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Triglycerides: Why do they matter?
Content
What are triglycerides?
What's considered normal?
What's the difference between triglycerides and cholesterol?
Why do high triglycerides matter?
What's the best way to lower triglycerides?
What about medication?
Why do high triglycerides matter?
High triglycerides may contribute to hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls (arteriosclerosis) — which increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease. Extremely high triglycerides can also cause acute inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
High triglycerides are often a sign of other conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar and abnormal cholesterol levels.
High triglycerides can also be a sign of:
- Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
- Metabolic syndrome — a condition when high blood pressure, obesity and high blood sugar occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease
- Low levels of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism)
- Certain rare genetic conditions that affect how your body converts fat to energy
Sometimes high triglycerides are a side effect of taking certain medications, such as:
- Diuretics
- Estrogen and progestin
- Retinoids
- Steroids
- Beta blockers
- Some immunosuppressants
- Some HIV medications