On the outside, you may look perfectly healthy. But on the inside, there can be trouble brewing that you can't see. Blood Work should be part of your annual wellness check. One thing your doctor should check in this bloodwork is your triglycerides. Knowing your triglyceride levels is just as important as knowing your blood glucose and overall cholesterol levels. Just knowing this number isn't enough, though. You need to understand what triglycerides are, what a high number means, and how to lower your triglycerides if they're too high. The following article won’t make you an expert on the subject, but is a good place to start. This article will focus on several different factors of triglycerides and try to provide some baseline information that can then be expanded upon with more research.
What is a Triglyceride?
A triglyceride is a kind of fat found in your blood. They're not inherently bad. In fact, your body does need a certain amount of triglycerides in order to function properly. It uses triglycerides for energy, so you can't and wouldn't want to eliminate them completely. But too many triglycerides, just like too much of anything, can present a problem. High triglycerides can be caused by several different things, including:
- Being obese
- Having diabetes that isn't under control
- Thyroid problems
- Kidney trouble
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Eating more calories than you burn off
When you get your triglyceride levels checked, they can be listed as normal, borderline high, high or very high.
What do High Triglyceride Levels Suggest?
While triglycerides are normal and a certain number of them are necessary for survival, if they are too high, they can create serious trouble for your health. Specifically, triglycerides can indicate heart health problems. High triglycerides may cause hardening of your arteries, raising your risk of heart attack or stroke. They can also cause pancreatitis. Other problems that triglycerides can be a sign of include:
- Diabetes
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Hypothyroidism
Sometimes high triglycerides can be the result of a medication you're taking. If you have high triglycerides, it's important to check with your doctor if the medications you’re taking might be a factor.
Lowering Triglyceride Levels
If you have high triglycerides, lowering them is critical to your health. It can be easier than you think to reduce your triglyceride levels. It starts with a healthy diet. You can lower your triglycerides by shifting to a diet that is:
- Low in fat
- Low in sugar
- Low in alcohol
- Low-carb
Other ways to lower your triglycerides include getting consistent aerobic exercise, losing weight (if you're overweight), eating more frequent smaller meals, and skipping the late-night snacks.
High triglycerides are a danger to your health, but they're something you can resolve on your own with a few simple changes in habits. Best of all, the changes you make to lower your triglycerides are the same changes that will improve your health overall. By making these shifts, you'll not only get your triglycerides under control, but make yourself feel better in general. That seems like a win-win situation.