Triglycerides - Why do they matter?

Thursday 15th July 2010 8:38am

woman cutting foodIf you've been keeping an eye on your blood pressure and cholesterol levels you should also consider monitoring your triglycerides.

Having a high level of triglycerides can increase your risk of heart disease.

The good news is that the same lifestyle choices that promote overall health can help lower your triglycerides, too.

Triglycerides are an important measure of heart health.

What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are a type of lipid found in your blood. When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn't need to use right away into triglycerides. The triglycerides are stored in your fat cells. Over time, hormones release triglycerides for energy between meals.

If you regularly eat more calories than you burn, particularly "easy" calories like carbohydrates and fats, you are at greater risk of having high triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia).

This condition has been associated with atherosclerosis, even in the absence of high cholesterol levels. It can also lead to pancreatitis in excessive concentrations.

What's considered normal?

A simple blood test can reveal whether your triglycerides fall into a healthy range.

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.

What's the difference between triglycerides and cholesterol?

Triglycerides and cholesterol are separate types of lipids that circulate in your blood. Triglycerides store unused calories and provide your body with energy, and cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones. Because triglycerides and cholesterol can't dissolve in blood, they circulate throughout your body with the help of proteins that transport the lipids (lipoproteins).

Why do high triglycerides matter?

Although it's unclear how, high triglycerides may contribute to hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls (atherosclerosis) — which increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease.

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 — a group of conditions that includes too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar and abnormal cholesterol levels.

High triglycerides may also be a sign of other health conditions like, 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 certain medications.

What's the best way to lower triglycerides?

Healthy lifestyle choices are the key

What about medication?

If healthy lifestyle changes aren't enough to control high triglycerides, your doctor may recommend medications that can help further lower your triglycerides.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements.

Omega-3 fatty acids supplements can help lower your triglycerides, slow the growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque, and lower blood pressure (slightly).

This information is not intended as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Please consult a properly qualified health care practitioner.