Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your body and in the foods you eat. Triglycerides can provide your body with energy when you do not eat carbohydrates for an extended period of time. If you do not keep your triglyceride levels safe, you put yourself at risk for major health problems.
Triglyceride Values
Your physician will usually test triglycerides as part of a lipid profile, which also includes values for cholesterol. Safe triglyceride levels are defined as less than 150 mg/dL of blood. If your triglyceride levels reach 150 to 199 mg/dL, they are considered borderline high. If triglyceride levels reach 200 to 499 mg/dL, they are considered high and levels 500 mg/dL and above are considered very high, says the American Heart Association. It is important to try to keep triglyceride levels within safe ranges.
Implications of High Triglycerides
High triglyceride levels are medically referred to as hypertriglyceridemia. Elevated triglyceride levels lead to the development of atherosclerosis, which is characterized by the hardening of the arteries. Healthy arteries are elastic and flexible and allow blood to flow smoothly through them. When the arteries harden, blood cannot travel as easily. As a result, many people with high triglycerides develop coronary artery disease. Untreated high triglycerides can also lead to heart attack or stroke.
Diet and Exercise
One of the most important steps you can take in keeping your triglyceride levels safe is eating the right diet. Extra calories are converted to triglycerides and stored as fat. To keep your triglyceride levels low, you should determine your caloric needs and stay close to this number. You should also limit your intake of saturated fat and trans fat, which both directly contribute to increased triglyceride levels.
Exercise can help you burn off any extra calories and prevent them from being converted to triglycerides. Exercise can also promote weight loss, which can keep get your triglycerides within safe levels. MayoClinic.com notes that a weight loss of just 5 to 10 pounds has a significant effect on triglyceride levels.
Medications
If diet and exercise do not significantly lower your triglycerides, your doctor may prescribe medication to help. A class of medications called niacin can help lower you triglyceride levels as well as your cholesterol levels. Another class of medication called fibrates may also be prescribed to help you lower triglyceride levels.
Considerations
Triglyceride lowering medication is not a substitution for eating the proper diet and engaging in regular physical activity. If your doctor decides that medication is right for you, it is important to continue with your diet and lifestyle changes.
References
- "Nutrition and You"; Joan Salge Blake; 2008
- American Heart Association: Triglycerides
- MayoClinic.com: Triglycerides: Why Do They Matter?
