What is the Function of Triglycerides

8/13/2019 What is the Function of Triglycerides

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What Is the Function of Triglycerides?

Triglycerides are lipids, a type of fat. They are found in foods that come from bothplants and animals. The triglycerides in plants come from vegetable oils, such assunflower and peanut, which remain liquid at room temperature. Meat and dairy

products contain triglycerides in animal fats, which remain solid at roomtemperature. Triglycerides are necessary for certain bodily functions, but high levelsof them can lead to health problems.

Characteristics

Triglycerides are the most common lipid found in the body. They contain threechains of fatty acids. Although similar in structure to the phospholipids that build cellmembranes, triglycerides are completely hydrophobic, meaning they cannot mix withwater, so they cannot integrate into membranes. Because they can't mix with water,triglycerides bind to specialized proteins called lipoproteins to enable them to travelthrough the blood.

Energy Storage

Triglycerides provide your body with energy, but their main function is to storeenergy for later use. The food you eat contains calories in the form ofcarbohydrates, protein and fat. When you consume more calories than your bodycan use, it stores those calories in the form of triglycerides. Fat cells hold thetriglyceride molecules until your body needs energy, such as between meals.Hormones signal the fat cells to release the triglycerides for your body to use.

Health Impact

Triglycerides serve a necessary function -- without them your body would run out ofenergy unless you were eating constantly. The American Heart Association warnsthat an elevated triglyceride level, a condition known as hypertriglyceridemia, isassociated with coronary artery disease. You can monitor your triglyceride andyour cholesterol levels by asking your doctor to order a lipid panel profile, whichrequires you to provide blood samples. The test results indicate the levels oftriglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.

Healthy Levels

Doctors recommend a triglyceride level of 150 milligrams per deciliter or less toreduce your risk of heart disease. A level of 200 to 499 milligrams per deciliter isconsidered high, and a level above 500 milligrams per deciliter is very high. If yourtriglyceride level is in the high or very high range, you should make lifestyle changesto reduce those numbers.

Lifestyle Changes

The best way to reduce your triglyceride level is to decrease the number of caloriesyou consume each day, especially if you are overweight. In addition to cuttingcalories, reduce your intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and eat morefruits and vegetables. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation, because even smallamounts can cause significant changes in your blood triglyceride level. Getting


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regular moderate-intensity exercise, at least 30 minutes five days a week, can alsohelp lower your triglycerides

Coronary Artery Disease - CauseCoronary artery disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on the inside ofyour coronary arteries . Plaque buildup can begin early in life and happens over alifetime.

Coronary artery disease typically begins when the inside walls of the coronaryarteries are damaged because of another health problem, such as:

High cholesterol . High blood pressure . Diabetes . Smoking .

Plaque, which is made up of excess cholesterol , calcium , and other substances inyour blood , builds up on the damaged inner walls of your coronary arteries. Thisprocess usually occurs throughout the body and is called atherosclerosis , or"hardening of the arteries." See pictures of atherosclerosis and how high bloodpressure damages arteries .

Over time, plaque buildup narrows the coronary arteries and can leadto ischemia (insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle). Ischemia (say "is-KEE-mee-uh") can weaken the heart muscle, but it usually does not cause heart muscle cellsto die.

But heart muscle cells can die if blood flow is severely reduced or completely blockedfor a period of time. This can happen if plaque breaks apart and makes a clot thatblocks an artery. This can cause myocardial infarction, or heart attack .

Acute coronary syndrome: a leading cause of mortality

Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death in the United States (US)and Europe .436 ,437 Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a common complication ofcoronary heart disease, is associated with more than 2.5 million hospitalizationsworldwide each year .297 ACS describes clinical disorders ranging from ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to non-ST-elevation myocardialinfarction( NSTEMI) and unstable angina (UA).438 It is estimated that a myocardialinfarction (MI) occurs every 34 seconds in the US, and that one person dies each

