Last updated on 16th Oct 2021 - By Dwayne Michaels

How Abnormal TRIGLYCERIDES affects heart?

High triglycerides may contribute to hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls — which increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease. Extremely high triglycerides can also cause acute inflammation of the pancreas.

Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in your blood. They are the most common type of fat in your body. The triglycerides are stored in your fat cells. Later, hormones release triglycerides for energy between meals. When your body needs energy, it releases the triglycerides.

A high triglyceride level combined with high LDL (bad) cholesterol or low HDL (good) cholesterol is linked with fatty buildups within the artery walls. These fatty buildups increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

About 25% of adults in the United States have elevated blood triglycerides, which is classified as having triglyceride levels over 150 mg/dL. Having obesity, unmanaged diabetes, regular alcohol use, and a high calorie diet can all contribute to high blood triglyceride levels.

Extra sugar in your diet may be turned into triglycerides, which can lead to an increase in blood triglyceride levels, along with other heart disease risk factors. If you are otherwise in good health, one of the best ways to lower triglycerides is with regular exercise.

Choose an activity that gets your heart beating faster. Aim for an average of 40 minutes of moderate to high intensity exercise on 3 to 4 days a week. You don’t need to join a gym or buy expensive equipment. Taking a brisk walk every day can work just as well.

Stay well-hydrated during exercise by drinking water when you are thirsty, and remember that in hot or humid conditions you may need to drink even more water to maintain hydration. Use caution when exercising right after meals, when it is very hot or humid, or if you do not feel up to exercising.

People should limit their total carbohydrate intake to less than 60 percent of their recommended daily calorie allowance. If a person eats more carbohydrates than they need, the body will store them as fat.

Some carbohydrate foods, including certain cereals, can be beneficial in the diet. However, refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, offer little nutrition and add calories to the diet.

Did you know? Not getting enough sleep is linked to Heart attack, Depression, High Blood Pressure, Obesity and Diabetes.

If changes in your diet and exercise don’t lower your triglyceride level, your healthcare provider may recommend medicine, such as nicotinic acid (niacin). This B vitamin increases HDL and lowers LDL and triglycerides when taken at levels higher than dietary requirements.

A blood test can reveal whether or not you have high triglycerides. You may need to have two (or more) blood tests for accurate results. Don’t eat anything for at least 12 hours before each blood test because food – particularly fatty food can temporarily boost triglyceride levels in the blood and skew your test results.