Not only about vessels
Moderately elevated triglycerides are part of the metabolic syndrome complex, along with abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and low levels of “good” cholesterol, increasing cardiovascular risk. But there is a separate danger: at levels above 10 mmol/l, the risk of acute pancreatitis, a serious condition that can develop suddenly, increases sharply. That is why severe hypertriglyceridemia requires active treatment regardless of age. The indicator is very sensitive to preparation: after fatty foods or alcohol it increases significantly, so blood is donated strictly on an empty stomach after 12 hours of fasting, and alcohol is excluded 3 days before.
Why preparation is so important
The laboratory result is a number, but the correct number can only be obtained if the rules are followed. Eating changes the levels of glucose, lipids and a number of enzymes significantly; physical activity the day before increases CK and AST; smoking affects hormones; time of day is critical for cortisol and testosterone.
Therefore, a “bad analysis” often turns out to be a consequence of impaired preparation, and not an illness, and leads to unnecessary examinations and prescriptions.
General rules for donating blood
- on an empty stomach 8–12 hours, you can drink water
- Eliminate alcohol and intense exercise per day
- no smoking in an hour
- donate blood before physiotherapy, x-rays and massage
- Take medications in advance by agreeing with your doctor
- for hormones in women, take into account the day of the cycle
How to read the result
Reference values depend on the method and equipment of the laboratory, so it is correct to compare results only within the same laboratory. A deviation of a few percent from the normal limit in itself rarely matters - the overall picture and dynamics are important. It is up to the physician to interpret the analysis: an isolated indicator without a clinical context is often misleading.