What Are Triglycerides? – HealthyWomen

How are triglycerides measured?

Triglycerides are measured with a simple blood test, often performed as part of a cholesterol test known as a lipid profile. The range for triglycerides is:

• Normal: less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or less than 1.7 millimoles per liter (mmol/L)
• High limit: 150 to 199 mg/dl (1.8 to 2.2 mmol/l)
• High: 200 to 499 mg/dl (2.3 to 5.6 mmol/l)
• Very high: 500 mg/dL or more (5.7 mmol/L or more)

People with high triglycerides (above 200 mg/dL) are 25% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than someone with normal levels.

What causes high triglycerides?

Possible causes of high triglycerides include:

• Diet high in sugar, refined carbohydrates and saturated fats
• Untreated diabetes
• Liver disease
• Nephropathy
• Alcohol consumption
• Of smoking
• BMI (body mass index) greater than 25
• Thyroid disease
• Lack of physical activity

The good news? Some of these potential triggers are lifestyle choices, meaning you may be able to lower your triglycerides by changing your habits.

Why should women care about triglycerides?

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, accounting for 1 in 3 deaths each year. Because high triglyceride levels can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, it is important for women to know their triglyceride levels to manage their cardiovascular risks.

It’s also important to keep triglyceride levels under control because extremely high triglycerides (500 mg/dL or higher) can increase the risk of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), which can lead to pancreatic cancer, kidney failure, and possibly death.

Risk factor’s specific for women that can increase triglycerides include:

• Taking birth control pills containing estrogen or hormone replacement therapy
• Being postmenopausal
• Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Pregnancy (especially in the third trimester)

Ethnicity may also be a “risk factor” when it comes to cardiovascular disease, particularly for ethnicities that have an increased risk of higher triglyceride levels, such as Asian Americans. This elevated risk for some ethnicities is why the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and 10 other health organizations now include a section in their cholesterol guidelines which describes how race and specific ethnic characteristics may influence a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The hope is that considering factors that increase risk, such as ethnicity, could allow health care providers to gain a deeper understanding of their patients’ needs when it comes to managing cholesterol and overall heart health.

Whether or not you fall into a higher risk category, it’s a good idea to talk to your health care provider about getting your triglycerides checked.

The American Heart Association recommends All adults People over age 20 should have their cholesterol (including triglycerides) checked every four to six years (or more frequently, depending on risk factors).

Medication for triglycerides

If lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to keep your triglycerides under control, your health care provider may suggest medications.

Prescription medications include:

• Statinsthat reduce the amount of cholesterol the liver makes, but they do not always reduce triglycerides. Statins may reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. However, for people with high triglycerides, the risk of heart attack or stroke remains high.
• Fibratesthat lower triglycerides and increase “good” HDL cholesterol. Fibrates do not reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke, but they may be helpful in reducing your risk of pancreatitis if you have triglyceride levels of 500 or higher.
• Prescription dosage Omega-3 fatty acidsthat reduce the amount of triglycerides in the bloodstream.
  • Prescription omega-3s with EPA and DHA lower triglycerides, but do not reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke, even when used with statins. They may be helpful in reducing the risk of pancreatitis.
  • Prescription omega-3s with a purified form of EPA called IPE reduce triglycerides, and clinical trials have shown that when combined with statins, they can also significantly reduce triglycerides. reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke in people with mild to moderate triglyceride levels.

Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy fats that can lower triglycerides. Specific types of omega-3 acids include:

• DHA: found in fish
• EPA – found in fish
• ALA – is found in the plant

Over-the-counter omega-3 dietary supplements have not shown any benefit in protecting the heart.