Everyone who cares about their health needs to monitor not only blood pressure and hemoglobin parameters, but also control the amount of TG in the blood. Triglycerides are elevated, which means, and much more - the information that is presented below.
Material Content:
What triglycerides show in a blood test
Triglycerides, or trig in other words, are a type of fat derived from foods that are then converted into energy. An increase in their level in the analyzes may not indicate cardiac ailments, but often indicates a decrease in blood flow to the heart muscle, and this causes serious diseases in the body.
Very often people with high cholesterol levels and high triglycerides.
A blood test is done for:
- determining the total amount of cholesterol in the blood;
- TG, LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol);
- prevention of the development of CVD diseases and atherosclerosis;
- determination of blood sugar in diabetes.
Fats in the veins and arteries are part of the lipid profile, showing the absence or presence of heart disease. Triglycerides during blood tests can show the possible development of hypertension, ischemia, heart attack and other serious ailments.
Important: for timely assistance to your body, adults need to donate blood for TG once every 4-6 years. And for children under 10 years of age once, which will make it possible to determine the presence of congenital pathologies.
The appointment for a blood test is also done to determine the effectiveness of treatment with drugs that are used to lower the glycerol level.
Diagnostics
Blood for this analysis is taken from a vein, and before delivery it is forbidden to take food for 8-12 hours.This is explained by the fact that food that has recently entered the body will lead to incorrect indicators, since it affects the level of lipids.
There are 4 types of deviations from the norm, depending on the degree of risk:
- Up to 1.7 Mmol / L indicates a minor risk of developing cardiovascular ailments.
- 1.7-2.2 - the average level of risk.
- 2,3-5,6 - already speaks of a high probability.
- And more than 5.6 Mmol / L - it is necessary to immediately begin treatment measures to reduce the level of TG.
You can also see the level of triglycerides in the lipid profile, which shows the amount of cholesterol, HDL and LDL.
Why are TGs elevated and lowered?
Elevated triglycerides in a blood test can indicate the following serious diseases:
- diabetes mellitus (poorly controlled);
- renal ailments and liver (cirrhosis and others);
- hypothyroidism.
Increased rates are quite possible with a genetic predisposition, when an excessive amount of TG is produced in the body. Another problem arises when taking medicines - diuretics, beta-blockers or birth control.
Alcohol also influences the blood test in a certain way, during the intake of which a greater amount of fatty acids is produced in the liver. But with moderate consumption of such drinks, the level of TG reduces the risk of developing heart ailments.
There are certain categories of people who are more likely to have an increase in triglycerides:
- Overweight.
- Pregnant women and women taking estrogen or HRT.
- If a heart ailment appeared before the age of 50.
At the same time, lower indicators can indicate health disorders such as thyroid disease, cerebral infarction, pulmonary ailments and improper functioning of intestinal absorption.
TG norms for children, men and women
Most biochemical parameters, including TG, are influenced by human gender and years lived. For example, in women, every 5 years, the level of triglycerides increases, while after 45 years this process is faster. Therefore, for women it is important to have these indicators slightly lower than in men.
These are the standards of triglycerides in women should be at certain intervals of life:
- at the age of 15 to 20 years - a minimum of 0.41 mmol / l, a maximum of 1.54;
- from 21 to 25 - from 0.43 to 1.58;
- from 26 years to 30 - 0.43-1.62;
- from 31 years to 35 - up to 1.64;
- from 36 years to 40 - from 0.45 to 1.69;
- from 41 years to 45 years - from 0.46 to 2.00;
- from 46 years to 50 - 0.49-2.15;
- from 51 years to 55 years - 0.52-2.43;
- from 56 years to 60 - 0.58-2.64;
- from 61 to 65, from 0.64 to 2.68;
- from 66 years and older - up to 2.70.
During pregnancy, increases in TG occur periodically, due to hormonal changes in the body. After childbirth, this level returns to normal.
Representatives of a strong half of humanity have higher rates, and change the same way as women do every 5 years.
