Hypertriglyceridemia

Hypertriglyceridemia – General Information

Hypertriglyceridemia (also associated with Hypertriglyceridaemia which means that there are high levels of glycerides such as monoglycerides, diglycerides and triglycerides in the organism) represents the high levels of the triglycerides in the blood. The triglycerides are the fattiest molecules in most organisms. This medical condition is associated by doctors and health care providers with atherosclerosis (which can also develop in the absence of the hypercholesterolemia, which are the high cholesterol levels) and pancreatitis (but this disease develops only high concentrations of triglycerides). The causes of the appearance and development of the Hypertriglyceridemia can be idiopathic, obesity, diabetes, excessive alcohol intake, genetic predisposition, a high sugar diet, the intake of certain medication such as isotretinoin and nephrotic syndrome.

The triglycerides from the daily food intake are absorbed in the small intestine and enter in the blood stream as chylomicrons. The adipose tissues and the muscles remove a part of the absorbed triglycerides and what remains is metabolized by the liver and transformed into a lipoprotein rich in cholesterol. Most of the quantity of triglycerides is absorbed from the small intestine, but also the liver produces a small quantity of triglycerides. People can get Hypertriglyceridemia at any age and it can also be running in a family. The persons who are predisposed of developing this medical condition are those who smoke, who are overweight and those who eat unhealthy foods. But also some drugs can lead to the development of this medical condition such as those which are taken for birth control or the hormone pills and some other diseases which can lead to it such as thyroid diseases or diabetes.

Hypertriglyceridemia – Symptoms

It is well known the fact that any medical disorder (including Hypertriglyceridemia) can trigger a variety of symptoms. Therefore, some of this medical condition's most uncommon symptoms have not been listed (mentioned) here. This is why we strongly recommend you to contact your personal health care provider whenever you develop any unusual, bothersome or unpleasant symptoms. Your personal physician will be able to tell you if you are suffering from Hypertriglyceridemia or from any other medical disorder. Here is a list of the most common symptoms that a person who suffers from this disease, may experience. The patients may have mild to moderate increase in the levels of triglycerides and can develop premature coronary artery disease. If the patients develop coronary artery disease they can experience the following symptoms:

Chest pain – the patients may feel pressure or tightness in the chest. The chest pain usually appears after physical exercises, emotional states and stress and it usually disappears after the stimuli go away. The women can experience atypical chest pain such as a sharp pain in the arm, back and abdomen.
Shortness of breath – as the heart is in the impossibility to pump the quantity of blood which the organism needs, the patients may develop shortness of breath, swelling of the feet, swelling of the ankles, fatigue, exertion.
Heart attack – this appears only when one of the coronary arteries is completely blocked and the patients usually experience nausea, pain in the chest, back pain, shortness of breath, pain in the arm and shoulder.

Hypertriglyceridemia – Treatment

The treatment of the patients who are suffering from Hypertriglyceridemia is based on the restriction of the carbohydrates and fat from the diet. Also the doctors and personal health care providers recommend the patients who are suffering from Hypertriglyceridemia to avoid fibrates, niacin, and statins (these are drugs) and a heavy intake of fish oil which helps in the lowering of the triglycerides levels. The National Cholesterol Education Program suggests that the pharmacotherapy to be recommended only in the cases in which the patients with this disorder have the levels of the triglycerides over 200 mg/dL.

Here is a list of the most common drugs which are usually prescribed by the doctors and personal health care providers in the patients who are suffering from Hypertriglyceridemia.

EPA Fish Oil – also known as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid is found in the oil from the fish and vegetables and help in the lowering of the levels of triglycerides. These medications must be used along with exercises and a proper diet in order for the treatment to be effective. These medications should not be used by the patients who are suffering from diabetes or who have an underactive thyroid. The patients with Hypertriglyceridemia who are under treatment with these drugs may experience the following side effects: fever, chills, flu symptoms, body aches, abnormal heartbeats, chest pain, and unusual taste in the mouth, upset stomach, back pain, and mild skin rashes.

Fish Oil – it is also known as vitamin A and it can lead to the following side-effects: nausea, vomiting, irritability, decreased appetite, headaches, hair loss, dryness of the lips. In the cases in which the patients experience closing of their throat, swelling of the lips, tongue or face and difficulty in breathing they should stop taking these medicines and see a doctor as soon as possible.

Icar Prenatal Essential Omega-3 - is found in the oil from the fish and vegetables and help in the lowering of the levels of triglycerides. These medications should not be used by the patients who are suffering from diabetes or who have an underactive thyroid.

Lovaza – these medicines are used to treat the patients who have very high levels of triglycerides. The patients should tell the doctor if they are pregnant, breast feeding, allergic to certain medicines and if they have blood clothing problems before taking these medicines.  Patients may experience mild symptoms after taking these medicines such as taste changes, gases and upset stomach. In the cases in which the patients who are suffering from Hypertriglyceridemia experience rashes, itching, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face, mouth, lips and tongue after taking these medicines they should stop taking them and see their doctor or personal health care provider as soon as possible.

Omacor - is found in the oil from the fish and vegetables and help in the lowering of the levels of triglycerides. These medications should not be used by the patients who are suffering from diabetes or who have an underactive thyroid. The patients who are suffering from Hypertriglyceridemia and take these pills may experience mild symptoms such as fever, chills, flu symptoms and chest pain.