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Having high levels of triglycerides, or hypertriglyceridemia, is a common problem. Triglycerides are fats in the blood (also called lipids). Your body needs some blood fats for energy. But when your triglyceride levels are too high, these fats may put you at risk for heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.

Most often, having high triglycerides has no warning signs. The good news, though, is there is a simple test to find high triglycerides, and treatments are available.

This guide for patients comes from The Endocrine Society's practice guidelines for physicians about the detection and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.

What are the effects of high triglycerides?

It is unclear if high triglycerides alone are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke). Triglycerides do not directly cause the plaque that can block your heart's arteries (atherosclerosis) and lead to a heart attack. Yet, cholesterol in triglyceride-rich particles in the blood may add to plaque formation.

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