High triglycerides and low cholesterol: what to know

Triglycerides are fats carried in the blood, while cholesterol is part of the body's cell and hormone systems. A result showing raised triglycerides and low cholesterol may reflect recent food and alcohol intake, diabetes or insulin resistance, thyroid or liver problems, some medicines, or an inherited pattern. The meaning depends on which cholesterol measure is low, whether the sample was fasting, and other health factors. One result does not describe your whole cardiovascular risk.

Long-term lipid imbalance can contribute to fatty deposits in blood vessels. This may be relevant to conditions such as angina, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease, but a blood result does not diagnose any of these conditions.

Arrange a review of the full lipid panel and any relevant medical history. Ask whether the sample should be repeated and whether blood sugar, thyroid, liver, or kidney checks are appropriate. Regular activity suited to your health, gradual weight changes when needed, less alcohol, and meals built around vegetables, fibre, and unsaturated fats can support lipid health. A Nutrition Counselling appointment may help turn results into realistic food choices. Do not stop prescribed medicines without advice.

The lipid pattern itself usually does not cause immediate symptoms, so contact a clinician for interpretation rather than waiting for warning sensations. Seek emergency help for chest pressure, severe breathlessness, sudden weakness, facial drooping, or difficulty speaking. Arrange prompt review if triglycerides are described as very high, if you have diabetes or pancreatitis symptoms such as severe upper-abdominal pain and vomiting, or if a medicine may be affecting the result.

Ask which parts of the panel need attention, whether the result should be repeated, what secondary causes should be checked, and what target fits your personal risk. Discuss whether a Cholesterol Test, Nutrition Counselling, or Statin Therapy review is relevant to your situation.