People with hypertriglyceridemia significantly increase the risk of developing serious pathologies that no one wants to face at any age. But the reality is that more and more people hear this term from a doctor. What is characterized by the disease, how to detect and prevent it in time, not everyone knows. The recipe in most cases is simple: you need to carefully look at your body, maintain a healthy lifestyle and regularly take tests for the level of triglycerides in the blood. This article describes hypertriglyceridemia. What it is? About it further.
Description of the disease
A high concentration of triglycerides in human blood is called hypertriglyceridemia and occurs in almost every twentieth, especially among older people.
Triglycerides are one of the many types of fats in our body that is responsible for the functioning of the energy reserves of the subcutaneous layer. Most of these fats are deposited in the fat layer, but some of them are also present in the blood flow and provide the muscles and the whole body with the necessary energy. The level of triglycerides is unstable and naturally rises after a meal, when the body actively converts the currently unnecessary energy into fat stores. When consumed fats do not have time to be converted into energy between meals, the level of triglycerides increases markedly and with prolonged exposure to high values can cause serious harm to health.
A blood test for a high or low concentration of triglycerides is an important point in the prevention of diseases, as it allows you to identify what is happening inside the dangerous processes in the early stages of their development.
Is hypertriglyceridemia dangerous? What is it - a disease or a variant of the norm?
Normal triglycerides
It is optimal when the triglycerides in the blood do not exceed the level of 150 mg / dl (1.7 mmol / l). An indicator of the level of fats up to 300 mg / dl is considered to be elevated and signals about possible violations in the organization of the diet and the presence of excess weight in the patient. A concentration of triglycerides in the blood of more than 300 mg / dl indicates serious and dangerous processes that have already begun in the human body, which must be prevented immediately.
What happens in the blood?
With hypertriglyceridemia in the blood, the concentration of triglycerides in the form of very low density lipoproteins increases.
They begin to settle on the walls of arteries and blood vessels, deposited on them in fat reserves, gradually narrowing the arteries and thereby increasing the risk of developing cancer and other diseases.
Long-term presence of a large number of triglycerides in the circulatory system leads to more serious and serious consequences: heart attack or stroke. The process becomes irreversible, because fats continue to reduce the elasticity and internal volume of the vessel, causing a slowdown and complete suspension of blood flow to tissues and organs.
When is it necessary to be examined?
If a person is diagnosed with hypertriglyceridemia, what is it and how is it manifested? About it further.
It is necessary to check for a high content of fat in the blood when a general blood test recorded any deviation from the norm. An additional study on the concentration of triglycerides is prescribed both separately and together with the test for total cholesterol or as part of a lipid profile. The latter is recommended to be taken every five years to all adults from twenty years.
It is especially important to check the concentration of triglycerides for diabetics, since fluctuations in sugar levels greatly increase the rate of triglycerides. At risk are people with other chronic diseases. If in the family at least one of the relatives at a young age had elevated cholesterol or cardiovascular disease, then the first analysis is recommended to be taken at the age of two to ten years. Also, in case of any doubt or observation of causeless changes in body functions, you should make an appointment with a specialist as soon as possible.
Impact on the result of the study
So, it is already known that with hypertriglyceridemia in the blood, the concentration of fats in the blood increases.
A lot of things affect the result of a blood test, so you need to prepare in advance for passing the test. Triglycerides remain significantly elevated (up to 5-10 times higher than normal) even several hours after eating or drinking alcohol, so at least 9-10 hours should pass from the last meal at the time of testing. Often, blood counts taken on an empty stomach and at different times of the day can vary, and in some people the level of triglycerides can change by 40% during the month. Therefore, a single check does not always reflect the true picture of the degree of presence of triglycerides; accordingly, it is better to retake the blood additionally.
Endogenous and exogenous type of disease
A common question today is: endogenous hypertriglyceridemia - what is it? What is the difference from an exogenous type of disease?
Triglycerides that enter the human body from the outside, namely with food, are called exogenous. Endogenous triglycerides are called when they are formed as a result of metabolism, that is, there is a resynthesis in the body.
Endogenous hypertriglyceridemia is considered with a significant increase in the concentration of neutral fats in the blood under the influence of internal causes.
Exogenous hypertriglyceridemia is a condition in which triglycerides are elevated due to malnutrition.
Symptoms of the disease
The disease proceeds without visible sensations and symptoms, so it is extremely difficult to make such a diagnosis on your own. Concomitant ailments can be marked visual impairment, heaviness in the right side, enlarged liver, irritability and fatigue, frequent headaches, and abdominal pain. Xanthomas, which are intracellular accumulations of fat, often appear on the face and skin of the patient. But these symptoms can also be manifestations of completely different diseases.
Hypertriglyceridemia without deliberate treatment or deliberate non-compliance with doctor's recommendations is sometimes complicated by other ailments: obesity, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, diabetes, cirrhosis and hepatitis, atherosclerosis.
The most dangerous complication of pancreatitis with severe hypertriglyceridemia is inflammation of the pancreas. Its acute form is accompanied by sudden and cutting pains in the abdomen, complete loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and high fever. Pancreatitis often leads to pancreatic necrosis, necrosis of part or all of the pancreas as a result of self-digestion by digestive enzymes.
In order to prevent an aggravation of the situation, complications and exacerbation of concomitant diseases, it is necessary to regularly visit the clinic, take the necessary tests and carefully monitor the pain and ailments that arise.
Hypertriglyceridemia: Causes
The optimal level of triglycerides in the blood directly depends on the age and gender of the person. The boundaries of the norm rise in values every five-year period, with female indicators initially slightly higher than male ones. High triglyceride levels in blood plasma contribute to many factors:
- Age (mainly men from 45 years old and women from 55 years old).
