Reasons for High Triglycerides

Triglycerides are a form of fat in your blood. They are stored in your cells until needed for energy. Triglycerides are measured when you have a fasting blood test for cholesterol. A consistently high level of triglycerides may lead to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). This increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

Diabetes

• If you are diabetic, you may have difficulty with high triglycerides. Although they can cause heart disease in anyone, you are at risk for more damage and a faster progression of the disease. Diabetics are also prone to low HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol, which is the "good" cholesterol. In addition the LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol, which is the "bad" cholesterol particles can be more damaging to your cardiovascular system due to their smaller size and greater density.

Obesity

• If you are overweight, you may have a poor balance of cholesterol. While your triglycerides and LDL are at high levels, your HDL is most likely too low. According to the American Heart Association, if your diet consists of 60 percent or more carbohydrates out of your total calorie count, you probably have high triglycerides. With that percentage of carbohydrates, there is a good chance that you are also obese.

Medical Conditions

• Certain medical conditions can cause high triglycerides. Hypothyroidism is when you have an under active thyroid, which makes your metabolism slow. Kidney disease may also cause you to have high triglycerides. Fatty liver disease is often tied to high triglycerides. Your liver converts fats for your body to use. An increased accumulation of fats in your liver cells, which are mostly triglycerides, results in this disease.

Genetic

• There is a group of genetic disorders called familial hypertriglyceridemia, which can cause high triglycerides. These rare disorders may also result in chronic or acute pancreatitis. These conditions, which cause an abnormal balance of triglycerides, HDL and LDL, are hereditary.

Medications

• Some medications can result in high triglycerides. They include oral contraceptives, estrogen replacement, diuretics, beta-blockers, some steroids, cyclosporine, progesterone, glucocorticoids, retinoids, tamoxifen and some of the newer types of anti-psycotic drugs. These drugs may also affect the balance of your HDL and LDL.

Symptoms

• In many cases, particularly if the levels are mild, there are no symptoms of high triglycerides. However, symptoms can include appetite loss, abdominal pain, itching, fever, nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis and xanthomas, which are deposits of fat under your skin.

Warning

• Having high triglycerides can be a very serious condition. Your doctor can monitor your level and assist you with changes to your diet to try to control them. Complications that can occur from high triglycerides include blood clots in your arteries, heart attack, stroke, an inflammatory response and atherosclerosis.