My Experience With High Triglycerides

At 18 years old, as a freshman in college, high triglycerides weren’t something I ever thought about — much less worried about. In fact, I don’t think I even knew what triglycerides were. After all, who worries about that at that age?

A routine blood test in college

As part of a requirement for my freshman physical education class, all students had to complete some basic lab work. The goal was to establish a baseline and identify any potential concerns, especially for students who didn’t routinely see a doctor.

It’s been a few years, but I remember they focused on 3 common tests:^1-3

• Complete blood count (CBC) – This group of tests looks at things such as white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and other markers that tell us about our health.
• Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) – This group of tests measures things like kidney function, liver function, and electrolyte levels.
• Lipid panel – This group of tests measures your good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides.

I had my blood drawn and honestly forgot all about it. A few days later, though, I received an email saying my results were available.

I was shocked by my results

At the very top, in large red letters that were impossible to miss, it read:

ABNORMAL RESULTS

Because that’s not alarming at all.

It definitely got my attention. As I scrolled through the report, everything appeared normal — until I reached my triglycerides.

I’m not proud to admit it, but they were in the 300s.

I was shocked, but I didn’t really understand what it meant. So naturally, I did what I now tell everyone not to do: I went straight to Google. At the time, though, I didn’t know any better.

I ignored it until...

Unfortunately, all Google did was scare me with discussions of strokes, heart attacks, and other serious health complications. So I did what many 18-year-olds would probably do — I ignored it and moved on with my life.

It wasn’t until my mid-20s, when I had my first comprehensive adult physical, that the issue resurfaced.

Most of my lab work looked good, with only a few mildly abnormal findings. However, my triglycerides were another story.

By then, they had climbed into the 400s.

My PCP and I realized something

My primary care provider (PCP) was shocked because levels that high aren’t commonly seen in someone my age. She began asking a series of questions, including whether anyone in my family had high cholesterol.

That’s when we realized this was likely hereditary. My grandmother, mother, and aunt all struggle with elevated cholesterol and triglycerides.

A combination of medication and lifestyle changes

At that point, we were well beyond simply making dietary and lifestyle changes and hoping for the best. My provider started me on medication right away and also recommended several dietary changes:^4,5

• Limiting sugar and refined carbohydrates – Avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juices, candy, baked goods, white bread, and white rice.
• Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats – Swapping foods high in saturated fat, such as fatty meats and full-fat dairy products, for healthier fats found in olive oil, canola oil, nuts, seeds, and avocados.
• Choosing whole fruit over fruit juice – Whole fruits contain fiber, which helps balance their natural sugar content.
• Increasing omega-3 fatty acids – Omega-3s can help lower triglyceride levels. Adding fatty fish such as salmon to our meals twice a week is a great place to start.
• Increasing fiber intake – Focus on foods such as whole grains, legumes, fruits, and non-starchy vegetables.

I was also advised to exercise at least 3 times per week for 30 to 60 minutes and work toward losing a small amount of weight, as I was about 20 pounds overweight at the time.

Managing my HTG is an ongoing effort

Over the years, managing my triglycerides has been an ongoing challenge. My levels have fluctuated significantly, and we’ve adjusted my medications several times in an effort to find the best treatment plan.

I can honestly say there’s still room for improvement when it comes to exercising consistently and making healthier food choices. However, my other health conditions often make those goals more difficult to achieve.

Talk to your primary care provider

If you’re concerned about your triglyceride levels, consider scheduling an appointment with your primary care provider. They can order tests like a lipid panel to evaluate your cardiovascular risk factors.

One important thing to remember: if your provider requests fasting lab work, follow their instructions carefully. Eating or drinking before the test can affect certain results and may lead to inaccurate readings.