{"id":5995,"date":"2019-09-27T09:00:23","date_gmt":"2019-09-27T13:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=5995"},"modified":"2025-04-08T13:45:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T17:45:41","slug":"high-triglycerides-treatment-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/high-triglycerides-treatment-options\/","title":{"rendered":"4 high triglycerides treatment options"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Almost half of all Americans (47%) have one of the three risk factors for heart disease: <\/span>high blood pressure<\/span><\/a>, high cholesterol, or smoking, according to the <\/span>CDC<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s such a common\u2014and dangerous\u2014 problem that many organizations exist only to promote heart-healthy living, from the <\/span>American Heart Association<\/span><\/a> to the <\/span>World Heart Federation<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They encourage people to protect their own hearts and inspire others (family, friends, colleagues) to do the same. The good news is that one health threat is highly treatable. There are many high triglyceride treatment and prevention options\u2014from statins to supplements.<\/span><\/p>\n

High cholesterol (total blood cholesterol of 200 mg\/dL or more) affects <\/span>nearly 2 in 5<\/span><\/a> American adults. While there are no symptoms associated with this condition, it\u2019s tracked regularly in your annual physical. A complete blood cholesterol test (otherwise referred to as a lipid panel or lipid profile) provides the various types of cholesterol levels measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg\/dL). One cholesterol it tracks is triglyceride levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are triglycerides?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201cTriglycerides are a type of fat and the most common type of fat in your body,\u201d states Roshini Malaney, DO, a board-certified cardiologist with <\/span>Manhattan Cardiology<\/span><\/a> in New York City. Similar to cholesterol, triglycerides are made in the liver and exist in certain foods, including butter, margarine, and oils, as well as other high-fat or high-carbohydrate foods. \u201cWhen we consume extra calories, the body converts the calories it doesn’t need to use right away into triglycerides, which are then stored in fat cells,\u201d she adds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What qualifies as high levels of triglycerides?<\/b><\/h2>\n

According to <\/span>MedlinePlus<\/span><\/a> (the website powered by the United States National Library of Medicine), blood levels less than 150 mg\/dL fall under the triglycerides normal range, while anything higher\u2014known as hypertriglyceridemia\u2014can increase the risk for heart disease. \u201cElevated triglycerides can also be a very early sign of diabetes,\u201d states Kristin Thomas, MD, a board-certified internist and co-founder of <\/span>Foxhall Medicine<\/span><\/a> in Washington, D.C. She adds that a high fasting triglyceride level should prompt additional testing, including fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c.<\/span><\/p>\n

Extremely high triglycerides\u2014blood levels over 500 mg\/dL\u2014may be due to a genetic disorder and can increase the risk of pancreatitis, along with heart disease, including atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), Dr. Thomas, co-author of <\/span>You Can Prevent A Stroke<\/span><\/i>, explains. \u201cIt can be seen alone or in association with many other conditions, as well, such as metabolic syndrome, hypothyroidism, fatty liver disease, and kidney disease,\u201d Dr. Malaney says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Triglycerides level chart<\/b><\/h3>\n

Are your triglyceride levels in the normal range? Refer to this triglycerides level chart.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Risk level<\/b><\/td>\nTriglyceride level\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Normal<\/span><\/td>\nLess than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg\/dL)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Borderline high<\/span><\/td>\n150 to 199 mg\/dL\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High<\/span><\/td>\n200 to 499 mg\/dL<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Very high<\/span><\/td>\n500 mg\/dL or higher<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What causes high triglycerides?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Aside from consuming a diet high in sugar and saturated fats, other lifestyle factors can contribute to high triglycerides, specifically excess weight, lack of exercise, drinking too much alcohol, and smoking. Dr. Malaney adds that it can also be a side effect of certain medications, such as some birth control pills, beta blockers, antipsychotic medications, and corticosteroids.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to lower triglycerides<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are several natural remedies for high triglycerides\u2014like diet and lifestyle changes\u2014that your healthcare provider may recommend trying first before prescriptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diet\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Triglycerides come from the food we eat and occur naturally in the liver. Eating a low-sugar, lower-carbohydrate diet with lots of high-fiber foods rich in omega-3s can help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the best foods to eat to lower triglycerides?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Use the Mediterranean diet as a guide. Look for <\/span>foods like<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n