Why do we need to watch out for triglycerides? What are safe levels?

WHAT LEVELS OF TRIGLYCERIDES ARE SAFE?

Watch out for the following numbers:

· Normal — Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or less than 1.7 millimoles per liter (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)

A word of caution here, do not wait for triglycerides to hit through the roof before you address the need to reduce them. Arrest them when they are even slightly higher than normal levels, especially if you have heart disease or have other risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure or are a smoker.

HOW DO I SENSE DYSLIPIDEMIA?

If a patient has dyslipidemia, it usually means that the LDL levels (bad cholesterol) or the triglycerides are high. It can also mean the HDL (good cholesterol) levels are low and are not enough to neutralise the LDL. Triglycerides are correlated with HDL, if they are high, HDL goes low and vice versa.

Dyslipidemia is divided up into primary and secondary types. Primary dyslipidemia is inherited. Secondary dyslipidemia is an acquired condition. That means it develops from other causes, such as obesity or diabetes.

Most people are unaware that they have dyslipidemia unless it is severe. During a routine blood test, dyslipidemia is usually diagnosed by a doctor. People with extremely high cholesterol levels and triglycerides may develop xanthomas (waxy, fatty plaques on their skin) or corneal arcus (cholesterol rings around the iris of their eye). Obesity has been linked to high cholesterol, and this may prompt a provider to assess your cholesterol level.

Dyslipidemia causes no symptoms in most people, but it can lead to symptomatic vascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. If dyslipidemia is not controlled, it can be fatal. Several behaviours can contribute to dyslipidemia like excessive alcohol consumption, obesity and sedentary behaviour. Age is another risk factor for high cholesterol. Until menopause, women have lower LDL levels than men. This is when women’s LDL levels begin to rise.

WHAT ARE RISK FACTORS?

The various factors that increase the chance of developing dyslipidemia and high triglyceride levels can include obesity, lack of regular exercise, consumption of alcohol and tobacco, consumption of diet rich in saturated and trans fats, advancing age, hereditary conditions and other medical conditions like chronic kidney or liver ailments, hypothyroidism, diabetes etc.

DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT

The condition can be diagnosed by checking LDL, HDL and triglycerides through a simple blood test only. The levels will indicate the high, low or healthy range of these components of cholesterol. Generally, for managing dyslipidemia, few lifestyle changes and supplements are recommended. This can include:

· Reducing the consumption of unhealthy fats

· Exercising regularly for 30 minutes

· Reducing or avoiding alcohol consumption

· Maintaining a healthy body weight

· Eating plenty of fibre-rich food that can include fruits, vegetables and whole grains

· Drinking 2-3 litres of water per day

· Sleeping 7-8 hours at night

If the problem is not cured by these measures, then the doctor can recommend a few medications, including statins, that halt cholesterol production in the liver. Also, the doctor may prescribe other cholesterol medications in addition to statin or in place of statin, depending on the situation.