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Not an actual patient.
Triglycerides (TGs) are a type of fat your body uses to store energy.
TGs play an important role in your body, but when levels are too high, they can raise your risk for certain health problems like pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a painful inflammation of the pancreas that can be sudden and dangerous. That’s why doctors check your TGs along with other fats like cholesterol through a blood test called a lipid panel or lipid profile.
This is considered to be a healthy range of TGs in the blood.
This level is considered elevated or high.
Having high TGs can raise your risk of heart disease and can contribute to conditions such as fatty liver disease.
This level of TGs is considered very high. Your doctor may refer to it as severe hypertriglyceridemia.
Having very high TGs can greatly increase your risk of pancreatitis and heart disease and can contribute to conditions like fatty liver disease.
TGs above 880 mg/dL may possibly be related to a rare genetic condition called familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) that can cause TGs to be 10 to 100 times above typical levels.
Very high TGs don’t just raise your risk for serious health problems, they can also affect how you feel every day. While not everyone with very high TGs notices symptoms, some have reported changes that affected their mood, energy, and overall well-being.
Some people living with very high TGs may not notice any symptoms. But not having symptoms doesn’t mean everything is fine. Managing your TGs is important to help reduce the risk of serious health problems.
Inspired by an actual person living with very high TGs.I want to be at my best for everyone, including myself.
Actor portrayal. Not an actual patient.
If you have very high TGs (500 mg/dL or above), it’s really important to work with your healthcare team to make a plan. Bring this guide to your next appointment to help you ask the right questions and make the most of your conversation.
Very high TGs are typically caused by a combination of many factors and differ from person to person. Finding what's behind your very high TGs can help you and your doctor better manage your TG levels with appropriate lifestyle changes and medications.
Very high TGs can be caused by:
Some health conditions that can cause very high TGs:
Common medications that may raise your TGs:
For some people, genetics may partly explain why they have extremely high TGs. Some genetic causes for extremely high triglycerides include:
Even if extremely high TGs are caused by genetics, eating healthy, being active, and taking prescribed medications are still important for managing TGs.
FCS is a rare genetic condition that can cause TGs to be above 880 mg/dL, 10 to 100 times above the typical levels.
Find out how you and your doctor can work together to manage your TGs and improve your overall health.
