What is a normal triglyceride? Symptoms and methods of treatment of high triglycerides

Triglyceride is one of the most common types of fat in the body, and it is found in foods such as butter. When the body needs energy, it gets it from triglycerides. However, excess triglycerides can increase the risk of problems such as heart attack and stroke. Do you know how much is normal triglyceride and how should we keep our body’s triglyceride within normal limits? For more information about this, stay with us until the end of the article.

What is triglyceride?

Triglycerides are made of three fatty acids linked together by glycerol, a simple sugar. Most of the fats we consume (such as butter) contain triglycerides. Triglyceride is what you see on the top layer of chilled chicken soup. Also, extra calories, alcohol, and sugar are converted into triglycerides in the body. The liver can also make triglycerides from carbohydrates. When you consume dairy products and meat, triglycerides are absorbed through the intestines and reach the fatty tissue in the bloodstream. Your body stores triglycerides in fat cells, which are like warehouses throughout your body, and these stores are used up when you need them.

The role of triglycerides

Triglyceride is not inherently evil and actually has several vital roles that are essential to our survival. Triglycerides can be converted to fatty acids and do several things, including:

• Fueling the muscles;
• body heat production;
• Providing energy for essential body functions.

The difference between triglyceride and cholesterol

Triglycerides and cholesterol are both lipids, with the difference that triglycerides are fats and cholesterol is not. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is made in the liver. The body uses cholesterol to build cell walls and help the nervous system. On the other hand, cholesterol plays a vital role in digestion and hormone production.

How triglycerides circulate in the blood

Pure cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood. For this reason, the liver packages cholesterol with triglycerides and proteins called lipoproteins. Lipoproteins carry this fatty compound throughout the body.

There are different types of lipoproteins, including:

• very low-density lipoproteins or VLDLs;
• high-density lipoproteins or HDLs ;
• Low-density lipoprotein or LDL.

In fact, HDL is good cholesterol that helps remove bad cholesterol or LDL from the bloodstream. High HDL reduces the risk of heart attack, but high LDL causes clogging of the blood vessel wall and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Triglyceride and HDL usually have an inverse relationship. That is, the higher your triglycerides, the lower your HDL, and the higher your HDL, the lower your triglycerides. Your triglycerides may be high, but your HDL is not low. According to research, regardless of HDL levels, high triglycerides are the underlying cause of heart disease.

Normal triglyceride levels

The average triglyceride level in adults is less than 150 mg/dL. In young people between 10 and 19 years old, the average triglyceride level is below 90 mg/dL.

High triglyceride levels in adults are classified into several types, including:

• Borderline: 150 to 199 milligrams per deciliter;
• High: 200 to 499 mg/dL;
• Very high: more than 500 mg/dL.

The doctor diagnoses your total cholesterol based on the combination of triglycerides, LDL, and HDL. If your triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels are high and your HDL levels are low, your risk of heart attack and stroke increases. Triglycerides above 1500 are too high and may stop breaking down body fat. This problem causes memory loss, swelling of the liver and spleen, and stomach pain.

Cause of high triglycerides

High triglycerides have many causes, including:

• excessive alcohol consumption;
• uncontrolled diabetes ;
• A diet high in sugar, saturated fat, and simple carbohydrates;
• liver disease;
• Kidney Disease;
• Medicines such as diuretics, hormones, corticosteroids, beta-blockers, and some medication for AIDS, breast cancer, and high blood pressure ;
• Body mass index or BMI greater than 25;
• overweight or obese;
• Impaired breakdown of lipids by the body;
• inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis ;
• smoking;
• thyroid disease ;
• Lack of physical activity.

Factors underlying high triglycerides

Some factors can increase the likelihood of high triglycerides, including:

• Family history of high cholesterol or high triglycerides;
• Menopause ;
• pregnancy ;
• HIV (HIV);
• Hereditary lipid metabolic disorder ;
• South Asian race.

Symptoms of high triglycerides

High triglycerides, like cholesterol, usually have no symptoms. Still, if left untreated and you have heart disease, one of the side effects may be fatigue. For this reason, you should regularly take a blood lipid panel test, which is also called a lipid test, cholesterol panel, or coronary disease panel. To increase the accuracy of the test, you should fast for 8 to 12 hours. Some laboratories do not require fasting or taking blood from your finger.

Complications of high triglycerides

High triglycerides increase the risk of pancreatitis. This severe and painful inflammation of the pancreas can threaten your life. High triglyceride levels also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, including:

• Carotid artery disease;
• All-cardiac coronary artery disease;
• metabolic syndrome (combination of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity);
• peripheral artery disease;
• Decrease in HDL;
• increased LDL;
• Stroke.

Triglyceride test

High triglycerides become more problematic with age, and doctors recommend more lipid panel testing.

