Recognizing high triglyceride symptoms


Clinically, there are no specific high triglyceride symptoms although your serum triglycerides levels are higher than 1000-2000 mg/dl and you might be suffering from elevated plasma triglycerides levels (called hypertriglyceridemia) without noticing that.

Mostly, you will discover having hypertriglyceridemia accidentally through a routine blood test (as in a lipid profile test).

New studies revealed that hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides) is more dominant in industrial countries than in developing ones due to bad dietary habits and loss of any physical exercise.

Recently, there is a classification called Fredrickson classification (concerned with analysis of elevated lipids in your blood) categorizes hypertriglyceridemia. According to this classification, most types of hyperlipidemias are manifested by elevated serum triglycerides, and accompanied by the following high triglyceride symptoms:

  • Type l is a rare genetic condition characterized by tremendously high serum triglycerides, usually varies from 1000 mg/dl to reach as high as 10.000mg/dl or even more. This is a result of mutation in a certain gene (lipoprotein lipase or LPL) in your body.

    Believe it or not, scientists suggest that this is the only type of hypertriglyceridemia which doesn’t increase your risk of coronary heart diseases (As type l has no effect on atherosclerosis development).

  • Type II is characterized by high triglycerides as well as high cholesterol levels; it is due to high serum levels of LDL (low density lipoprotein) and VLDL (very low density lipoprotein).

  • Type III is also characterized by elevation of both total cholesterol and triglycerides levels, but this type increases your risk to develop heart diseases significantly.

    As type lll patients suffer from increasing in IDL (intermediate density lipoprotein), Xanthoma is an early sign of this type.

  • In Type IV and despite having an increased levels of triglycerides (always >1000mg/dl), plasma cholesterol levels are normal. This type is manifested by elevated VLDL.

  • In Type V, serum triglycerides levels are above 1000mg/dl, and it is characterized by increase in VLDL. Total serum cholesterol levels are also increased.

    Keep in mind that all the high triglyceride symptoms are related to the organs which have been damaged by the high levels of triglycerides.

  • So, acute pancreatitis (severe inflammation of pancreas) is one of symptoms of high triglycerides. It usually occurs when triglyceride levels are higher than 1000 mg/dl. Usually it is manifested by severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever or chills, and headaches.

  • Furthermore, the symptoms can be manifested by developing some serious life-threatening diseases, including: coronary heart diseases, heart attacks, and strokes.

    The elevated triglycerides levels in your blood (along with cholesterol and other fatty debris) can precipitate on your artery walls forming plaque, which can cause development of atherosclerotic complications.

    Figure

  • Your skin can show high triglyceride symptoms through xanthomas. These are1-3 mm yellowish nodules of fat deposits under your skin, they usually appear in the back, chest buttocks, palms and extremities. Xanthoma occurs mostly in type lll hypertriglyceridemia.

    Figure

  • Fatty liver is another symptom of high triglyceride symptoms. It occurs when fat cells invade your liver causing hepatomegaly and splenomegaly (enlargement of your liver and spleen).

    Figure

  • When triglycerides levels are higher than 4000mg/dl, lipemia retinalis will occur.This is one of high triglyceride symptoms which are revealed in your eyes by showing pale pink milky appearance in your retinal blood vessels.

  • Finally, neurological symptoms of high triglycerides include memory loss, depression and dementia.

    All the above problems showing with the related symptoms, are caused because the balance of your blood triglycerides is damaged. All you need to do is to “repair” it and be healthy.

    But the best way of living is to prevent diseases rather than curing them. So, if you eat healthy, and are used with healthy lifestyle habits, for sure you'll be far away from any of high triglycerides problems.




    Leave High Triglyceride Symptoms and return to Cholesterol HDL LDL Home.

    Return to Triglycerid Diet.



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