What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are fat in the blood. The molecules of fat in our food get broken down into triglycerides that are then transported through the blood. In case, the body needs energy, it consumes the triglycerides. However more often than not, we end up eating more than our body needs and hence these triglycerides keep on accumulating in the blood raising the level of triglyceride which is commonly believed to be one of the causes of heart disease.

Triglycerides may themselves not be a cause of the heart disease, but a high level of triglycerides accompanied by high levels of bad cholesterol can contribute to heart disease.

What is meant by high level of triglycerides?

The normal level of triglycerides in the blood is less than 150mg/dL. If this level is above 200 mg/dL, it is considered as a high level. The higher the figure above 200 mg/dL, the greater is the risk of a heart disease.