• Adults from 20 to 40 years old should have a cholesterol test every 4 to 6 years. However, if they have diabetes, a family history of high cholesterol, and other underlying factors of heart disease, the number of tests should be increased.
• Men from the age of 45 years and above and women from the age of 55 years and above should be tested every year.
• Suppose you have cardiovascular disease or are taking medications to lower cholesterol or triglycerides. In that case, your doctor may check your triglycerides more often.

Triglyceride test for children

Children should also have cholesterol and triglyceride tests. This test is usually done between 9 and 11 years old and then at older ages, between 17 and 21 years old. If the child has a family history of high cholesterol, heart attack, and stroke, the test may be done at around 2 years of age.

Home treatment of triglycerides above 200

Finding out that your triglycerides are high can be distressing. But there are many things you can do to lower your triglycerides. Changing your lifestyle has significant benefits, including:

• More physical activity: Exercise can have a significant effect on triglyceride levels. It is recommended that all people exercise 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes. If you can’t, start slowly. Start with three brisk walks a week and build up.
• Weight loss: If you are overweight or obese, lose it a little and maintain the ideal weight. Exercise can help, but focus on diet. The secret is to consume fewer calories. Focus on a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, protein from legumes, and low-fat dairy products. Cutting out sugary foods like soda can help.
• Choosing better fat: Pay more attention to the fats you consume. Reduce foods that contain unhealthy fats (such as meat, butter, and cheese), trans fats (in processed foods and margarine), and cholesterol. Use more unsaturated fats found in olive oil, nuts, and some fish. Suppose you are looking for a triglyceride killer. In that case, you won’t find a definitive answer, but consuming fish containing omega-3, like tuna, salmon, and sardines, is suitable for reducing triglycerides.
• Drinking plenty of water: Sugar and fructose in some drinks can raise triglycerides. Water is the most available and cheapest drink to quench thirst. If you want to spice it up, squeeze some lemon into the water. Also, instead of sweetening tea with sugar, use flowers and spices.
• Paying attention to the size of the meal: a large meal can increase triglycerides and the possibility of a heart attack. Reduce the size of your meals and eat them more slowly.
• Skipping meals: You may be too busy or think you’ll lose weight by skipping meals. But the problem is that in the next meal with great hunger, you may eat anything, or your food volume will increase, and your triglyceride level will increase. So enjoy eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner and use snacks like nuts, fruits, carrots, and grains.
• Quitting alcohol and smoking: Even a tiny amount of alcohol and smoking can raise triglycerides. Stop taking them.

Appropriate drugs for high triglycerides

People with heart disease need medication to lower triglycerides, including:

• Fibrates: reduction of triglycerides and high cholesterol;
• Fish oil: containing omega 3 or flaxseed;
• Niacin (nicotinic acid): reduction of triglycerides up to 50%;
• Statins: 20 to 40% reduction in triglycerides;
• Bempedoic acid: reduction of triglycerides up to 15%;
• Curcumin: Turmeric extract can help reduce triglycerides within a month;
• Guggul gum: The gum of this tree has been used as an Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years. According to some research, this substance can help reduce triglycerides, but others do not confirm this. Taking Gogol supplements in some people causes liver problems.

Remember to focus on improving your lifestyle to maintain healthy and healthy triglyceride levels. Also, consult your doctor about medications, supplements, and vitamins. An increase in triglycerides is one of the side effects of some drugs, including beta blockers, birth control pills, and diuretics.

What to eat to reduce triglycerides

A healthy diet can help lower triglycerides. Limit the consumption of fatty and sugary foods and consume more grains, fruits, vegetables, and fatty fish. Some foods that help reduce triglycerides include:

• Whole grain breads and cereals;
• Brown rice ;
• oats ;
• sweet potato ;
• Peas and beans;
• A small amount of vegetable oil ( olive oil, canola oil and sunflower oil);
• avocado ;
• nuts and seeds;
• nut butter;
• fatty fish (salmon and sardines twice a week);
• Colored fruits and vegetables (broccoli, carrot, red pepper, watermelon, berries, cantaloupe).

Harmful foods for high triglycerides

Foods high in fat and sugar should be limited, including:

• Sweets and cookies;
• Candy;
• Soft drinks;
• Ice cream;
• sports and energy drinks;
• juices with a lot of sugar;
• Butter;
• Red Meat;
• fried foods;
• whole milk and 2% milk;
• Sugar tablets;
• white rice;
• White flour;
• starchy vegetables such as potatoes;
• Packaged foods containing high fructose corn syrup.

Prevention of high triglycerides

Diet and lifestyle changes can lower triglycerides. To keep your triglycerides and total cholesterol in the normal range, there are a few things you can do, including:

• Do at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day;
• Get a heart-healthy diet by reducing the consumption of unhealthy fats and simple sugars and consuming more fiber;
• Control high blood pressure and diabetes;
• stop drinking alcohol;
• get enough sleep;
• Reduce your weight and maintain your ideal weight;
• Control stress ;
• Stop using tobacco.

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