My Triglycerides Are 200 — Is That High?
Where 200 sits
Under 150 mg/dL: normal. 150 to 199: borderline high. 200 to 499: high. 500 and above: very high.
A recent big meal or alcohol can raise a non-fasting reading. If yours came back high, your doctor may repeat it after a 9 to 12 hour fast.
What usually brings them down
Cutting sugary drinks, sweets, white bread and pasta, and alcohol has the biggest effect. Regular activity and modest weight loss help too. Uncontrolled blood sugar and an underactive thyroid can also raise triglycerides, so those are worth checking.
Common questions
Is a triglyceride level of 200 dangerous?
It is high and adds to heart risk over time, but it is not an emergency. Levels of 500 or more raise the risk of pancreatitis and need prompt attention.
How fast can triglycerides come down?
Often within a few weeks of cutting sugar, refined carbs, and alcohol.
Keep reading
Where do your own numbers land?
Cura Check turns a 90-second questionnaire and a recent blood panel into your cardiovascular, dementia, and cancer risk picture — free, and nothing is saved unless you ask.