High triglycerides can be caused by a variety of factors including lifestyle, medical conditions, and genetics. Key causes include:
- Diet: Consuming a diet high in sugar, simple carbohydrates (like white flour), saturated fats, trans fats, and excessive alcohol can raise triglyceride levels. Extra calories not burned convert into triglycerides.
- Lack of exercise: Physical inactivity prevents the burning of excess calories, leading to increased triglycerides.
- Medical conditions: Diseases such as poorly managed diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), obesity (especially abdominal fat), and genetic disorders like familial hypertriglyceridemia.
- Smoking: Tobacco smoke can increase triglyceride levels.
- Certain medications: Some blood pressure medications, birth control pills, corticosteroids, antipsychotics, and antiretroviral drugs for HIV can raise triglycerides.
High triglycerides are linked to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and pancreatitis.
