Ladies, do you have high triglycerides in your blood? Let's talk about this!

When you get a blood test, another word that appears on the report along with cholesterol is triglycerides. You may have heard this word before. Simply put, this is a type of fat in our blood. The extra calories we eat that our body doesn't need right away are converted into triglycerides by our body and stored in fat cells. When energy is needed later, hormones release them. Although this is a normal process, having high levels of triglycerides in the blood is a risk factor for many diseases, including heart disease. Although this condition can occur in anyone, there are several specific reasons that can increase your risk, especially as a woman. Let's talk about it in detail today.

Why are women at greater risk?

Women are more prone to high triglyceride levels due to hormonal changes and certain health conditions. Imagine, you may have a problem that your friend doesn't have. The reason is because your body is changing. See if these reasons apply to you too.

What are the common causes for women and men?

As well as causes that are specific to women, there are also common causes that can cause high triglyceride levels in anyone, regardless of gender. It's important to be aware of these as well.

• Excess body weight: When body weight increases, especially when fat is deposited around the abdomen, triglyceride levels increase.
• Lack of exercise: This risk is higher for people who have a sedentary lifestyle and lack physical activity.
• Uncontrolled diabetes: People with diabetes (especially Type 2 Diabetes) are at high risk of elevated triglyceride levels.
• Increased Waist Circumference: There is a direct relationship between fat accumulation around the waist, heart disease risk, and triglyceride levels.
• Family history: If someone in your family (mother, father, siblings) has high triglycerides or cholesterol, you may also be genetically at risk.
• Health conditions: In addition, conditions like hypothyroidism, lupus, and the use of certain steroids (corticosteroids) can also increase triglyceride levels.

Okay, now how do you control this?

Are you feeling scared after reading this article? Don't be scared. The best thing is, you can make big changes in your lifestyle to control this condition. This is the most important thing. This is the first thing you need to pay attention to, even more than medication.

It's very important to talk to your doctor first and ask what lifestyle changes are right for you, how to make them, and how long it will take to see results.

The main things to do

Your doctor will often tell you to do these things:

• Exercise regularly: Get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, such as walking, jogging, or swimming. It's best if you can do this at least 5 days a week.
• Lose excess weight: If you can lose 5% - 10% of your body weight, it can have a big impact on triglyceride levels.
• Get used to a good diet:
• Reduce sugar and sweet foods: Reduce sugar, sweet drinks, cakes, biscuits, and processed foods as much as possible. These are the main enemies of triglycerides.
• Choose good fats: Use good oils like coconut oil, olive oil, etc. Things like cashews, peanuts, and avocados contain healthy fats.
• Eat foods rich in fiber: Include more fruits, vegetables, legumes, oats, and bran cereals in your diet.
• Stop or limit alcohol consumption: Alcohol is a substance that can quickly raise triglyceride levels.

Be careful about the medication you take.

If you suspect that something you're taking, such as birth control pills or hormone therapy, is causing this, be sure to talk to your doctor about it. He or she may be able to recommend another medication or method if necessary.

Most importantly: Never stop taking medication or change the dosage without consulting a doctor. Doing so can cause other health problems.

What if changing your lifestyle isn't enough?

Sometimes, no matter how much you change your lifestyle, your triglyceride levels may not be as low as you would like, especially if there are genetic factors. In such cases, your doctor may prescribe medication.

The medications usually given are:

• Statins: Although these are the main type of medication prescribed to lower cholesterol, they also help lower triglycerides.
• Fibrates: These are medications specifically prescribed to lower triglycerides.
• Niacin: This is a B vitamin. When given in high doses, it can lower triglycerides.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: This nutrient, found in fish oil, helps lower triglycerides when given in high doses as a medicine.

Remember, even if you start taking medication, you can't go on this journey without the foundation of a healthy lifestyle . Medication is only a support. Permanent recovery depends on your interest and commitment.