High triglycerides and low HDL
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PrintIf you are over the age of 20, you should have your cholesterol checked at least every 5 years. This test should be done after you have been fasting (nothing to eat) for 12 hours, to get accurate results.
If you have had elevated cholesterol and are making changes to your diet or with medications, it is important to know, that you should not have your cholesterol repeated sooner than 3-4 months after a change. It takes this long to see the changes happen in your values.
Let's learn more about what it means to have a high level of triglycerides and low HDL.
Triglycerides are a form of bad cholesterol. The goal should be to keep this value less than 150. Over 200 is considered high and over 500 is very high.
HDL is Healthy cholesterol. It binds to some of the bad and takes it out of your system. The higher we can get this value the better. Your goal should be to have HDL over 60 if at all possible, at the very least, it needs to be above 40.
Triglycerides and HDL tend to be inversely proportionate. So when you have high triglycerides, that means your HDL are usually low. First you need to get your triglycerides down, and then work on your HDL.
Common causes of high triglycerides:
- overweight/obesity
- physical inactivity
- cigarette smoking
- excess alcohol intake
- high carbohydrate diet
- type 2 diabetes and renal failure
- some medications like corticosteroids, estrogens, beta blockers
- genetic factors
Common causes of low HDL:
- high triglycerides
- overweight/obesity
- physical inactivity
- cigarette smoking
- high carbohydrate diet
- type 2 diabetes
- medications: beta blockers, anabolic steroids, progestational agents
- genetic factors
Changes to make:
- begin some physical activity, like walking
- decrease calorie intake to lose weight
- avoid refined grains, choose high fiber carbohydrates
- limit simple sugars (like candy)
- increase fruits and vegetables
- choose canola, olive and peanut oils
- avoid trans fat (fried foods, processed foods, commercially prepared baked goods)
- add omega 3 fatty acides like fish, flax and nuts to your diet
- limit alcohol intake
- stop smoking
Medications that may be considered:
Fenofibrates: tricor, lofibra, antara will lower LDL, triglycerides and raise HDL
Niacin: immediate and slow release, can be found over the counter and also as niaspan. will lower LDL, Triglycerides and raise HDL
Omega 3 fatty acids: fish oil over the counter or lovaza. 2-4 g of EPA and DHA to lower triglycerides
