Normally, the triglycerides are stored in body fat cells. Later, hormones release triglycerides for energy between meals.
High triglyceride levels can increase the risk of stroke or heart attack by thickening artery walls and hardening arteries. Extremely high triglycerides can also cause acute inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). This severe and painful inflammation of the pancreas can be life-threatening.
They can be part of metabolic syndrome, which also includes too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Among the factors that can raise your triglyceride level include: regularly eating more calories than body burn off, overweight or having obesity, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol use, certain medicines, some genetic disorders, thyroid diseases, poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, liver or kidney diseases.
A normal healthy range should be less than 150 mg/dl. High triglycerides levels are designated as the 200 to 499 mg/dl range, while very high is 500 mg/dl or above.
The best ways to lower triglycerides include losing weight, eating fewer calories, and exercising regularly (30 minutes daily). Regular exercise can lower triglycerides and boost "good" cholesterol.
Diet changes that may help include avoiding fats and sugar and refined foods (simple carbohydrates such as sugar and foods made with white flour).
What are triglycerides?
