My Views on High Triglyceride levels.
I believe most of us make a big fuss and worry about high triglyceride levels—setting alarm bells ringing in us. Consider the possible scenario. You just had a health check-up. All your health parameters—blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels and creatinine levels–are safe. But the data shows that your triglyceride levels are on the higher side. You go helter and skelter.
However, it should be known that triglyceride levels may vary greatly throughout the day. For example, have a high sugar and fat meal. What do you think will happen? Your triglycerides may turn out to be on the higher side. Likewise, consume alcohol and then check your triglyceride levels. It may again be on the higher side. Also, you would have exacerbated the situation by consuming fried foods while consuming alcohol. Generally, people while drinking alcohol tend to consume junk foods. Alcohol and healthy eating might not go hand in hand.
You can now see that your diet can single handedly play an integral part on your triglyceride levels. So, how can the data that shows high triglyceride levels be vital? Now, let us think the other way around. What if you consumed a healthy meal—complex carbohydrates from whole grains in moderation, fish containing omega fatty acids, and a vegetable salad? Do you think your triglyceride levels would still be high? I believe that may not be the case. Your body will be happy not to produce high levels of triglycerides, for you have not consumed any excess calories. But what if you follow up with eating all the wrong foods, consume alcohol, and don’t exercise? Because you just know that your triglyceride level is fine. To your chagrin, the triglycerides may slightly shoot up. So, we see that triglyceride levels can be volatile, putting you in a dizzy situation. So, don’t attach unnecessary importance to the issue of high triglyceride levels.
All said and done, if high triglyceride levels is caused because of a metabolic syndrome (a name for a group of risk factors that occur together and increase the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes), then it is a cause of concern. But then you see, you also have a lot of other things to worry about–high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, excess weight, and to top it all, lack of exercise.
Making minor changes in your living may help you. Start eating healthy food, eliminate alcohol and smoking. Most importantly, exercise regularly. Perhaps, high triglyceride levels, over a period of time, show a sign that there is some metabolic disturbance in the body. But high triglyceride levels alone without any elevation in other basic health parameters may turn out to be irrelevant. Perhaps, you really don’t have to worry about it. So I would rather suggest that you need to consider the whole picture. Monitor your habits. Keep an eye on other health parameters too.
Last but not the least, high stress levels increase your triglyceride and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels that in turn reduces your HDL (good cholesterol) levels.
PS: Regarding pill-consumption, I have my reservations. They may have serious side effects. One possible affect is that they may reduce your HDL (good cholesterol). More on this at a later entry.