OVERVIEW
What are Triglycerides?
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the body. Extra calories are converted into triglycerides. High triglycerides might increase the risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, cholesterol and high sugar.
WHY IS TRIGLYCERIDES TEST DONE?
Triglycerides test is performed for the following reasons:
- As a part of lipid profile on a regular medical checkup.
- If there are high risk factors for heart diseases
- Family history
How is this test performed?
This test is performed on a blood sample. The blood is obtained from the vein and this is performed by a healthcare provider in the following way.
- clean the skin
- put an elastic band above the area
- insert a needle into a vein (usually in the arm inside of the elbow or on the back of the hand)
- pull the blood sample into a vial or syringe
- take off the elastic band and remove the needle from the vein
What are the risks associated with this test?
There is no significant risk associated with this test. A small bruise or mild soreness around the blood test site is common and can last for a few days. Get medical care if the discomfort gets worse or lasts longer.
Any special preparations for the test?
8-12 hours of fasting is important. Do not eat or drink anything other than water. Triglyceride levels change in response to meals, increasing as much as 5 to 10 times higher than fasting levels just a few hours after eating.
What causes the increase of Triglycerides in body?
Following are the factors that causes increase in triglycerides in the body:
- overweight
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking
- Excess alcohol use
- A diet very high in carbohydrates
- Certain diseases and medications
How can Triglyceride levels be controlled?
Returning triglyceride levels to normal may decrease the risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Controlling high triglycerides and high cholesterol is a lifelong challenge. A healthy lifestyle includes eating well, exercising routinely, smoking cessation, and weight loss. This may be all that is needed, but some people additionally require medications to lower triglyceride levels in the blood. Your health-care professional will help make decisions with you to decide what treatment combination is most appropriate
INTERPRETATION OF THE TEST RESULTS:
- Normal — Less than 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L)
- Borderline high — 150 to 199 mg/dL (1.8 to 2.2 mmol/L)
- High — 200 to 499 mg/dL (2.3 to 5.6 mmol/L)
- Very high — 500 mg/dL or above (5.7 mmol/L or above)
WHAT DOES THE TEST MEASURES?
This test measures the level of triglycerides in blood. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium build up inside the blood vessels. High levels of triglycerides are linked with Atherosclerosis which increases the risk of heart diseases, stroke, heart attack and kidney diseases.
Triglycerides test is usually done as a part of lipid profile which includes other tests like:
- Cholesterol
- HDL (High-density lipoprotein)
- LDL (Low-density lipoprotein)
- VLDL (Very low-density lipoprotein)
