People with high triglycerides (known as hypertriglyceridemia) often have a high total cholesterol level, high LDL (bad) cholesterol and a low HDL (good) cholesterol level. High Triglycerides are caused by obesity, poorly controlled diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, and eating more calories than you use on a day to day basis. Certain medication including steroids, some diuretics and birth control pills can also increase triglyceride levels. High triglycerides do not usually occur on their own and are often part of the metabolic syndrome or ‘syndrome X’. This is a combination of high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low HDL levels and high triglyceride levels.

Researchers are not fully sure why high triglyceride levels increase the risk of coronary heart disease. They believe that remnants left behind from the breakdown of triglyceride rich lipoproteins in the blood enhance the rate of plaque build up on the arteries (atherogenesis).

When triglycerides are very high (greater than 1000 mg/dL (11.30 mmol/L)), there is a risk of developing pancreatitis. Treatment to lower triglycerides should be started as soon as possible.

Elevated triglyceride levels increase the risk of thrombosis. The clotting associated with thrombosis can, in turn, result in heart attack.