Human blood is consisted of compounds of various kinds which include fats or lipids that are essential for life, if they are present in proper proportion. These fats are further classified as cholesterols, used in building and maintain the cells and hormones of various types, and the triglycerides, used in generating energy for the body. These fats or lipid are useful for our life only if they are present in our body in right proportion otherwise they can lead to heart disease.

Triglycerides are some kind of fats present in our blood and it can be measured in laboratory in terms of level i.e. high triglyceride level or low triglyceride level. Triglycerides are made from the food we eat as well as by our own body. The food we eat gives calories to our body in the form of carbohydrates to get energy for immediate use and the balance calories are stored as triglycerides in fat cells to be used at later stage. The level of triglycerides becomes high if we consume more calories than necessary.

Testing the level of triglyceride

The triglyceride level can be measured in a laboratory by drawing blood from a vein from the back of the hand or the inner portion of the elbow. The spot is cleaned by using antiseptic lotion and a band is tied on the upper portion of the arm to pressurize the area to accumulate the blood in the vein. The needle of syringe is then inserted to draw the desired quantity of blood needed for the test. Then the band is removed from the upper arm and the punctured spot is covered with antiseptic soaked cotton to stop the flow of blood.

You should make your doctor aware of the medicines and drugs you taking as medication of the problem before going for the test of triglyceride level as it may adversely effect the test. You may stop any medication with th3e consent of the doctor in any case. Estrogens, cholestyramine, Beta blockers, certain birth control pills etc. are certain drugs that may increase the triglyceride level. Similarly the use of fish oil, gemfibrozil, nicotinic acid, and statin medications may decrease the triglyceride level in the blood.

High triglyceride levels

The test of triglyceride level is performed to assess LDL cholesterol in the blood which may increase the risk of heart disease. The high triglyceride level may cause atherosclerosis which may lead to stroke or heart attack or inflammation of pancreas. People having high level of triglyceride with diabetes alongwith obesity may also face the risk of heart disease to a great extent. The results of the test can express the level of triglyceride as 150 – 199 mg/dL is considered to be nearing high level whereas 200 – 499 mg/dL and above are above the danger line for heart disease.

Normal triglyceride level

If, the result of testing is below 150 mg/dL, it is considered to be a normal triglyceride level for a healthy heart.