Triglyceride (TG, triacylglycerol TAG, or triacylglyceride) is a type of fat, or lipid, found in the blood that the body stores up to use for energy. One needs some triglycerides for good health, but high triglycerides can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. It may also be a sign of metabolic syndrome, which is the combination of high blood pressure, high blood sugar, too much fat around the waist, and high triglycerides.
A healthy triglyceride level is 150 or under. Borderline high is 150-199. High is 200-499. And very high is 500 and up. Triglycerides are the main ingredient in both vegetable oil and animal fat, so one way to maintain a healthy triglyceride count is to reduce the amount of fried foods and red meat one eats. Alcohol also greatly affects triglycerides. To lower levels, one should consume no more than one or two drinks daily, or for those with higher counts, it may be recommended that alcohol is cut completely from the diet. Triglycerides are measured using a common test called a lipid panel. The American Heart Association recommends that everyone over the age of 20 have their triglyceride level tested.
Details of High Triglyceride Causes
High triglyceride causes include a number of factors, some of which are controllable. A high triglyceride count is usually caused by obesity, poorly controlled diabetes, an underactive thyroid, kidney disease, unhealthy diet (eating more calories than are burned), and drinking a lot of alcohol. Each of these causes can increase triglyceride levels, and consequently, any combination raises levels exponentially. There are certain medications that may raise triglycerides, including Tamoxifen (used to treat breast cancer), steroids, beta-blockers, diuretics, estrogen, and birth control pills. Inheriting high triglycerides is possible but rare, and it is usually the diet and lifestyle that is inherited, not the condition. Lack of exercise and physical activity raises levels as less and less stored calories are used, building up fat stores and the triglycerides stored in that fat. Drinking more than one alcoholic beverage per day for women, and more than two for men, causes a high triglyceride count. Eating heavily processed foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, such as fried and commercially baked products, and red meat, will cause high triglyceride levels. Sugary and refined foods containing simple carbohydrates (sugar, white flour), increase triglycerides.
Risk Factors of High Triglyceride
High triglyceride treatment can address and improve many of the related conditions and causes including overall health, fitness, cholesterol levels, and heart health. Maintaining a high triglyceride count, consequently, can cause many high triglyceride risk factors. Researchers have believed for some time that elevated triglycerides are an indication of increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). Recent research shows that high triglyceride levels are themselves an independent risk factor. Triglycerides continue to take a more central position in heart health concerns. Child obesity continues on a sharp incline, which is leading to the early onset of such diseases as atherosclerosis and diabetes. Individuals with kidney disease, liver disease, and familial hypertriglyceridemia are medical conditions, not lifestyle choices, that increase risk of having dangerously high triglyceride levels and heart problems. Finally, the trend toward high levels of processing in the food industry, combined with poor diets and low amounts of physical activity, all contribute greatly to the risk factors of high triglycerides. This is also contributing to the world type-2 diabetes pandemic. Poorly controlled type-2 diabetes may result in an increased frequency and severity of infections and risk of developing pulmonary tuberculosis.