In men, the triglyceride norms are as follows:
- from 15 years old to 20 - from 0.44 mmol / l to 1.80;
- from 21 to 25 years old - a minimum of 0.51 and a maximum of 2.28;
- from 26 to 30 - from 0.53 to 2.80;
- from the age of 31 to 35 - 0.57-3.00;
- from 36 years to 40 - from 0.63 to 3.60;
- from 41 to 45 to 3.62;
- from 46 years to 50 - from 0.66 to 3.70;
- from 51 to 55 - up to 3.60;
- from 56 to 60 years old - 0.64-3.24;
- from 61 years to 65 - up to 3.28;
- from 66 years to 70 - up to 2.90.
With an increased amount of TG tenfold in relation to the acceptable values, we can talk about a hereditary pathology - primary triglyceridemia.
For children, these indicators are as follows - in the first month from 0.20 Mmol / L and up to 0.87, up to 1 year from 0.38 to 0.94.
Then, in girls and boys, these norms begin to differ:
- from 1 year to 10 years for boys - 0.35-1.13; girls - 0.41-1.24;
- from 11 years to 15 in boys - 0.37-1.41; girls - 0.40-1.48.
Often the level of TG in childhood exceeds the established norms and there are explanations for this:
- Excessive body weight due to the presence of a large amount of fat in the diet, lack of physical activity and congenital lipid metabolism.
- The presence of thyroid pathologies.
- Diagnosed Down Syndrome.
If, when passing the tests, the baby revealed an excess of TG norms, a thorough examination of the body will be required. At the same time, the usual diet should be changed, excluding all fatty, floury and sweet foods (confectionery).
With such problems, a blood test will need to be taken every month.And even if the pediatrician did not pay due attention to the inflated results, the parent should be on the alert. After all, prevention is better than treatment.
How to lower TG in the blood
To reduce the overestimated levels of triglycerides, it is necessary to change the attitude to nutrition, do your physical improvement and apply medication if necessary, including folk remedies.
Diet for elevated TG
First of all, you need to reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, bakery products and pastry shops. With an acute desire to eat something sweet, give preference to fruits.
Stop eating fast foods and convenience foods, butter, pork fat and red meat. Replace it with fish, seafood, white meat, nuts, legumes, vegetable oils, and cereals cooked on water.
Important: fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which support the required amount of triglycerides in the body.
It is necessary to limit the use of egg yolks and whole milk products because of their high cholesterol content. Focus on fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Lifestyle
Get rid of bad habits, including alcohol, drinking it in limited quantities. And some people will need to completely exclude him from their lives.
Start physical development by signing up to your nearest fitness club. You can take walks or bike rides in the fresh air, or choose for yourself any other type of physical activity. To normalize the level of TG, it is enough to give these exercises daily for 20-30 minutes.
Pharmacy preparations
To understand whether you need the use of medicines, you will need to visit a doctor and consult with him. After all, you are unlikely to be able to decipher the results of the analysis yourself, and even more so to prescribe yourself treatment.
There are certain drugs that contribute to the normalization of TG levels in the blood. These include fibrates (lopid, fenofibrate, and treicor), nicotinic acid, and drugs that contain many omega-3 fatty acids.
ethnoscience
Traditional healers offer very simple, but effective methods of reducing these indicators in the blood:
- soak 200 g of beans in water and leave overnight. Boil in the morning, adding salt for taste, use a little during the day. Course - 1 month;
- beneficial effect on health and the flax seed added to food (in crushed form);
- consuming 3 times a day for a small spoonful of linden flowers (powder), TG indicators will also return to normal.
Before you start using any folk remedy to solve such a health problem, consult a specialist. After all, each of them is rich in active elements that can cause an allergic reaction or complication with illiterate use.
Prevention
The best way to protect yourself from the development of any pathologies in the body is prevention.
In order for the level of triglycerides to be always normal, the implementation of elementary rules will be required:
- Lead a healthy lifestyle, getting rid of bad habits and adding regular moderate physical activity.
- Eat natural and quality foods.
- Drink pure water, mineral and various teas (weak), forever forgetting about sweet soda and powder juices.
Try to spend your free time in the fresh air, preferably actively - cycling, rollerblading, hiking, swimming, skiing and ice skating in the winter season.
Take care of your body and you will always feel great and look good. Health to you and your loved ones!