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In modern life, people are eating more and more abundantly, but with it, health problems are also increasing. Among them, elevated triglyceride levels have become an important factor affecting cardiovascular health.
So, to what extent can high triglycerides cause a heart attack? Doctors note that the risk of myocardial infarction increases significantly when levels above 10 mmol/L (about 1000 mg/dL) and advises patients to intervene with medication in this case.
Triglycerides, as the name suggests, are fat molecules in the blood. It serves as a store of energy in the human body, but once its levels are too high, it can have negative health effects.
Studies have shown that when triglyceride levels exceed 2.3 mmol/L, the risk of cardiovascular disease is significantly increased. When triglyceride levels rise from 2.3 mmol/L to 9.0 mmol/L, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases gradually.
High triglyceride levels are often accompanied by a variety of metabolic abnormalities, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL), increased free fatty acids, abnormal blood glucose, insulin resistance, etc.
These metabolic abnormalities work together to increase the formation of foam cells in the arterial wall, which directly leads to atherosclerosis. According to research, these metabolic abnormalities are important in assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
So, what are the specific clinical manifestations and harms of high triglyceride levels? Research and clinical data have shown that triglyceride levels above 10 mmol/L (about 1000 mg/dL) significantly increase the risk of myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases.
This level is considered to be a "very high" triglyceride level. In addition, high triglyceride levels are strongly associated with the development of pancreatitis, which significantly increases the risk of pancreatitis above 10 mmol/L, and patients may experience episodic nausea and epigastric pain.
Alcohol consumption is an important factor in triglyceride levels. High triglyceride levels caused by alcohol consumption are mainly due to an increase in plasma very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL).
Plasma triglyceride measurements may still be within the normal range in some alcohol users, due to increased fitness for lipolytic activity. However, alcohol may also impair lipolysis, particularly in patients with pre-existing lipoprotein lipase dysfunction, resulting in a significant increase in plasma triglycerides.
For people with high triglycerides, doctors usually recommend non-pharmacological treatment first. This includes weight loss, dietary modifications, and increased exercise. Dietary modifications should reduce fat and refined carbohydrate intake and limit alcohol consumption.
These lifestyle changes can be effective in lowering triglyceride levels and improving overall health. However, in some severe cases, when triglyceride levels exceed 10 mmol/L, non-pharmacological treatments may not be sufficient to control the condition, and pharmacological intervention is indicated.
Commonly used pharmacological interventions include fibrates and fish oil. Fibrates such as gemfibrozil, fibrate, and fenufibrate can reduce triglyceride levels by up to 50% and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels.
These drugs reduce hepatic VLDL secretion and increase plasma triglyceride lipolysis by regulating the activity of receptor-α activated by peroxisome proliferators in the liver.
In addition, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have also been shown to be effective in reducing triglyceride levels, with a daily intake of 4 grams of omega-3 fatty acids reducing triglyceride levels by up to 20%.
Monitoring and management of triglyceride levels is essential to prevent myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases. When triglyceride levels exceed 10 mmol/L, doctors strongly recommend medication to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and pancreatitis.
With reasonable lifestyle modification and necessary medical intervention, triglyceride levels can be effectively controlled, thereby improving the health of patients.
Finally, what experiences and insights would you like to share? Feel free to leave a message in the comment area!
bibliography
Yuan, G., Al-Shali, K. Z., & Hegele, R. A. (2007). Hypertriglyceridemia: its etiology, effects and treatment. *Canadian Medical Association Journal*, 176(8), 1113-1120.