High Triglycerides Symptoms
Triglycerides represent the most common fat type in our bodies. They are essential for energy and for the balance of our overall health. However, in excess amount, triglycerides can be extremely dangerous and cause some serious health problems.
Having high triglyceride levels is indeed a sign of concern. Unfortunately, most of the people who have excessive amounts of this type of fat are unaware of the risk that they are exposed to.
From who is at risk, how to detect them, and just how risky they are, this chapter will clear all the confusion you may have about triglycerides and help you address the problem accordingly.
Who’s at Risk?
To put it simply, everyone. The more calories we consume, the more triglycerides we have in our bloodstream. And if we take into consideration this modern junk-food and low-activity modern lifestyle that most of us are used to, it is no surprise that the number of people suffering from high triglyceride and cholesterol levels has skyrocketed in the past few decades, and it seems to be only going upwards.
However, it is not only the raise in calories that increased the levels of the triglycerides. There are many risk factors that can contribute to the increase of this type of fat in the blood. Here are the most common ones:
Age. Unfortunately, it is in our human nature to be prone to having increased triglyceride levels with age. As we get older, the number of triglycerides in our bloodstream rises.
Weight. Remember how we said that the triglycerides represent the fat that is glued to our bellies hips, and thighs? Well, it is no surprise that overweight people are at risk for having high triglyceride levels. The riskiest group are those people who have a waist measure above 35 inches.
Activity Level. Sedentary lifestyle is bad for every aspect of your health, and the triglyceride levels are no exception. The less you move, the fewer calories you burn, which eventually results in gaining weight and having more fat around your waist. And since triglycerides represent our bodily fat, it is obvious how inactivity can lead to high triglyceride levels. It’s a simple math, really. The more inactive you are, the higher your chance of a heart disease.
Alcohol Consumption. It has been scientifically proven that alcohol consumption raises the triglyceride levels. And if you are a regular drinker, well, chances are you have more triglycerides in your blood than you should. If you are a man, consuming more than two drinks a day puts you at risk for high triglyceride levels. Women, on the other hand, shouldn’t consume more than one drink if they want to keep their body lean and healthy.
High Blood Pressure. Those people who have hypertension (high blood pressure) are most likely to also have high triglyceride levels. If your blood pressure is high, regulating it with medication and a low-sodium diet may also help you knock down the triglycerides, if that is the only thing that elevates them, of course.
Type 2 Diabetes. Although having high triglycerides doesn’t really seem to be a priority when you are struggling with high blood sugar, having this type of fat elevated can only worsen the overall health and shorten the path to heart diseases. Managing your diabetes regularly and following the dietary guidelines found in this book can also help you manage your triglyceride levels.
Medications. Sometimes, it is the thing that your doctor prescribes that can hurt your health. Some medications are known to have the power to increase the bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels. If you are consuming birth control pills, diuretics, or have been prescribed an estrogen therapy, these medications may be what triggers your triglycerides to sky-rocket. Check with your doctor and see if these medications are to blame for your high triglycerides, and if so, consult with them for a change in therapy.
Heredity. Sometimes, fat simply runs in the family. It is not uncommon for bad cholesterol and high triglycerides to be passed on. If these fat types are attributed to your family, it is possible that you have unfortunately inherited them. But don’t worry. A dietary and lifestyle change may help you lower them. And this book will tell you exactly what you should eat to battle them once and for all.
Symptoms
The trickiest thing about having high triglycerides is the fact that they have no actual symptoms, meaning that there is no way for you to detect them on your own, unless they have caused some other complications.
Most people find out about their high triglyceride levels through a routing blood test. However, keep in mind that a simple cholesterol check doesn’t necessarily mean that the triglyceride levels will also be measured.
Like I said, high triglyceride may only cause symptoms if they have contributed to some serious condition, such as coronary heart disease. In that case, the symptoms may include:
- Chest Pain
- Stroke
- Heart Attack
If you have extremely high triglyceride levels, there are some other things that you may notice:
- Xanthomas — cholesterol deposits that form below the skin under your eyes, and usually look something like yellow streaks
- Nodules on your knees and elbows
- Many skin eruptions that have the size of a pimple and are yellowish in color
The fact that they show no symptoms, until it’s too late, is why The American Heart Association suggests that the triglyceride levels should be checked every 5 years after the age of 20.
Diagnosing
Detecting your triglyceride levels is a really simple process. Your doctor can easily determine them with a simple blood teste called lipid profile. Lipid profile is a blood test that measures your total cholesterol levels, the levels of your good HDL cholesterol, your bad LDL cholesterol, as well as the triglyceride levels.
This test is conducted after a 12-hour fasting period, for more accurate results. Since your triglyceride and cholesterol levels will most likely be higher after you eat, fasting is required if you want to see a clear picture of what’s going on in your bloodstream.
Okay, but how high is too high? Here is how you can determine whether the levels of triglycerides in your blood fall into a normal range:
Normal — Less than 150 mg/dL or less than 1.7mmol/L
Borderline High — 150 to 199 mg/dL or 1.8 to 2.2 mmol/L
High — 200 to 499 milligrams per deciliter mg/dL or 2.3 to 5.6 mmol/L
Very High — 500mg/L or above or 5.7 mmol/L or more
By Anna Keating, author of The High Triglycerides Diet: The Ultimate Guide to Lowering your Triglycerides