Effective Health Care Program

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. Too much of this type of fat may raise the risk of coronary artery disease, especially in women.

A blood test measures your triglycerides along with your cholesterol. Normal triglyceride levels are below 150. Levels above 200 are high.

Factors that can raise your triglyceride level include

• Being overweight
• Lack of physical activity
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol use
• A very high carbohydrate diet
• Certain diseases and medicines
• Some genetic disorders

You may be able to lower your triglycerides with a combination of losing weight, diet, and exercise. You also may need to take medicine to lower your triglycerides.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute