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High Triglycerides People with high triglycerides (known
as hypertriglyceridemia) often have a high total cholesterol level,
high LDL (bad) cholesterol and a low HDL (good) cholesterol level.
High Triglycerides are caused by obesity, poorly controlled diabetes,
hypothyroidism, kidney disease, and eating more calories than you use
on a day to day basis. Certain medication including steroids, some
diuretics and birth control pills can also increase triglyceride
levels. High triglycerides do not usually occur on their own and are
often part of the metabolic syndrome or ‘syndrome X’. This is a
combination of high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low HDL
levels and high triglyceride levels.
Researchers are not fully sure why high
triglyceride levels increase the risk of coronary heart disease. They
believe that remnants left behind from the breakdown of triglyceride
rich lipoproteins in the blood enhance the rate of plaque build up on
the arteries (atherogenesis).
When
triglycerides are very high (greater than 1000 mg/dL (11.30 mmol/L)),
there is a risk of developing pancreatitis. Treatment to
lower triglycerides should be started as soon as possible.
Elevated triglyceride levels increase
the risk of thrombosis. The clotting associated with thrombosis can,
in turn, result in heart attack.
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