Triglycerides - An Overview
When you’re doctor tells you that your body mass index (BMI) or your blood pressure is high you exactly know what he is talking about, right? But when he suggests that you should lower your triglycerides, you might wonder. What are triglycerides and why do they matter?
What Are Triglycerides?
Triglycerides are another type of fat present in our blood. They are carried by our blood to different body tissues where they are either used as energy or stored up in fat cells for future use. In short, triglycerides are our body’s chief form of energy storage. They come from the food we eat and are made by the liver.
After eating, your body’s triglyceride level significantly increases. This is because when you eat sugary food, beverages or those containing alcohol, the sugars that are not immediately used up as energy are transformed into triglycerides and stored as fats. Just like cholesterol, triglycerides are not harmful to our bodies when present in normal amounts. So when does triglycerides cause health risks?
High Triglycerides
Triglycerides when present in high levels can pose dangers to our cardiovascular system, especially the heart. High triglyceride level increases the stickiness of the blood or its viscosity and this can greatly contribute to the hardening or narrowing of the arteries - putting you at risk to stroke, heart diseases and myocardial infarction or heart attack. The next question now is what causes high triglyceride levels?
Cause Of High Triglycerides
Triglyceride levels are measured through a blood test called the “complete lipid profile”. According to the US National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, triglycerides level are measured by milligrams for every deciliter of blood (mg/dL) and can range from NORMAL (<150 mg/dL), BORDERLINE HIGH (150-199 mg/dL), HIGH (200-499 mg/dL) and VERY HIGH (>500 mg/dL).
Here are some of the reasons as to why your triglycerides level reaches abnormally high levels:
* Weight gain. It is found out that obese people or those who rarely exercise are the ones who have significantly high triglyceride levels. As your weight increases so does your triglyceride levels.
* Excess calories. Consuming or eating foods/beverages that are very high in carbohydrates, sugars, starches and saturated fats also increases level of triglycerides.
* Age. As you grow older, the level of triglycerides in your body gradually increases.
* Illness. Certain medical conditions like diabetes, kidney disease and hypothyroidism can also play a role in the increase of triglycerides in your blood.
* Medications. There are drugs like steroids, diuretics or water pills and birth control pills that can cause the levels of triglycerides to rise.
* Heredity. Some people are genetically predisposed to high levels of triglycerides because it runs in their genes.
Symptoms Of High Triglycerides
You will not be aware that you already have high triglycerides level since it doesn’t show any symptoms. But if it is caused by genetic conditions, xanthomas may develop. Xanthomas are the visible fatty deposits under the skin. In some cases , you may develop pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas due to high triglycerides level which can instigate loss of appetite, sudden and severe abdominal pains, fever, nausea and vomiting.
Although some factors contributing to high triglyceride levels are inevitable like age and heredity, the main factor really is your diet and lifestyle.
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