minute from a major coronary event .439

Most cases of ACS are caused by rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque in a coronaryartery, resulting in the formation of a thrombus .95 When plaques erode or rupture,the resulting thrombus restricts the flow of blood to the heart muscle .438, 440 A
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ase&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref438http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref438http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref438http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/_global/glossary.php#glossary-myocardial_infarctionhttp://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/_global/glossary.php#glossary-myocardial_infarctionhttp://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref439http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref439http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref439http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/_global/glossary.php#glossary-acute_coronary_syndromehttp://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref95http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref95http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref95http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref438http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref438http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref440http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref440http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/how-high-blood-pressure-damages-arterieshttp://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atherosclerosis-19012http://www.webmd.com/heart/the-heart-and-the-coronary-arteries-front-viewhttp://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/how-high-blood-pressure-damages-arterieshttp://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atherosclerosis-19012http://www.webmd.com/heart/the-heart-and-the-coronary-arteries-front-viewhttp://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/how-high-blood-pressure-damages-arterieshttp://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atherosclerosis-19012http://www.webmd.com/heart/the-heart-and-the-coronary-arteries-front-viewhttp://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref440http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCampaignVendor=AdWords&WT.cusCampaignChannel=g&WT.cusCampaignAd=4861035975&WT.cusCampaignKeyword=coronary%20artery%20disease&WT.cusCampaignAdGrp=CoronaryArteryDisease&gclid=CMKbucTPhrsCFS4F4godxmcAsw#ref438http://www.thrombosisadviser.com/en/acs/a-leading-cause-of-mortality/?WT.cusCamp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prolonged lack of blood supply resulting in necrosis of heart muscle tissue is definedas an MI .438

Coronary artery with thin muscular media and prominent intimalhyperplasia with calcification. Lumen obstructed by thrombus (arrow).

Coronary atherosclerosis, thrombosis

Plaque rupture results in exposure of the contents of the plaque and subendothelialfibres to the blood, leading to the activation of platelets, which in turn adhere tosubendothelial structures. Aggregation of additional platelets causes the thrombus togrow. At the same time, the coagulation cascade is activated, resulting in theproduction of thrombin, which stimulates further platelet recruitment andaggregation. Thrombin also catalyses the generation of fibrin, which forms the mainprotein component of the thrombus .95

An area of cardiac muscle damage caused by acute occlusion in a coronaryartery that delivers blood to that area.

Cardiac muscle damage in acute coronary syndrome

Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease, also called coronary heart disease , or simply, heart disease,is the No. 1 killer in America, affecting more than 13 million Americans.

Heart disease is a result of plaque buildup in your arteries, which blocks blood flowand heightens the risk for heart attack and stroke.

Recommended Related to Heart Disease

Potassium and Your Heart Potassium is a simple mineral with a crucial job: helping your heart beat. Ahundred thousand times a day, potassium helps trigger your heart's squeeze ofblood through your body. If you have high blood pressure, heart failure, or heart

rhythm problems, getting enough potassium is especially important. Althoughpotassium and cholesterol aren't directly related, eating a potassium-rich diet justmight lower your cholesterol, too.

Read the Potassium and Your Heart article > >
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What Is Coronary Artery Disease?

Heart disease is a result of plaque buildup in your coronary arteries -- a conditioncalled atherosclerosis -- that leads to blockages. The arteries, which start out smoothand elastic, become narrow and rigid, restricting blood flow to the heart. The heartbecomes starved of oxygen and the vital nutrients it needs to pump properly.

How Does Coronary Artery Disease Develop?

From a young age, cholesterol-laden plaque can start to deposit in the blood vesselwalls. As you get older, the plaque burden builds up, inflaming the blood vessel wallsand raising the risk of blood clots and heart attack. The plaques release chemicalsthat promote the process of healing but make the inner walls of the blood vesselsticky. Then, other substances, such as inflammatory cells, lipoproteins, and calciumthat travel in your bloodstream start sticking to the inside of the vessel walls.

Eventually, a narrowed coronary artery may develop new blood vessels that goaround the blockage to get blood to the heart. However, during times of increased

exertion or stress, the new arteries may not be able to supply enough oxygen-richblood to the heart muscle.

In some cases, a blood clot may totally block the blood supply to the heart muscle,causing heart attack. If a blood vessel to the brain is blocked, usually from a bloodclot, an ischemic stroke can result. If a blood vessel within the brain bursts, mostlikely as a result of uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure), a hemorrhagicstroke can result.

What Is Ischemia?

Cardiac ischemia occurs when plaque and fatty matter narrow the inside of an arteryto a point where it cannot supply enough oxygen-rich blood to meet your heart'sneeds. Heart attack can occur - with or without chest pain and other symptoms.

Ischemia is most commonly experienced during:

Exercise or exertion Eating Excitement or stress Exposure to cold

Coronary artery disease can progress to a point where ischemia occurs even at rest. And ichemia can occur without any warning signs in anyone with heart disease,although it is more common in people with diabetes .

What Are the Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease?

The most common symptom of coronary artery disease is angina, or chest pain. Angina can be described as a heaviness, pressure, aching, burning, numbness,fullness, squeezing or painful feeling. It can be mistaken for indigestionor heartburn . Angina is usually felt in the chest, but may also be felt in the leftshoulder, arms, neck, back, or jaw.

Other symptoms that can occur with coronary artery disease include:

Shortness of breath Palpitations (irregular heart beats, skipped beats , or a "flip-flop" feeling in your

chest)
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A faster heartbeat Weakness or dizziness Nausea Sweating

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