Question: Are triglycerides more important than HDL and HDL cholesterol levels?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Triglycerides are an additional risk factor when evaluating risks from atherosclerosis and cholesterol plaques within blood vessels. Triglycerides are often elevated in people with uncontrolled diabetes and must be managed carefully.
You should try to keep your triglycerides under 300, with ideal readings being under 150. Elevated triglycerides are like free-riding sacks of fat, and will not only accelerate blockage risks in your blood vessels, but also contribute to other serious and potentially life-threatening disorders such as pancreatitis.
I would rather have a high HDL with higher than normal triglycerides than a low HDL with normal triglycerides. HDL values are very important predictors of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke risks.
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