Triglycerides:
The Bad Leftovers
Triglycerides are
a form of fat in the bloodstream. People with high triglycerides
often have a high total cholesterol, a high LDL (bad) cholesterol
and a low HDL (good) cholesterol level. Many people with heart
disease also have high triglyceride levels. People with diabetes
or who are obese are also likely to have high triglycerides.
Diet, alcohol intake and exercise levels have an effect on
triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a major source of energy
and the most common type of fat in your body. When you eat,
your body uses the calories it needs for quick energy. Any
extra calories are turned into triglycerides and stored in
fat cells to be used later. The excess calories are stored
as fat regardless of what kind of food you eat-fat, carbohydrate,
or protein. If you regularly eat more calories than you burn,
you may have high triglycerides.
Triglycerides are measured as part of a blood test that measures
your cholesterol. Normal triglyceride levels are below 150.
Levels above 200 are high. Like cholesterol, triglycerides
are common types of fats (lipids) that are essential for good
health when present in normal amounts. They account for about
95 percent of the body's fatty tissue.
High triglyceride levels are associated with known risk factors
for heart disease, such as low levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol,
high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol and obesity. Triglycerides
may also contribute to a type of thickening of artery walls,
a physical change believed to be a predictor of hardening
of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
Triglyceride tests involve a blood test following a period
of no food or alcohol. Treatment and prevention may include
changes to diet, reducing alcohol intake and increasing exercise.
Some people will not respond to this and have drugs prescribed.
Why are high levels of triglycerides a risk factor?
|
| The reason why
high levels of triglycerides increase the risk of cardiovascular
disease is not completely understood. The most recent evidence
suggests the remnants left from the breakdown of triglyceride
rich lipoproteins in the blood may speed up plaque build up
on arteries (atherogenesis). It seems these particles floating
in the blood are particularly dangerous to patients with high
levels of triglycerides and cholesterol.
High triglyceride levels increase the risk of thrombosis -
clotting, which can lead to myocardial infarction - heart
attack.
A combination of diet and high triglyceride levels can be
a risk factor. A fatty meal leaves remnant lipoproteins in
the blood, and those with high levels of triglycerides do
not clear these fragments as quick as other people. This delay
has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
High triglyceride levels commonly occur in younger people
suffering inherited elevated cholesterol levels. This inherited
disorder results in overproduction of cholesterol and triglycerides
by the body. Thus, early testing for triglycerides may show
up this condition and allow early treatment to reduce the
risk of CHD. |
