Cholesterol Health Journal
Use the Cholesterol Health Journal to track your progress toward improving your cholesterol and triglycerides.
Trigs Fact or Fiction
People with high triglyceride levels also tend to have high bad cholesterol (LDL) and low good cholesterol (HDL).
Understanding Cholesterol
Triglycerides Are an Important Part of Cholesterol
Let’s start with the facts. Fats within the body are often referred to as lipids. Your body naturally produces lipids, but some of these fats also come from the foods that you eat. Many people think that all lipids are bad. The truth is that the body needs some cholesterol to help it function. The wrong amounts, however, can be unhealthy.1,2
A Closer Look at Lipids in the Blood
Two types of lipids are cholesterol and triglycerides. Cholesterol travels in the blood by special carriers called lipoproteins, which have fat (lipid) inside and protein outside.2
HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS (HDL)
are known as “good cholesterol” because they are thought to carry cholesterol from the blood vessels to the liver, where the body can eliminate it.3 So it’s better for your HDL to be higher.
LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS (LDL)
are known as “bad cholesterol.” You don’t want too many low-density lipoproteins or LDL to build up in your arteries. Together with other substances, LDL forms plaque, which can restrict blood flow to your heart and brain.3 That’s why you want your LDL to be lower.
TRIGLYCERIDES (TRIGS)
are a type of fat in the blood. Triglycerides are stored in fat tissue and released into the bloodstream for energy between meals.4 High levels of triglycerides combined with low HDL or high LDL is associated with the build-up of fat in the blood, so you want your triglyceride levels to be lower.
TriCor Uses
TriCor should only be used when other measures, such as diet and exercise, have not been enough. TriCor is a prescription medicine used along with diet in adults to lower triglycerides, total cholesterol, and bad cholesterol (LDL), and increase good cholesterol (HDL). TriCor is also used along with diet in adults to lower severely high triglycerides. Improving blood sugar control in certain people with diabetes may prevent the need for cholesterol drug therapy. TriCor was not shown to reduce the risk of having heart problems in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Safety Information
- TriCor should not be taken by people with liver, gallbladder, severe kidney disease, or by nursing mothers.
- TriCor may cause serious muscle problems with symptoms such as unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness.
- Blood tests are needed to check for liver problems and may be needed to check for kidney problems.
- Other serious side effects may include inflammation (swelling) of the gallbladder or pancreas (with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting), allergic-type reactions, blood clots, or possible changes in some blood test values.
What Do Your Cholesterol and Triglyceride Numbers Mean?
The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has issued guidelines your doctor may use to assess your personal cholesterol test results.5
Once you know about the different types of cholesterol and triglycerides, it’s important to know your numbers for each and understand what the numbers mean.
| Total Cholesterol Level | Cholesterol Category |
|
Less than 200 mg/dL 200 – 239 mg/dL 240 mg/dL and above |
Desirable Borderline high High |
| Bad Cholesterol Level (LDL) | Bad Cholesterol Category |
|
Less than 100 mg/dL 100 – 129 mg/dL 130 – 159 mg/dL 160 – 189 mg/dL 190 mg/dL and above |
Optimal Near optimal/above optimal Borderline high High Very high |
| Good Cholesterol Level (HDL) | Good Cholesterol Category |
|
Less than 40 mg/dL 60 mg/dL and above |
Low High |
| Triglyceride Level | Triglyceride Category |
|
Less than 150 mg/dL 150 – 199 mg/dL 200 – 499 mg/dL 500 mg/dL and above |
Normal Borderline high High Very high |
After assessing your health and risk factors, your doctor will determine what the best cholesterol and triglyceride levels are for you.
Please see the full Prescribing Information for TriCor.
Uses and Important Safety Information You Should Know About TriCor®
Uses for TriCor® (fenofibrate) Tablets1
- TriCor should only be used when other measures, such as diet and exercise, have not been enough.
- TriCor is a prescription medicine used along with diet in adults to lower triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad) cholesterol, and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.
- TriCor is also used along with diet in adults to lower severely high triglycerides. Improving blood sugar control in certain people with diabetes may prevent the need for cholesterol drug therapy.
- TriCor was not shown to reduce the risk of having heart problems in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Important Safety Information for TriCor
- TriCor should not be taken by people with liver, gallbladder, or severe kidney disease, nursing mothers, or those allergic to any product ingredient.
- TriCor has not been shown to reduce the risk of having heart problems.
- TriCor can cause muscle problems. Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness may be a sign of a serious but rare muscle problem and should be reported to your healthcare provider right away.
- TriCor can cause liver problems. Blood tests are needed before and during treatment with TriCor to check for liver problems.
- Some people require blood tests to check for kidney problems while taking TriCor.
- TriCor may cause inflammation (swelling) of the gallbladder or pancreas. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.
- Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including any other cholesterol medications, to determine if the combination of these medicines is right for you.
- TriCor may cause allergic-type reactions, blood clots, and possible changes in some blood test values.
- The most common side effects with TriCor include increases in liver or muscle enzymes measured by blood tests and congestion or allergy-like symptoms in the nose.
For more information, talk with your healthcare provider.
Please see the full Prescribing Information for TriCor.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you cannot afford your medication, contact: www.pparx.org or call the toll-free phone number 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) for assistance.
References:
1. American Heart Association. About Cholesterol. Available at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/About-Cholesterol_UCM_001220_Article.jsp. Last update June 13, 2011. Accessed August 19, 2011.
2. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Your Guide to Lowering Cholesterol with Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC). Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/chol_tlc.pdf. Last update December 2005. Accessed August 19, 2011.
3. American Heart Association. Good vs. Bad Cholesterol. Available at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/Good-vs-Bad-Cholesterol_UCM_305561_Article.jsp. Last update June 13, 2011. Accessed August 19, 2011.
4. American Heart Association. Triglycerides. Available at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/Triglycerides_UCM_306029_Article.jsp. Last update May 20, 2010. Accessed August 19, 2011.
5. National Cholesterol Education Program. Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) Final Report. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atp3full.pdf. Last update September 2002. Accessed August 19, 2011.