Want a Healthy Heart? Monitor your Triglycerides Levels

KOMPAS.com - If you are aware of the importance of health, it's good to always pay attention and check some indicators such as the number of blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and some other stuff. But there is one more thing you may need to monitor the levels of triglycerides.

Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipids) in the blood. High levels of triglycerides can increase the risk of heart disease. There is no specific way to lower triglyceride levels, but with a healthy lifestyle. So that your overall health to be better.
When you eat, your body will change the calories that are not immediately used into triglycerides. Triglycerides stored in fat cells, and the body will use it as a backup energy when there is no energy intake from food.
If you eat more calories than you burn calories, especially when you eat foods that are high in calories as carbohydrates and fats, then the triglyceride levels will be high. This condition is referred to as hypertriglyceride.
Then how normal triglyceride levels?
Simple blood tests can reveal your triglyceride levels are included in the normal range or not.
- Normal triglyceride levels, which is less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg / dL) atay less than 1.7 millimoles per liter (mmol / L).
- Triglyceride levels near maximum, which is between 150-199 mg / dL or 1.8 to 2.2 mmol / L.
- High levels of triglycerides, which is 200-499 mg / dL or 2.3 to 5.6 mmol / L
- Triglyceride levels are very high, which is more than 500 mg / dL or 5.7 mmol / L.
American Heart Association (AHA) recommends triglyceride levels of 100 mg / dL (1.1 mmol / L) or less is optimal levels. According to the AHA, the optimal triglyceride levels can improve heart health. However, the AHA does not recommend the use of drugs to achieve these levels. Rather, by changing your lifestyle such as diet, weight reduction and physical activity. This is because triglycerides usually respond positively to changes in lifestyle.
Examination of triglyceride levels is part of a cholesterol. Before the examination, you are required to fast for 9-12 hours to obtain an accurate measurement of triglycerides.
What is the difference triglycerides and cholesterol?
Triglycerides and cholesterol are separate types of lipids in the blood circulation. Triglyceride is a form of storage of unused calories and can be used as energy reserves, while cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones. Because triglycerides and cholesterol can not dissolve in the blood, the circulation in the body can help transport lipoproteins.
Sources: http://health.kompas.com/read/2013/02/27/10105933/