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Definitions
Triglyceridesare lipids or fats.
They are, in part, what helps you sustain energy throughout the day.
They may also freely circulate in the bloodstream when introduced.
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Levels are measured in milligram per deciliter (mg/dL).
These choices are often the main causes of increased levels.
Smoking Cigarettes
Smoking has a complex effect on triglycerides.
It may cause insulin resistance, a condition in which your body doesn’t respond to insulin.
While insulin is more closely associated with glucose metabolism, it also helps break down triglycerides.
Therefore if insulin response is decreased, it can result in elevated levels of triglycerides.
Being Overweight
Some excess calories get converted to triglycerides and then stored in fat cells.
This acts as your body’s reserves or energy storage it can call upon when needed.
Other triglycerides circulate in the bloodstream.
Being overweight also alters your metabolic function, which affects how triglycerides are processed by the body.
Lack of Exercise
Exercise uses energy.
Stored and circulating triglycerides are broken down and used for this purpose.
When you don’t use much energy, the triglycerides remain in the blood, leading to higher-than-normal levels.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Physical activity helps lower your triglycerides.
Studies have shown that consuming alcohol can adversely affect your lipid levels in incremental amounts.
Alcohol consumption affects triglyceride levels through its impact on the liver and pancreas, according to experts.
Several medical conditions are associated with elevated lipids, including triglycerides.
These illnesses may have a variety of other symptoms as well.
Medications
Certain medications can affect your lipid metabolism, resulting in high triglyceride levels.
There are a number of different categories of medications associated with this side effect.
Do not stop taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
Summary
There are multiple risk factors that can cause an increase in triglycerides and other lipids.
These include lifestyle factors, health conditions, genetics, and medications.
Triglycerides can be high on their own or in combination with high cholesterol.
Parhofer KG, Laufs U.The diagnosis and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.Dtsch Arztebl Int.
2015;64 Suppl 3:S341-54.
Inactivity induces resistance to the metabolic benefits following acute exercise.J Appl Physiol.
2019;126(4):1088-1094. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00968.2018
