Triglycerides are necessary for your body to function, but only when levels are not excessively high. Triglycerides are a type of lipid (or fat) that circulates in the bloodstream. The calories that you consume and do not burn are converted into triglycerides and stored. When your body needs energy later, a hormone releases triglycerides to use as energy.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is one of the effects of high triglyceride levels. Atherosclerosis occurs when there is plaque buildup in the arteries. The arteries harden or thicken, depriving the surrounding tissue of oxygen and nutrients. This increases the risk of a stroke, a heart attack and heart disease.
Effects of Extremely High Triglycerides
A person with extremely high triglyceride levels (such as over 1,000 mm/dL), will be prone to certain conditions. These include xanthomas, or fat deposits under the skin, and pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, and a fatty liver.
Pre-existing Conditions
High triglycerides can often be a warning sign of other conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, liver disease, kidney disease as well as some genetic conditions. Additionally, high triglycerides can be a complication of certain medications such as steroids, tamoxifen, birth control pills, beta blockers or diuretics.
Range
The normal range of triglyceride levels is less than 150 milligram per deciliter (mg/dL). A borderline range is considered to be 150 to 199 mg/dL, and a high reading is 200 to 499 mg/dL. An extremely high reading is 500 mg/dL or above.
Diagnosis
A patient will not experience symptoms of having high triglycerides. The patient's doctor will run a blood test, such as a lipid panel, which determines the level of triglycerides in the blood. The patient should fast and refrain from drinking coffee for a minimum of 12 hours prior to the test. This is because triglycerides will increase after a meal and remain that way for up to ten hours, causing a potentially false reading on the blood test.
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