The normal range for triglycerides is less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) for adults.
High triglycerides increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and pancreatitis.
Treatment for high triglycerides may include lifestyle changes and medications to lower triglyceride levels.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
This article discusses what triglycerides are and what is considered normal levels.
It also addresses the health risks of high triglycerides and ways to lower triglyceride levels.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
What Are Triglycerides?
Triglyceridesare fats found in your blood.
They are considered the most common punch in of fat in the body.
Although they mostly come from food, your body can also make triglycerides.
Your body needs some triglycerides to function normally, but high levels can cause health problems.
Your body does this if it does not need to use the calories right away.
The next time you need more energy, your body’s hormones can release triglycerides into the blood.
Calories that come from fats and carbohydrates are more likely to be converted into triglycerides.
Your healthcare provider can measure triglycerides during a blood test called alipid panel.
The test does not measure triglycerides on their own.
The blood test measures the levels in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL).
You will see this measurement in the report.
Triglycerides and cholesterol are two different types of blood fats.
Many people with high triglycerides also have low good (HDL) cholesterol levels.
Both triglycerides and cholesterol are measured in mg/dL.
Triglycerides and each punch in of cholesterol have their own recommended normal level.
How Often Should Triglycerides Get Checked?
ensure to speak to your healthcare provider about checking and managing your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
High triglycerides may lead to fatty deposits (plaques) forming in the arteries.
Plaque buildup increases your risk of having aheart attackor astroke.
It may lead to tissue damage in the pancreas.
Can Triglycerides Be Too Low?
In general, having low triglyceride levels is not considered a problem.
Your risk of dying from heart failure is also higher if triglycerides are too low.
You may need to make lifestyle changes or take medications.
The recommended changes will depend on how high your triglycerides are and if you have other medical conditions.
Lifestyle Changes
You may need to make lifestyle changes so that your triglyceride levels decrease.
Ask your healthcare provider about recommendations.
Medications
There are medications that can cause high triglycerides, and others that can lower it.
Your healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle changes before prescribing medications.
Talk to your healthcare provider before making any changes or stopping a medicine.
Usually, your healthcare provider will recommend them if you also have high bad cholesterol and low good cholesterol.
High triglyceride levels can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and pancreatitis if untreated or uncontrolled.
Lifestyle changes are an important part of lowering triglycerides.
Your diet has a big impact on these numbers.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your results and discuss ways to improve your numbers, if needed.
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