are four categories of triglyceride levels according to the American Heart Association. Someone is diagnosed with very high triglycerides when the amount of triglycerides found in the blood is 500 mg/dL or more under 150 mg/dL is considered normal.

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