- Hypertension.
- The presence of chronic and acute health problems (especially diabetes mellitus, insufficiently active thyroid gland, kidney diseases).
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- The predominance of fatty foods in the diet, overeating.
- Passive lifestyle.
- Smoking.
- Third trimester of pregnancy.
- Taking certain medications (birth control pills, estrogen, steroids, diuretics, and many others).
- A large number of stressful situations.
- Heredity.
When triglycerides are lowered
We examined a disease such as hypertriglyceridemia. Symptoms are described. And what if triglycerides in the blood are lowered?
A triglyceride index of less than 50 mg is also considered a deviation from the norm, but does not have such severe consequences, in contrast to a high concentration. A reduced level of triglycerides indicates an unsaturated, unbalanced and malnutrition, excessive intense physical exertion, the presence of diseases and infections that are not fully treated. The constant consumption of vitamin C reduces this indicator. For a quick and successful increase in triglycerides, it is necessary to temporarily stop taking ascorbic acid, establish good nutrition, reduce physical activity, and visit a doctor to detect possible infections that occur in a latent form.
Hypertriglyceridemia: treatment
Patient treatment is possible with and without medication. The use of drugs is prescribed for severe forms of the disease and begins with minimal doses of one drug. Among these medicines are fibrates, nicotinic acids, prescription cod liver oil and statins, which, through other substances or organs of the body, block the increase in triglyceride concentration and lower their level. In the absence of a positive effect, the dosage is increased or complex treatment is prescribed. It is dangerous to take drugs without consulting a doctor, as ignorance and bias can lead to various kinds of complications or irreversible side effects.
Non-drug treatment involves a set of measures that include diet, therapy of concomitant diseases that increase the level of triglycerides in the blood, strictly defined physical activity and constant monitoring of weight gain and weight loss. All responsibility for the fight against fats lies entirely with the patient.
Correct diet
The diet for hypertriglyceridemia provides about 1,400 calories per day and allows the patient to lose weight up to 2-3 kilograms per month. In this case, you need to eat often, but in small portions, mainly in the morning, excluding meals before bedtime or at night. In no case should you make yourself any indulgences and deviate from the strict menu.
Bread and pasta products should be consumed as little as possible, and the main attention should be paid to products from coarse flour, bran, rich in dietary fiber and assimilated much more slowly, thereby reducing the concentration of triglycerides.
It is better to cross out any sweets immediately and irrevocably from the diet, including desserts, cakes, ice cream, caramel, jam, honey, juices and soda with a high sugar content. Even fructose-rich fruits, especially tropical ones, must be hidden until better times, giving preference to vegetable fiber, which is contained in sufficient quantities in legumes.
Instead of butter, sausages, sausages, brisket, lard, pork saturated with animal fats, there should be unsaturated, more nutritious and healthy fats on the table. Fish filled with omega-3 fatty acids necessary for this disease should be consumed at least 4 times a week, without denying itself the variety of its types. Tuna, salmon, mackerel, anchovies and sardines are especially welcome.
At the time of treatment, the analogue of fatty sauces, mayonnaise or vegetable oil will be extra virgin olive oil, which contains a large number of useful elements that can reduce the risk of developing cancer.
It is recommended to add salt to food no more than a daily dose (one teaspoon), and use a non-nutritive sweetener instead of refined sugar.
Water in the diet takes almost the first place, since it is allowed in an unlimited volume both during meals and during the day. Less often you should pay attention to unsweetened fruit compotes, and alcohol is contraindicated in any quantities, since even a glass of wine can significantly increase the level of fat in the body, especially in people who are sensitive to alcohol. Tea and coffee are permitted in moderation and when using low-calorie sweeteners. Unconditional quitting of smoking or other narcotic drugs is also necessary. All this requires hypertriglyceridemia. What is it described above.
Triglycerides: a reason to lose weight
In the absence of chronic diseases, a high concentration of triglycerides in the body suggests the presence of excess weight, much higher than normal. The reason for the extra pounds lies in an unbalanced diet, the so-called junk food and lack of physical activity. A return to the initial mass will entail the normalization of the functioning of fats: they will be completely processed into energy, which will affect the simultaneous decrease in subcutaneous reserves and the concentration of triglycerides in the blood.
A predominantly non-nutritive and perfectly selected menu for each meal will significantly limit the amount of triglycerides received, because 90% of the fat is delivered to the body along with the food we consume and only 10% is produced by internal organs. This will also lead to a decrease in triglycerides produced by the body. It is also worth remembering that some foods stimulate their production by the liver in larger quantities than others, so it is important not to neglect the instructions and recommendations of a nutritionist and gastroenterologist. Especially if there is pancreatitis with hypertriglyceridemia.
Downgrade result
Only consistent compliance with all the recommendations in the aggregate will help to defeat the disease quickly and without complications. Diet, measured physical activity, a healthy lifestyle for about 4-6 weeks lead to a significant, fifty-percent decrease in the level of triglycerides in the blood. Then hypertriglyceridemia will pass.
Diagnosis, treatment should be timely.
However, it is dangerous to self-medicate, since this disease does not have pronounced symptoms, and it is possible to determine the level of triglycerides only in special laboratory conditions. Moreover, hypertriglyceridemia can occur under the influence of serious diseases. Also, the doctor will help in the individual selection of a therapeutic action program and the preparation of a daily diet. With a significant and very high concentration of these fats in the blood, consultation with a doctor is mandatory, since it is possible that treatment with drugs and in-patient monitoring will be required.
We examined in detail such a disease as hypertriglyceridemia. What is it (symptoms, treatment described in the article) is now clear, accordingly, to prevent the onset of the disease will be much easier.