Triglycerides Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Insurance

Triglycerides

Triglyceride is a type of fat present in the bloodstream of human beings. This can enter your bloodstream from the food you eat, which contains triglycerides and some minute amount is produced by your body. Any excess calorie that is not required by the body is converted into triglycerides and stored in the fat cells. Later these triglycerides are released by hormones to produce energy when required. Triglycerides are essential for your body, but excess can lead to several health complications.

Triglyceride is usually measured with cholesterol, and it is stored in most of the body fat tissues. People with high triglyceride levels are prone to heart attacks, heart diseases, and heart strokes. Diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and high level of bad LDL cholesterol are some disorders that can be a result of having a high triglyceride level. Triglyceride also depends on the genetic formation of the body. Individuals with such genetic condition have a lesser risk of being prone to heart disease, but those who have a high triglyceride level have higher chances of heart diseases. The lifestyle and diet of a person directly affect the triglyceride level of the body.

Symptoms of Triglycerides (High)

Triglycerides do not cause any specific symptoms. But when there is an increase in the level of the triglyceride, there are certain signs that are observed in the patient. These symptoms may not be evident, but if not addressed in time, can cause immense damage to the body. There are certain symptoms which may occur due to triglyceride. Some of them are as follows:

A minor heart attack or heartache - This can be a result of increased cholesterol as well as triglyceride
Chest pain
Nausea
Fatigue

These symptoms should be addressed before they worsen and lead to severe life-threatening conditions. It is crucial to consult a doctor and take the required medication.

Diagnosis of Triglyceride (High)

The triglyceride levels are very crucial and should be measured on a regular basis. Since an elevated triglyceride level does not have symptoms of its own, the ideal way to detect it is with regular checkups. Your family doctor or a general practitioner can suggest tests meant for diagnosing high levels of triglycerides. Lipid Profile is a test that is suggested to determine the levels of triglycerides in the body.

Before the test is conducted, the doctor will ask you to stop the intake of anything except water for at least 10-12 hours before the test. Eating within the mentioned timeframes can result in a false negative or higher than the actual level of triglycerides. A triglyceride level of less than 150 mg/dl is considered normal, whereas a level of above 200 mg/dl is considered as high level. A result of above 500 mg/dl is considered a very high level of triglyceride.

Triglyceride Treatment and Cost in India

There are several types of triglyceride treatments that are offered by doctors. They are just routine treatments as triglyceride is not a major disease in itself but a predecessor to many other serious conditions. The best treatment for triglyceride is a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. There are certain specific medications that are prescribed by the doctor. The dosage of the medication may differ depending on the level of triglyceride.

The medications that are usually prescribed for triglyceride prevention are called statins. These drugs block the elements in the liver that produces triglyceride. Other common medications provided are fibrates, bile acid sequestrants, and cholesterol absorption inhibitors. These medications can be expensive and may require substantial recurring expense.

The other major thing that should be done for triglyceride treatment is a change in the lifestyle. For lowering the triglyceride level, doctors recommend the patient to follow a healthy lifestyle. Following a proper diet, having meals at regular intervals, adequate sleep and a strict exercise regime can be considered as a healthy lifestyle. Such lifestyle changes could help you in reducing the triglyceride levels.

Health Insurance in India

Medical emergencies always come unannounced, so it is better to have proper financial backing for such medical expenses. Health insurance policies secure your health by covering medical expenditure. In countries like India, medical insurance holds utmost importance because of a huge population & meagre insurance penetration. This is because of lack of awareness and education in public towards physical and mental health. This results in low penetration of health insurance in India.

It is necessary to have the best health insurance policy because it reduces the financial burden of a person. During medical emergencies, the patient can remain free from any financial woes if they are covered by an insurance plan. Most health insurances in India cover complications arising out of triglycerides and associated triggering factors. Heart attacks, strokes, and other serious conditions may require treatments such as angioplasty, angiography, open-heart surgery, and long-term care. Health insurance ensures that the cost for these treatments are covered and the patient or their family does not have to bear the costs.

Other Diseases in India

In India, the mortality rate has increased in the last few years because of a sudden increase in people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. People in India suffer from heart diseases because of a stressful life, irregular sleep schedules, and unhealthy lifestyles. Due to such hectic life, people have become prone to cardiovascular diseases which cause untimely deaths of people.

Some of the major diseases related to the heart are: