What is Hypertriglyceridaemia?

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn't need to use right away into triglycerides. They are stored in your fat cells. Later, hormones release triglycerides for energy in between meals.

However having high triglyceridemia levels (hypertriglyceridemia) means you have too much of this type of fat in your blood, which is not good. Too much fat in the blood can contribute to thickening of the blood vessels of the heart (arteries), which increases the chances of developing stroke, heart attack and heart disease and in extreme cases can cause inflammation to the pancreas.

Mild and moderate hypertriglyceridemia have the triglycerides measurement of 150–999 mg/dL. Severe and very severe hypertriglyceridemia triglycerides have the measurement of > 1000 mg/dL.

Certain genetic variations play a role in triglyceride metabolism (how the body process and converts fat to energy), which can lead to slower triglyceride metabolism. Secondary causes are due to lifestyle and environmental factors, such as, high fat diet, obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and certain medications.

How does high triglyceride levels affect the body?

In both men and women, increasing levels of non-fasting triglyceride significantly increases the risk of heart related complications. For example: heart attack, heart disease, thickening of the walls in the arteries and inflammation of the pancreas.

Symptoms of hypertriglyceridemia