Introduction:

Monitoring not only your blood pressure and cholesterol levels but also your triglyceride levels are important for maintaining heart health.

You might believe that these two phrases are interchangeable because a triglyceride test frequently measures these levels. They are not, and being aware of the distinctions could help you maintain good heart health.

What are triglycerides?

Our blood contains a specific type of lipid (fat) called triglycerides. When you eat, your body turns any calories into triglycerides that it does not immediately need. The fat cells are where these triglycerides are kept. Triglycerides are later released by the hormones to provide energy between meals.

If someone consumes more calories than they can burn, they may get hypertriglyceridemia, which is characterised by elevated triglyceride levels.

Difference between cholesterol and triglyceride: 

One of the most prevalent risk factors for cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke is high triglyceride levels. It can lead to pancreatitis and is frequently a sign of various metabolic illnesses like thyroid disorders, fatty liver disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

Increased triglycerides can also be a side effect of certain drugs, such as hormone replacement treatment, high-sugar diets, and excessive alcohol usage.

Fat substances harden and constrict blood vessels in these situations. Atherosclerosis is what this is known as, and it can cause heart disease. This, when coupled with other risk factors — high cholesterol, high blood glucose, high blood pressure, and obesity — further elevates the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Such increased levels also interfere with the body's natural blood-clotting mechanism — and a blood clot could lead to a heart attack or a stroke.

Why is it crucial for the heart and other organs to monitor the triglyceride level?

It is important to keep an eye on triglyceride levels because they can cause trouble with other organs including heart problems. Examine the numerous effects that having high triglycerides have on other organs.

Heart 

Triglyceride levels begin to build up in arteries when they go above the typical range. Arteriosclerosis, a disorder marked by the thickening and hardness of arterial walls, develops if this continues over an extended period. It raises the chance of developing heart conditions, such as heart attacks and strokes.

Pancreas

Pancreatic inflammation results from triglyceride levels that are extremely high (over 500 mg/dL). Patients have pancreatitis, a disorder in which the digestive enzymes within the pancreas get activated and begin obliterating interior cells. In this medical condition, patients have intense abdominal pain that radiates to the back, as well as nausea, vomiting, fever, and tenderness in the abdomen.

Liver

Patients who have excessive triglycerides are more likely to get fatty liver disease. All human organs, including the liver, accumulate lipids as a result of unhealthy lifestyles and may cause lipid disorders. Although fatty liver might not initially show any symptoms, it has the potential to develop serious side effects like cirrhosis and irreversible liver damage.

Diabetes type 2

High triglyceride patients are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus. Here, the body develops insulin resistance (a hormone regulating the glucose level in blood circulation). Over time, the pancreas stops producing enough insulin, which prevents the cells from using glucose.

Other things to know about Triglycerides?

Your triglyceride levels are significantly influenced by your food. Alcohol consumption and a high-fat diet are two prominent causes of elevated triglycerides. People with high triglycerides are advised to drink alcohol in moderation or, in some situations, not at all. Alcohol's high calorie and sugar content makes it particularly likely to harm triglycerides.

Even with a healthy lifestyle, elevated triglycerides are still possible. Triglyceride levels can be reduced by living a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise, much like cholesterol levels. Nevertheless, if you have a hereditary predisposition to having high triglycerides, even this may not be sufficient to bring your levels into a healthy range. Triglycerides can be overproduced by the liver,

Triglyceride levels may be impacted by diabetes. High triglycerides and high blood sugar are related. "Metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes are related with triglyceride and blood sugar rises. Metabolic syndrome, which raises your risk for heart disease and stroke, is when three or more of the five disorders high blood pressure, high blood sugar, extra body fat around the middle, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides co-occur.

High triglyceride levels can also indicate various health problems. Obesity, low thyroid hormone, and liver or kidney issues, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a primary cause of liver failure, can all be associated with high triglycerides.