What is high triglycerides?

Elevated triglycerides, known as hypertriglyceridemia, refer to a condition in which the level of triglycerides in the blood exceeds the normal range.

Triglycerides are a component of blood lipids, mainly composed of fatty acids and glycerol. Under normal conditions, triglyceride levels should be below 1.7 mmol/L. When triglyceride levels exceed this threshold, it is considered hypertriglyceridemia. Elevated triglyceride levels may be related to multiple factors, and hypertriglyceridemia can be caused by genetic factors, obesity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, or certain medications. Persistently high triglyceride levels increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease and stroke. Furthermore, extremely high triglyceride levels can potentially lead to acute pancreatitis. Therefore, maintaining normal triglyceride levels is beneficial for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Patients with elevated triglycerides are advised to adjust their lifestyle by modifying their diet, increasing physical activity, controlling body weight, and using lipid-lowering medications under a doctor's guidance to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.