There’s more to the total cholesterol picture than LDL and HDL.

Triglycerides.

Triglycerides, which are produced in the liver and found in the food that you eat, are another type of fat found in the blood. Triglycerides are carried by your blood to tissues where they can be used for energy or stored in fat cells for future use. An excessive amount of triglycerides can be a medical concern. Some causes of raised triglycerides might include overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and a diet very high in carbohydrates.

Find out what your triglyceride number means.

Here’s what the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has to say about triglyceride (TG) levels:

National Cholesterol Education Program Guidelines

If your total serum triglycerides are: Your classification is: Less than 150 mg/dL Normal 150 to 199 mg/dL Borderline-high triglycerides 200 to 499 mg/dL High triglycerides 500 mg/dL or higher Very high triglycerides

Do you know your TG level? Ask your doctor if your current TG number is normal for you.

This is an example of how your serum triglyceride value might be shown on your lab report.

Want to know more? Click to find out more about LDL and/or HDL.

TriCor can help lower triglyceride levels, increase HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL (bad cholesterol), depending on a person’s specific cholesterol condition.

For more information on TriCor, click here.