Lowering Triglycerides: An Overview
When results of a lipid panel (or other tests that measure
triglycerides) come back high for triglycerides, the healthcare provider will first make sure that the person fasted prior to the test, since triglyceride levels increase after a meal. The healthcare provider may also recommend that the person be retested. If the second fasting test also comes back high, the doctor will consider several factors before recommending treatment for lowering triglycerides. Some of these factors include a person's:
- Triglyceride level
- HDL level
- Weight
- Diet
- Daily alcohol usage
- Other medical conditions
- Current medications.
The main goal of treatment is to lower your triglyceride levels enough to reduce your risk of developing
heart disease or having a
heart attack. For people with
high triglycerides and low HDL, treatment will be more aggressive; both of these factors significantly increase a person's chance for developing heart disease.
Depending on a person's particular situation, options for lowering triglycerides can include:
- Getting medical conditions under control
- Switching medications that are known to cause high triglycerides.
Lifestyle changes may also be recommended for lowering triglycerides. These can include:
- Losing weight
- Changing your diet
- Reducing or stopping the use of alcohol
- Exercising.
People with high triglycerides also tend to respond well to a fish or
fish oil diet. For most people, these steps will lower triglycerides to a normal level. If these steps are not effective in lowering triglycerides, your healthcare provider may recommend medications.
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