How to Lower Your Triglycerides

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In this Article

In this Article

In this Article

 What Are Triglycerides?

 How They’re Measured
 What Are Normal and High Levels?
 At-home Treatments
 Medicine

Good and bad cholesterol. Saturated and unsaturated fat. Sometimes it seems like you
need a program to keep track of all the fat players in the story of heart disease.
Video Transcript

David Montgomery, MD Cardiologist

DAVE MONTGOMERY, MD: Triglycerides are the fats that swim around in our body. We
use those fats in normal amounts for fuel, for energy. We also use them to make
hormones and to build cells. Triglycerides are different from cholesterol, although we look
at them in a similar way. Cholesterol, bad cholesterol, is the cholesterol that actually
causes plaque to form in vessels. It can cause heart disease, it can cause a heart attack,
and it can cause a stroke. And while triglycerides aren't cholesterol, we've now learned
that high levels of triglyceride can still lead to heart disease. The primary food that we can
eat to lower triglycerides is fish, particularly fatty fish-- salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel. These
are all fish that we can eat to lower our triglyceride level. There are things that will increase
our triglyceride levels. If you eat a high carbohydrate diet, if you excessively consume
alcohol, these are two of the primary ways that we can increase our triglycerides.
Triglycerides may be the easiest to understand.
Simply put, they are fat in the blood. They are used to give energy to your body. If you
have extras, they are stored in different places in case they are needed later.
A high level has been linked to a greater chance for heart disease. But just what your own
level means and how much it helps to lower it is sometimes less clear.
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SLIDESHOW
Beyond Cholesterol: 14 Ways to Lower
Triglycerides
To keep your heart healthy, you may need to watch your triglyceride levels. Use
these WebMD tips to learn how to keep them in check.

You and your doctor have ways to lower your level if it is running high.
What Are Triglycerides?

They are important to life and are the main form of fat – they are sometimes called “lipids”
-- in the body. When you think of fat developing and being stored in your hips or belly,
you're thinking of triglycerides.
They are the end product of digesting and breaking down fats in food. Some are made in
the body from other energy sources, such as carbohydrates. When you’re between meals
and need more energy, your body’s hormones release them so you tap those unused
calories.
How They’re Measured

Your doctor may give you a common test called a lipid panel. It checks for different types
of cholesterol, including the levels of the "good" kind and the "bad" kind. The American
Heart Association recommends that everyone 21 and older get a lipid panel at least every
5 years.
The levels are checked after an overnight fast. Fat from a recent meal can muddy the
picture.
These tests are important because you rarely have any symptoms when your triglycerides
are high, unlike with many other conditions.
WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by Carol DerSarkissian on September 01, 2016
Sources

SOURCES:
American Heart Association: "Triglycerides,” "Women, Heart Disease and Stroke."
Mayo Clinic, “Triglycerides: Why do they matter?”
American College of Cardiology, “High Triglycerides.”
Sarwar, N. Circulation, 2007.
Third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on
detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (Adult Treatment
Panel III). Circulation, 2002.
AstraZeneca.
© 2016 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
What Are Normal and High Levels?

The National Cholesterol Education Program sets guidelines for triglyceride levels:
  Normal levels: Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter
 Borderline high:150 to 199
 High: 200 to 499
 Very high: 500 or more

Elevated levels may lead to heart disease, especially in people with low levels of "good"
cholesterol and high levels of "bad" cholesterol. The same is true if you have type 2
diabetes.
Experts once debated how important triglycerides are, but it now seems clear that higher
levels are linked to problems such as heart disease.
One thing is clear, though: A good diet and exercise plan can lower triglyceride levels,
improve cholesterol, and decrease the chance of heart disease.
At-home Treatments

The main way to deal with high triglycerides is to eat better and get more exercise. Here
are some guidelines to help you manage your level:
Moderate exercise: Try to exercise 5 or more days each week. Talk to your doctor before
you begin any exercise plan.
Watch your weight: If you’re carrying extra pounds, losing 5% to 10% of your weight can
lower triglycerides. People with a healthy weight are more likely to have normal levels.
Belly fat is associated with higher numbers.
Eat less bad fat: Try to lower the saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol in your diet.
Cutting back on carbohydrates will help, too.
Drink less alcohol: Beer, wine, and liquor can raise levels. Some studies show that more
than 1 drink a day for women or 2 for men can increase levels by a lot.
Go fish: Mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon are high in
omega-3s, a fat that’s good for you. It may be hard to get enough omega-3s from food.
Your doctor may recommend a supplement or prescription.
Medicine

For some people, good habits may not be enough. Medication might be needed. The
decision for you and your doctor can be complicated because other health conditions are
usually involved. Several types of medicine can improve levels. They include:
 Fibrates (Lopid, Fibricor, and Tricor)
 Nicotinic acid (Niaspan)
 High doses of omega-3s are needed to lower triglycerides and should be taken only
under a doctor's care. Epanova, Lovaza, and Vascepa are prescription forms of
omega-3s.
Your doctor may also prescribe a class of drugs called “statins” that lower cholesterol.
Examples include: atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor).
You may feel side effects from these drugs. Be sure to talk it over with your doctor or
pharmacist