Meridian Medical Consultants: General Services outline
Your Triglyceride Level
- Triglyceride is a form of fat. People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including high LDL (bad) cholesterol and low HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
- Your triglyceride level will fall into one of these categories:
Normal: |
less than 150 mg/dL |
Borderline-High: |
150–199 mg/dL |
High: |
200–499 mg/dL |
Very High: |
500 mg/dL |
- Many people have high triglyceride levels due to being overweight/obese, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption and/or a diet very high in carbohydrates (60 percent of more of calories).
- High triglycerides are a lifestyle-related risk factor; however, underlying diseases or genetic disorders can be the cause.
- The main therapy to reduce triglyceride levels is to change your lifestyle. This means control your weight, eat a heart-healthy diet, get regular physical activity, avoid tobacco smoke, limit alcohol to one drink per day for women or two drinks per day for men, and limit beverages and foods with added sugars. Visit your healthcare provider to create a plan of action that will incorporate all these lifestyle changes. Sometimes, medication is needed in addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle.
- A triglyceride level of 150 mg/dL or higher is one of the risk factors of metabolic syndrome.
- Metabolic syndrome increases the risk for heart disease and other disorders, including diabetes.
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