Triglycerides are a different blood fat from cholesterol. What a high level means and what brings it down.

Your triglycerides are high

What this result means

Triglycerides are a blood fat, but they are not cholesterol. They are the form your body uses to store spare energy, so they go up when you take in more than you burn, and they respond very quickly to what you have eaten and drunk recently.

Because of that, a single high reading often does not mean much. A meal or a few drinks in the 12 hours before the test can push the number up a long way. That is why the first step is usually to repeat it properly rather than to treat it.

A high level matters for two reasons. Over time it adds to your risk of a heart attack or stroke. And if it goes very high, it can inflame the pancreas, which is why we do not ignore a big number.

What we have done

Your text message says which of these applies to you.

Repeat the test, fasting

The commonest next step. Nothing to eat for 10 to 14 hours beforehand: water and your usual tablets are fine. No alcohol for 3 days before. Book it 1 to 2 weeks from now. A properly fasted result tells us what we are actually dealing with.

Check for a cause we can treat

The usual culprits are alcohol, blood sugar that is running high, an underactive thyroid, weight gain, and occasionally another medicine. We have requested the tests for these. Treating the cause often fixes the triglycerides without a tablet aimed at them.

Refer you to a specialist

For very high levels, or levels that stay high after the causes have been dealt with, a lipid specialist takes over. They will write to you with an appointment.

What brings triglycerides down

These work well, and they work faster than they do for cholesterol. Many people bring the number down a long way without any tablet aimed at it.

Cut alcohol right down. This is the single biggest lever for most people, and the effect shows within weeks.
Cut sugary drinks, fruit juice and sweet things. Triglycerides respond to sugar more than to fat.
Cut refined carbohydrate: white bread, white rice, pastry, crisps.
Eat oily fish twice a week: salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring.
Lose a little weight if you are above a healthy one. Even a few kilos helps.
Move more. Aim for 150 minutes a week that leaves you a bit out of breath.
If you have diabetes, getting your blood sugar under control brings triglycerides down with it.

When to contact us

Contact the practice the same day if you get severe pain in the upper part of your tummy, especially if it goes through to your back and comes with vomiting. If the pain is severe, go to A&E or call 999.

Otherwise contact us if you are not sure which of the plans above applies to you, or you cannot get a fasting appointment.

More information

HEART UKTriglycerides: what they are and how to lower themchmg.co.uk/heartuk-triglycerides - opens their website NHS.UKHigh cholesterol: causes, tests and treatmentchmg.co.uk/nhs-cholesterol - opens their website

Emergency? Chest pain at rest, or sudden face, arm or speech changes: call 999. Otherwise contact the practice.