7 risks of high blood fat

High triglycerides can lead to serious health problems. Triglycerides are a special type of fat that is stored as energy for the body to use. It is worth noting that most people only realize they have high or very high triglycerides after a blood test, without knowing that this is quite dangerous for their health.

When you eat fatty foods, most of the fat is in the form of neutral fats called triglycerides, or when you consume too many calories, the calories are also converted into triglycerides and stored inside fat cells. When you have a blood test, triglycerides are checked along with total cholesterol, good cholesterol (HDL), and bad cholesterol (LDL).

Often there are no symptoms of high cholesterol or triglycerides, a condition called hyperlipidemia, so many people may not know they have it. However, triglycerides are considered very high if they are 500 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher. This can lead to a number of signs, including: Increased fatty deposits under the skin called xanthomas, acute pancreatitis, swelling and pain in the liver or spleen, chest pain due to reduced blood supply to the heart, reduced blood supply to the brain causing paralysis, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, severe headaches, and even memory loss. Therefore, high triglycerides can be associated with a range of disease risks:

Pancreatitis: The pancreas is an important organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen. It produces digestive juices needed to absorb food. Very high levels of triglycerides in the blood can cause swelling of the pancreas, which can manifest as sudden severe abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, rapid heartbeat, and rapid breathing. If digestive juices leak outside the pancreas, it can be life-threatening. Alcohol can trigger acute pancreatitis, and along with high triglycerides, alcohol can also increase this index. Therefore, treatment in this case requires a combination of weight loss, dietary changes, and avoiding alcohol.

Type 2 diabetes: High triglycerides are part of a condition called metabolic syndrome, which includes high blood pressure, increased belly fat, low HDL (good cholesterol), and high blood sugar. High triglycerides combined with any two of these conditions increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by five times.



High blood fat is the cause of cardiovascular disease. (illustrative photo)

Cardiovascular disease: Similarly, high triglycerides combined with two other metabolic syndrome factors double the risk of heart disease. Large amounts of this type of blood fat are located inside the blood vessels that carry oxygen to the heart muscle.

Stroke: A stroke is brain damage that occurs when there is a decrease in blood supply to brain cells. Triglycerides affect the blood vessels that supply our brains. A recent study found that in older women, triglycerides are one of the factors that cause stroke.

Liver disease: Fat accumulation in the liver is the most common cause of chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis, cancer, liver failure... In cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), more than 10% of the liver has been replaced by fat, with the most common causes of NAFLD being diabetes, obesity, and high triglycerides.

Leg pain and numbness: Too much fat in the blood builds up in the arteries, and when it reaches the legs, it can lead to peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD can cause pain and numbness in the legs, especially when walking. It also increases the risk of infections in the legs or feet.

Dementia: Decreased brain function can affect memory, thinking, language, and behavior. Age is a major risk factor for dementia, but so are high triglycerides. This is because these fats can damage blood vessels in the brain, contributing to the buildup of a toxic protein called amyloid.

In short, high triglycerides can lead to dangerous health problems. Experts recommend that, if you are over 20 years old, have a complete blood test every 5 years. If triglycerides are high, treatment will include diet (increase omega 3, avoid trans fat), weight loss, exercise, blood sugar control; at the same time, patients can use a combination of statins, fibrates, niacin or fish oil to bring this index under control.

According to Suckhoe & Doisong - MD